This Lebanese Man Accidentally Discovered A Roman Amphitheater in His Garden
This is going to be one of those “Only in Lebanon” stories. A Lebanese homeowner in Batroun just wanted to do some landscaping…and accidentally discovered a Roman amphitheater in his garden.
This is actually one of the country’s rarest archaeological finds!
It all began when a homeowner in Batroun decided to expand his garden, lowering its level slightly and creating space for a photography studio beneath the house.
During the initial excavations, an incredible surprise emerged: a Roman amphitheater carved into the rock, hidden under the soil for nearly 1,800 years. Here’s a glimpse of what it looks like:
Soon after, a local archaeologist began examining the site. It turns out the amphitheater was in use during the years 222–235 AD, when Batroun was a thriving coastal city under Roman rule.
The theater is semicircular, with its seating facing west, and its structure continues beneath neighboring houses. There are even signs that Roman baths once existed underground, long since buried.
What’s remarkable is that excavation work is still ongoing. Despite being privately owned, the homeowner has opened the amphitheater to visitors, allowing anyone curious about history to explore this hidden gem.
The Roman amphitheater in Batroun is proof that this city still holds secrets waiting to be uncovered. Who knows what other relics might emerge with further digging? It’s incredible to think that a simple home renovation could reveal something from nearly two millennia ago.
Did you know about this Roman amphitheater that was accidentally discovered in Batroun? Let us know if you’ve visited it!
