Ancient Odéon (Lyon)

The Roman ancient Odéon of Lugdunum (Lyon) is leant with the hill of Fourvière, close to its top. Beside the ancient Theater of Fourvière, it forms a remarkable, single archaeological couple as a Gaulle. Only Vienna also has a theater accompanied by a odéon.

Odéon was built at the beginning or in the middle of the 2nd century. Neighbor of the theater, it also benefits from the slope of the hill to support his steps. Smaller, it offers for a diameter of 73 m a capacity of approximately 3.000 places, which justifies its classification like Odéon, covered building reserved for spectacles of music and public reading, less popular than the stage performances. It also could be used as meeting room for the notable ones of the city.

Given up at the end of the Empire, it was identified wrongly at the 16th century like the amphitheater of the three Gaules, then recognized like building of spectacle. Its complete release and its restoration started in 1941 to last about thirty years. The pavement of the orchestra in Opus sectile was carefully restored according to the old geometrical reason in flagstones of Marbre and porphyry Polychrome, giving him a remarkable and single aspect.

Documentary sources

History and Archéologie of old France, Rhône Alpes , Andre Pelletier, Andre Blanc, Pierre Broise, Jean Prior, Horvath editions, 1988
Gallo-Roman France , Pierre Large, Nathan editions, 1991

External bonds

Photographs of Odéon de Fourvière in Lyon

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