Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules and the Federal Altar
Why is it significant?
Approach the archaeological boundary along Rue des Tables Claudiennes to gaze upon the timeworn limestone ruins of the Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules, one of the most sacred and tragic sanctuaries of Roman Gaul.
Key Facts
| Place | Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules and the Federal Altar |
|---|---|
| Address | Rue des Tables Claudiennes 1, 69001 Lyon, France |
| Geo Coordinates | 45.77070, 4.83050 |
| Part of Walk | Croix-Rousse and the Canuts: Silk Revolts, Secret Traboules, and Giant Murals |
| Generated | Generated |
Approach the archaeological boundary along Rue des Tables Claudiennes to gaze upon the timeworn limestone ruins of the Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules, one of the most sacred and tragic sanctuaries of Roman Gaul. Dedicated in 19 AD under Emperor Tiberius by the Gallic nobleman Caius Julius Rufus, this grand amphitheatre formed the core of the Federal Sanctuary of Condate, where every August first the appointed delegates of the sixty Gallic nations assembled to swear fealty to Rome and Augustus and deliberate on provincial affairs. Later expanded around 130 AD to accommodate over twenty thousand spectators, the arena entered world history in 177 AD as the scene of the heroic martyrdom of Lyon's first Christian community under Emperor Marcus Aurelius: here, the young slave girl Saint Blandine, the aged Bishop Saint Pothinus, and forty-six companions endured terrible tortures and wild beasts for their faith. A simple wooden commemorative post in the center of the arena honors their supreme sacrifice. The ancient stones rest in solemn, dignified stillness under the Lyon sky, surrounded by peaceful modern hillside apartments.
Look closely at the surviving curved podium blocks and seating foundations: archaeologists uncovered inscribed stone blocks bearing the names of individual Gallic tribes, such as the Aedui and Arverni, designating reserved seating in the front tiers for visiting tribal delegations.
For centuries, the Roman arena lay completely buried and forgotten beneath terraced convent gardens until its formal archaeological identification in 1858 by scholar François Artaud.
Note the solemn reverence that hangs over this hollow: Pope John Paul II made a historic pilgrimage here in October 1986, kneeling in silent prayer to honor the courage and memory of Saint Blandine and the martyrs.
Walk uphill into the leafy terraced avenues of the adjacent Jardin des Plantes.