Ampitheatre at Neopolis, Siracusa

[Conal]

Neopolis;
One was that there was a large pit in the centre, about 3m x 3m x 3m, with two full height pillars within it - implying a 'roof' level with the ampitheatre floor - the guide said that this was to sweep up the gore/blood-soaked sand into during a display. Is this right?

Possibly, but it seems an awfull lot of troubl eto go through...i suspect it had some more useful function.

The other was that there were steps down into a tunnel which ran into the end of the ampitheatre at the apex of one of the 'short' sides - the steps were at right angles to the main tunnel. About half way along this exposed tunnel there were side tunnels joining from either side (with steps down to them), but on one side tunnel the arch connecting it to the main tunnel had been reduced so that it was about 1m tall and smaller in width. Can anybody enlighten me as to why this was done?

Something to do with animals, big cats perhaps ?

.