Merida is a Spanish city located in the North of Badajoz, in Extremadura. There, we find the Roman theatre, erected by Ancient Rome under the mandate of Marco Vipsanio Agripa. This theatre was declared a World Heritage Site in 1993.
The theater was abandoned due to the implantation of Christianity and partially covered with sand until its later reconstruction in 1962. The construction of the Roman theatres was more due to political interests than because of people who preferred the circus or the amphitheater. It is a typically Roman model like Pompey’s theatre or Ostia’s theatre. The theatre consists of several parts:
- Orchestra
- Grandstands
- Stage
- Peristyle
The orchestra is a semicircular space that was intended for the choir. Moreover, the scene is a raised part in front of the stands where the theatrical representation was carried out. Finally, the peristyle was a landscaped area surrounded by columns.
