Theater of Marcellus  Teatro di Marcello 120 votes 120 votes The
Theater of Marcellus was built by Emperor Augustus in 13 BC and
named in honor of Marcellus, his intended heir. The theater was
the largest in ancient Rome. Scale model of the Theater of
Marcellus in Ancient Rome Theater of Marcellus in Ancient Rome
Theater of Marcellus in Rome Theater of Marcellus today After
Julius Caesar defeated Pompey in the struggle for control over
Rome, he wanted to build a theater rivaling the Pompey theater
which Caesar's his bitter enemy had built in 55 BC. When Caesar
was killed in 44 BC the project had only just started. In 22 BC
Augustus, known as the emperor who turned Rome from a city of
brick into a city of marble, restarted the project.   The new
theater, the largest of the Roman Empire, was finally dedicated
in 13 BC and named Theatrum Marcelli in memory of Marcellus, the
son of Augustus' sister Octavia. Marcellus was the intended heir
of Augustus, but he died at a young age.  The Building  Detail
of an arch