Amphitheater

View looking from east to west over the excavated Amphitheater at Scythopolis. It was constructed in the fourth century A.D. over an earlier, larger, Hippodrome. In the fourth century it was used for animal displays—some argue that gladiatorial contests were no longer held during the Byzantine (Christian) Period.

Originally it could seat 6,000 spectators. Note the high walls that protected the spectators from the animals.