A sound from the arena: acoustic reconstruction of a Roman amphitheater located in Avella, south of Italy

Abstract

In the ancient Rome the shows entertained by gladiators were very numerous, due to the always growing request from the spectators. After the disuse of the amphitheaters, a wide number of philosophers, writers and poets have been experienced to say what happened in these arenas. Nowadays this type of shows represents continuous source of inspiration for different books and movies (e.g. The gladiator, Spartacus). The amphitheaters are characterized by having an elliptical plan layout, which allow to enlarge the capacity of seats other than improving the sight from the steps of the cavea. The most famous Roman amphitheater is the Colosseum with its biggest dimensions that only the capital city of the empire could have, followed by others of smaller volume size. The development of Christianism decreed the immorality of these shows while the barbaric invasions contributed to convert these places into military barracks, if they were not selected to be demolished. This paper deals with the acoustic study of the amphitheater of Avella, which has been found only a few decades ago by archaeological excavations. The geometrical characteristics are typical of other amphitheaters built in Campania during the Imperial age. An acoustic survey has been undertaken in order to understand the main acoustic parameters in accordance with ISO 3382-1, given the functionality of this place in hosting musical shows during the summer seasons. Based on historical sources and discoveries, a virtual model has been realized to represent the architectural features of how the amphitheater would be looked like originally. The model has been used for acoustic simulations by applying the absorption and scattering coefficients of the finish materials, and the results have been assessed to highlight the different acoustic perception between the existing conditions and the original shape.