- The Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls was located at the ‘Sanctuary of the Three Gauls’ where the ‘Concilium Galliarum’ or Council of the Three Gauls was held in Lyon where all the Gallic Tribes in Roman Gaul met every year.
- The Amphitheatre no longer exists, but there is a reconstruction inside Lugdunum: Gallo Roman Museum of Lyon.
The Council
- During the Roman Period, Representatives of the 60 Tribes of the Three Gauls met on the first of August each Year, at the ‘Sanctuary of the Three Gauls’, located at the confluence of the Rhone and Saone Rivers.
- Originally, there were only 1,800 seats, for the Delegations of the 60 Gallic Tribes. This was expanded after 136 CE to seat 20,000 enabling other visitors to watch the Games which accompanied the Imperial Cult.
- The first of August was a celebration of the first day of the month named in Augustus’ honour, and also the Day of Worship of the Gallic Sun God Lugh, after whom Lugdunum (Lyon) was named.
Condate Altar
- The Altar stood in the Concilium Galliarum. In front of the Altar, each of the 60 Gallic Tribes had their Name engraved on a Stone Seat arranged in a semi-circle.
- The ‘Condate Altar’ was dedicated to Dea Roma, the Goddess of Rome and the Roman State, and to Augustus. A religious ceremony conducted by the High Priest, himself one of the Gallic elite, celebrated the Imperial Cult and drew the Gallic Aristocracy into the career structure of the Roman Empire. This concept was successfully repeated throughout all the cities of the Empire.
The Lyon Tablet
- This is a bronze inscription commemorating the speech by Emperor Claudius giving the Gallic Nobility the Right to enter the Senate.
- It is now located in Lugdunum: Gallo Roman Museum of Lyon.
Lugdunum Gallo Roman Museum, Lyon