GALLIA ROMANA

Constans 1921, pp. 278-297 ; Keiser 1968 ; Le Roy Ladurie 1995 ; Gros 1996, pp. 292-293 ; Le Roy Ladurie 2000 ; Lemerle 2005, pp. 89-90 ; Rothé/Heijmans 2008, pp. 287-301

The college of Arles was built on the site of the theatre's stage; in 1664, it was replaced by the Convent of the Miséricorde; the theatre was not identified as such until the second half of the 17^th century

« In der statt schul stehen 2 seülen, so sehr hoch unndt dick, von einem unbekanten stein, dass ettlich meinen, sie seyen gegossen, welche vor zeiten in einer kirchen, die yetz bey 200 schritt darvon, gestanden, die ein solchen grossen hoff gehabt haben soll, daß auch hernacher die statt ihren nammen dahär bekommen, Arelate, als wolt man sagen Ara lata, daß ist: breiter hoff. Unndt soll auf denselbigen seülen ein altar gestanden sein, auf welchen man der Dianae Arelatensi geopfert hatt. Gleich darbey kompt man zum amphitheatro. »
= “In the town school two columns can be seen, very tall and thick, made of an unidentified stone, which some say is concrete; in the past, these columns stood in an ancient church situated about two hundred paces from the school. This church had, it seems, such a vast courtyard that later the town itself was named after it: 'Arelate', or, to put it otherwise, 'Ara lata', that is to say 'large courtyard'. On these columns an altar was erected, on which, it is believed, sacrifices were made to the goddess Diana of Arles, Diana Arelatense. Very nearby is the amphitheatre.”