Virtual acoustic reconstruction of the Roman amphitheater of Avella, Italy

In ancient Rome, gladiator fights were very popular. The places where these shows took place were called amphitheaters, due to the particular shape of the elliptical building. Amphitheaters were constructed in every city. This paper describes the virtual acoustic reconstruction of the amphitheater of Avella, located near Naples, Italy. The amphitheater, discovered several decades ago and partially reconstructed, is now used for musical performances during the summer season. Acoustic measurements were carried out and the main acoustic parameters were determined according to the standard ISO 3382. Based on the dimensions and geometries of similar architectures of other amphitheaters, a virtual reconstruction of the original shape was performed. The virtual model was developed using Ramsete architectural acoustics software to obtain the acoustic characteristics of the amphitheater as it was in the Roman period. In particular, the spatial distribution of the acoustic properties on the cavea where the spectators sat is described and discussed.