Pagan Eye: The Roman London Games

With the Opening Ceremony of the London Olympics tonight, Friday 27 July, I thought I'd post a picture of an ancient games arena in London dating back to Roman times.

The photo shows the remains of London's only Roman amphitheatre, which lies beneath the Guildhall Art Gallery. Sport and entertainment in ancient times was shockingly bloodthirsty by modern standards. As well as watching races and athletics, crowds would have gathered to enjoy wild animal fights, public executions and gladiatorial combats.

The remains of the original circular walls of the amphitheatre were rediscovered by archaeologists working on the site of the Guildhall Art Gallery building in 1988. The museum and remains of the amphitheatre are free to visit. You can find them at Guildhall Yard, London EC2V 5AE.

My Pagan Eye posts show photos that I find interesting - seasonal images, pagan sites, events, or just pretty pictures.

If you want to send me a photo for a Pagan Eye post, please email it to badwitch1234@gmail.com Let me know what the photo shows and whether you want your name mentioned or not. For copyright reasons, the photo must be one you have taken yourself.

Links and previous related posts
http://www.london2012.com/
http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Leisure_and_culture/Museums_and_galleries/Guildhall_Art_Gallery/ampitheatre.htm
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/07/pagan-eye-olympic-torch.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/07/pagan-eye-roman-temple-of-fortuna.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/06/spell-lucky-talisman-bracelet-to.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2007/11/superstitions-and-folk-traditions.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/06/football-birds-and-lucky-underpants.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/09/harvest-moon-fun-and-games.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2012/06/pagan-eye-lake-nemi-and-sacred-groves.html