Built between the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, The Roman Amphitheatre of Venosa was deprived of many works and ornaments, which are currently located in other monuments in Venosa (many were used to erect the adjacent incomplete church). The first excavation was commissioned in the 19th century, where a series of bronzes, coins, and terracottas were found, but due to neglect, the ruins were buried again. Only in 1935 was everything brought back to light.
The Roman Amphitheater has an elliptical shape, with three levels, partly built above ground and partly created by terracing the ground on which it stands. The major axis measures 70 meters, while the minor axis is 40 meters. Based on these measurements, it is believed that this structure could accommodate approximately ten thousand spectators in its time. The lowest level is that of the arena, where the terrace of the 'podium' for important figures is located. There are two additional levels, supported by three concentric ambulatories.
The Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople (today Istanbul) since its founding as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great. With numerous additions and modifications during their history, they were the last great fortification system of antiquity, and one of the most complex and elaborate systems ever built. They were also the largest and strongest fortification in both the ancient and medieval world.
Initially built by Constantine the Great, the walls surrounded the new city on all sides, protecting it against attack from both sea and land. As the city grew, the famous double line of the Theodosian Walls was built in the 5th century. Although the other sections of the walls were less elaborate, they were, when well-manned, almost impregnable for any medieval besieger.