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Roman Theatre of Orange

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Roman Theatre of Orange
Roman Theatre of Orange
Roman Theatre of Orange
Roman Theatre of Orange
Roman Theatre of Orange
Roman Theatre of Orange
Roman Theatre of Orange
Roman Theatre of Orange
Roman Theatre of Orange
Roman Theatre of Orange
Roman Theatre of Orange
Roman Theatre of Orange
Roman Theatre of Orange
Roman Theatre of Orange
Roman Theatre of Orange
Roman Theatre of Orange
Roman Theatre of Orange
Roman Theatre of Orange
Roman Theatre of Orange
Roman Theatre of Orange
Roman Theatre of Orange
Roman Theatre of Orange
Roman Theatre of Orange
Roman Theatre of Orange
Roman Theatre of Orange
Phone:
+33 4 90 51 17 60

Address:
Rue Madeleine Roch, 84100 Orange, France

The Roman Theatre of Orange is a Roman theatre in Orange, Vaucluse, France. It was built early in the 1st century AD. The structure is owned by the municipality of Orange and is the home of the summer opera festival, the Chorégies d'Orange. It is one of the best preserved of all Roman theatres, and served the Roman colony of Arausio which was founded in 40 BC. Playing a major role in the life of the citizens, who spent a large part of their free time there, the theatre was seen by the Roman authorities not only as a means of spreading Roman culture to the colonies, but also as a way of distracting them from all political activities. Mime, pantomime, poetry readings and the attelana was the dominant form of entertainment, much of which lasted all day. For the common people, who were fond of spectacular effects, magnificent stage sets became very important, as was the use of stage machinery. The entertainment offered was open to all and free of charge. As the Western Roman Empire declined during the 4th century, by which time Christianity had become the official religion, the theatre was closed by official edict in AD 391, since the Church opposed what it regarded as uncivilized spectacles. After that, the theatre was abandoned completely. It was probably pillaged by the Visigoths in 412, and like most Roman buildings was certainly stripped of its better stone over the centuries for reuse. It was used as a defensive post in the Middle Ages. During the 16th-century religious wars, it became a refuge for the townspeople.
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