Odeon of Domitian

Odeum of Domitian

File:Campus Martius - Odeum of Domitian.jpg Model of the Odeon of Domitian
Odeum of Domitian is located in Rome File:Roma Plan.jpg Odeum of Domitian Odeum of Domitian Shown within Rome
Location	Regio XI Circus Maximus
Coordinates	41°53′48″N 12°28′25″E
Type	Roman theatre
History
Builder	Domitian
Founded	106 CE

The Odeon of Domitian was an ancient Roman building on the Campus Martius in Rome, used for plays and musical competitions and with room for an audience of 11,000. The first Odeum, at Rome, was built by Domitian in imitation of Greek odeons (neighbouring his stadium to its south). It was completed or restored in 106 by Apollodorus of Damascus. The outline of its cavea is still preserved by the façade of the Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne, but the only actual remains is a cipoline monolithic column (possibly part of the stage) just in front of the Palazzo's rear façade.

Sources

• Suetonius, Life of Domitian, 5
• Platner & Ashby, Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome, article "Odeum"
• Plan de Rome
• The Architecture of Rome by Stefan Grundmann
• William Smith, A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, London, 1875