Arènes de Lutèce
The Arènes de Lutèce (, "Arenas of Lutetia") are among the most important ancient Roman remains from the era in Paris (known in antiquity as Lutetia), together with the Thermes de Cluny. Constructed in the 1st century AD, this theatre could once seat 15,000 people and was used also as an amphitheatre to show gladiatorial combats.

The terraced seating surrounded more than half of the arena's circumference, more typical of an ancient Greek theatre rather than a Roman one which was semi-circular.

The "orchestra" was surrounded by the wall of a podium 2.5 m (8.2 feet) high, surmounted by a parapet. The stage was 41m long. A series of nine niches were most likely used for statues. Five small rooms were situated beneath the lower terraces, some of which appear to have been animal cages that opened directly into the arena.

Slaves, the poor, and women were relegated to the higher tiers — while the lower seating areas were reserved for Roman male citizens. For comfort, a linen awning sheltered spectators from the hot sun. From its vantage point, the theatre also afforded views of the Bièvre and Seine rivers.

When Lutèce was sacked during the barbarian raids of AD 275, some of the structure's stone work was used to reinforce the city's defences around the Île de la Cité. However, Chilperic I had it repaired in 577 and gave performances there. Subsequently, the theatre became a cemetery, and was filled in completely following the construction of wall of Philippe Auguste (ca. 1210).
Centuries later, even though the surrounding neighbourhood (quartier) had retained the name "les Arènes", the exact location was lost. It was discovered by Théodore Vaquer during the building of the Rue Monge between 1860–1869, when the Compagnie Générale des Omnibus sought to build a tramway depot on the site.

Spearheaded by the author Victor Hugo (1802–1885) and a few other intellectuals, a preservation committee called la Société des Amis des Arènes undertook to save the archaeological treasure. After the demolition of the Couvent des Filles de Jésus-Christ in 1883, one-third of the arena was uncovered. The Municipal Council dedicated funds to restoring the arena and establishing it as a public square, which was opened in 1896.

After the tramway lines and depot were dismantled in 1916 and line 10 of the Paris Métro was constructed, the doctor and anthropologist Jean-Louis Capitan (1854–1929) continued with additional excavation and restoration of the arena toward the end of World War I. The neighbouring Square Capitan, built on the site of the old Saint-Victor reservoir, is dedicated to his memory. However, a portion of the original arena — opposite the stage — was lost to buildings which line rue Monge.

Standing in the centre of the arena one can still observe significant remnants of the stage and its nine niches, as well as the grilled cages in the wall. The stepped terraces are not original, but historians believe that 41 arched openings punctuated the façade.
Q270273
Lutetia
LOC
Q1747689
ancient Roman
LOC
Q90
Paris
LOC
Q270273
Lutetia
LOC
Q2669368
Thermes de Cluny
LOC
Q54831
amphitheatre
Concept
Q482999
gladiator
Concept
None
orchestra
UNK
Q1286070
parapet
Concept
Q879306
Bièvre
LOC
Q1471
Seine
LOC
Q190063
Île de la Cité
LOC
Q243118
Chilperic I
PER
Q3053741
wall of Philippe Auguste
LOC
None
Théodore Vaquer
UNK
Q535
Victor Hugo
PER
Q50716
Paris Métro
LOC
None
Jean-Louis Capitan
UNK
Q641548
Arènes de Lutèce
LOC
1210-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1210
DATE
1860-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1860
DATE
1883-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1883
DATE
1896-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1896
DATE
1916-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1916
DATE
+1^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
1
NUMBER
+2.5^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
2.5
NUMBER
+8.2^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
8.2
NUMBER
+41^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
41
NUMBER
+1869^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
1869
NUMBER
+1802^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
1802
NUMBER
+1885^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
1885
NUMBER
+10^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
10
NUMBER
+1854^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
1854
NUMBER
+1929^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
1929
NUMBER
+41^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
41
NUMBER
part of
culture
part of