The amphitheatre in Pompei is considered to be the oldest in the world. It could seat around 12,000 spectators. It was at this site in 59 AD that a riot broke out during one of the contests with a rival city. Many spectators were killed in the riot which led the Roman Senate to ban the games in the Pompei amphitheatre for the following ten years. It was originally constructed in 80 BC and measures 135 metres long and 104 metres wide.
