Madauros (M´Daourouch)

MADAUROS (M´Daourouch), ancient Africa Proconsularis, modern Algeria.

COORDINATES: 36º04’39.97” N  /  7º54’05.04” E

TIPOLOGY : Roman theatre. Urban.

DATE: First III A.D.

TRANSFORMATIONS: First V A.D.

CAPACITY: 600 spectators.

CAVEA: Facing south-east. 33 m. diameter. Maenianum: 8 rows of seats in five cunei (smallers each side)

ORCHESTRA: 17,7 m. diameter. Including balteus. Bisellia with three steeps.

STAGE BUILDING: The sacenae frons´s wall is at the same time the bottom wall of the portico of the forum. Proscaenium with only one curved niche. Pulpitum is 20,2 x 4,06 m.

LOCATION: The ancient theatre is close to the forum. M´Daourouch remains are about 120 klm. south-east from Calama.

MY BEDSIDE TABLE: Sear, Frank; “Roman theatres: an architectural study”. Oxford University Press, 2006. // Ciancio Rossetto, Paola; Giuseppina Pisani Sartorio (eds); “Teatri Greci e Romani: alle origini del linguaggio rappresentato”. Rome: SEAT, 1995.  // Lancel, Serge; “L’Algérie antique”. Paris, Mengès, 2003.

 // Blas de Roblès, Jean Marie; Sintes, Claude; “Sites et monuments antiques de l’Algérie”. Aix-en-Provence, Édisud, 2003.

OUT OF PRINT: An argelian archeologist that I found in the ancient mausoleum of La Chrétienne, near roman Tipasa, assured me that Madauros´ ancient theatre was the smaller roman theatre in the world. Maybe, it seems more like an odeon than a theatre in fact. In photograph you can see my argelian close friend Nordine, all what I love Algeria is for what he showed me. Algeria is truly amazing, in fact one of my favourite countries, one of my best travels, marvellous people and land, I really hope all the political revolts of these days will give Algeria all the best, all what people want and was removed. There are theatres that invites you to make a classical play, other ones suggest you to make a loud laughter... Madauros invites you to whisper... a real close theatre.