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The Odeon of Domitian was constructed after the fire of AD 80 that devastated the Campus Martius (Suetonius, Dom. 5).  It is just south of the stadium of Domitian.  The covered hall for music recitals held up to 7,000 people.  It is located just south of Piazza Navona, toward Palazzo Massimo, whose curved facade follows along part of the curved exterior of the structure.  

 

LTUR III.359-360.

From Platner & Ashby’s (1929) Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome:

A building for musical performances, erected by Domitian in the campus Martius, probably near the Stadium (Suet. Dom. 5; Eutrop. vii. 23; Chron. 146; Hier. a. Abr. 2105). It was restored by Apollodorus in the reign of Trajan (Cass. Dio lxix. 4) and contained 10600 loca, that is, places for about 5000 spectators (cf. BC 1894, 310-324). In the fourth century it was regarded as among the most conspicuous monuments in Rome (Amm. Marcell. xvi. 10. 14); in the fifth as one of the seven mira praecipua (Pol. Silv. 545). It is possible that the artificial elevation, called monte Giordano, covers its ruins (HJ 594).

Where in Rome is the Odeon of Domitian?

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Cite this page as: Darius Arya, The American Institute for Roman Culture, “Odeum of Domitian (Odeon of Domitian)” Ancient Rome Live. Last modified 06/30/2020. https://ancientromelive.org/odeum-of-domitian-odeon-of-domitian/

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