Lugdunum Odeum (modern Lyon, France)

Mid 2nd Century CE

Cavea Width: 73 meters
Orchestra Width: 21 meters

Lugdunum Odeum (modern Lyon, France). Cavea width: 73 m, orchestra width: 21 m; capacity 3,600/4,500; ca. mid 2nd cent. CE.

Lugdunum Odeum (modern Lyon, France)

Although the Odeon is the smaller of the two theaters at the Fourvière sight, it is one of the largest known of its kind, rivaling the Odeon in Athens, built by Herodicus Atticus between A.D. 161 and 174. In the entire former Gaul region, there is only one other Odeon, located in Vienne, 30 kilometers south of Lyon.

In the ancient empires of Greece and Rome, Odeon theaters were smaller than dramatic theaters and often covered by a roof. Poets and musicians presented their original works to be judged and awarded by the public. Now called an Odeum, the tradition continues in modern contemporary theaters and concert halls used for musical or dramatic performances. (Source: Masson, Kari. Roman Theaters of Lyon.

Cavea: 73 meters in diameter, supported on radial vaults and facing east; 2 tiers of seating: ima in 6 rows with 4 cunei, summa in 5 rows in 5 cunei; capacity: 3,600/4,500; accessed by 2 staircases on the exterior of cavea with 5 doorway to the interior; cavea was once covered by a wooden roof.
Orchestra: 21 meters in diameter paved with geometric shapes cut from granite, breccia, porphyry, and marble. 2 steps for bisellia seating.
Pulpitum (stage): 43.25 X 6.9 meters; aulaeum slot (for curtain) 32 meters long X .9 meters wide X 1.3 meters deep; with 11 mast holes.
Scaenae frons: rectilinear; no basilicas stage side entrances.
Construction date: mid-2nd-century CE.
(Source: Sear 236-237)

• Construction: The Odeum was built in the mid-second century AD, during the reign of Antoninus Pius. It was designed for musical performances, recitations, and other intellectual gatherings.  
• Rediscovery: The site of the Odeum was located in 1914.
• Excavation: Pierre Wuilleumier and André Leroi-Gourhan led excavations of the Odeum and the adjacent Grand Theatre from 1941 to 1954.  
• Preservation: In 1905, the Odeum’s remains were classified as a “Historical Monument,” ensuring their preservation.  
• Rehabilitation: In the 20th century, the Odeum and the Grand Theatre were partially rebuilt and rehabilitated. Current uses include events, concerts, and visitor tours.  

Bibliography / Resources:

“Historic Site of Lyon”. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Retrieved 24 October 2021.

Masson, Kari.Roman Theaters of Lyon. https://www.justlanded.com/english/France/Articles/Travel-Leisure/Roman-Theaters-of-Lyon. Accessed 16 Feb 2025.

Sear, Frank, Roman Theatres: An Architectural Study, Oxford 2006.

Wikipedia. Odeon of Lyon. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odeon_of_Lyon