One Sunday afternoon recently, my lovely friend Francesca invited me to join a scout group on a tour of a Roman/Greek theatre. It was originally an amphitheatre seating an audience of 5000. The theatre was partly demolished and built over in order for new housing to be established. It was customary that old buildings be destroyed, which is in direct contrast to our current thinking that old buildings, structures and ruins are to be restored and preserved.The famous emperor Nero enjoyed performing in this amphitheatre as an actor in religious dramas. Our guide informed the group that he paid for audiences to attend. His artistic endeavours were considered scandalous by the aristocracy and his army.
Nero was said to be responsible for the burning of two thirds of Rome in 64 AD, although modern scholars continue to debate this. It was true however that in order to gain power he murdered many of his political enemies and ordered the execution of his mother and wife. In 68 AD, the Roman senate decl
ared him an enemy of the state and he committed suicide. He sounds like a positively delightful character.Entering the building, we found ourselves in what was a private apartment.
A bed was pushed back on tracks into the kitchen area, literally revealing a door in the floor. The door opened up. A staircase led down into the amphitheatre hidden underneath the house. Only part of the original amphitheatre 
is accessible as much of it has been filled in or is blocked off by the foundations of adjoining buildings.
Nevertheless, it was fascinating to stand where Neapolitans stood some 2000 years ago, enduring what was surely yet another horrendous performance by the fifth emperor of Rome.
Even more fascinating was listening to
the eager boy scouts ask questions about the theatre and its history. Our guide eventually told one scarfed and toggled boy not to believe everything that he sees on television and the movies. It seemed that most of his knowledge was gleaned from the screen, making him a historical expert, in accordance with the ways of all ten-year-old boys.
He would surely have had snippets of sanitised, historical sound bites to confidently share with Nero had the opportunity arisen.
is accessible as much of it has been filled in or is blocked off by the foundations of adjoining buildings.Nevertheless, it was fascinating to stand where Neapolitans stood some 2000 years ago, enduring what was surely yet another horrendous performance by the fifth emperor of Rome.
Even more fascinating was listening to
the eager boy scouts ask questions about the theatre and its history. Our guide eventually told one scarfed and toggled boy not to believe everything that he sees on television and the movies. It seemed that most of his knowledge was gleaned from the screen, making him a historical expert, in accordance with the ways of all ten-year-old boys.He would surely have had snippets of sanitised, historical sound bites to confidently share with Nero had the opportunity arisen.
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