Roman Theatre of Mérida hosted Palabras Mayores on 1 October

Roman Theatre of Mérida (Teatro Romano de Mérida) hosted Palabras Mayores on 1 October 2026, bringing paleontologist Juan Luis Arsuaga and writer Juan José Millás to Merida, Spain. The public conversation formed part of the reading promotion plan run by the Junta of Extremadura.

Palabras Mayores brought science and literature to Mérida

The event took place at 7pm on 1 October 2026 in the Roman Theatre. Arsuaga and Millás discussed human origins, death and consciousness through three books: La vida contada por un sapiens a un neandertal, La muerte contada por un sapiens a un neandertal and La conciencia contada por un sapiens a un neandertal.

The Junta of Extremadura announced the meeting as an open public conversation, with a book signing planned in the theatre's peristyle afterwards. The programme connected contemporary scientific and literary discussion with a building created for public performances in Roman Emerita. The Junta announcement for Palabras Mayores names the date, venue, speakers and programme.

The event was also listed by Merida city council as a meeting at the Roman Theatre on 1 October 2026. Its programme information describes the discussion as part of Palabras Mayores, an initiative of the Junta's Plan for the Promotion of Reading. The city listing for the meeting records the date, time, venue and organiser.

The Roman Theatre places a modern debate in a Roman setting

The theatre was inaugurated between 16 and 15 BC, when Agrippa promoted its construction in the Roman colony of Emerita Augusta. It was built partly into the slope of San Albin hill, reducing the amount of stonework needed for the structure.

Its semicircular cavea was designed for 6,000 spectators and divided into ima, media and summa cavea. The orchestra lies before a two-storey stage facade with marble columns and sculptures associated with gods and imperial figures.

That arrangement gave the 1 October conversation a specific spatial setting: the speakers appeared in a venue whose audience areas were organised by social rank in antiquity, while the subject turned to shared questions about human life. The monument's custodian, the Consorcio de la Ciudad Monumental de Mérida, records the theatre's construction, cavea and stage facade in its monument description.

Visiting Roman Theatre of Mérida: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Palabras Mayores took place at the Roman Theatre on 1 October 2026, with the conversation scheduled for 7pm.
• The event included a public discussion followed by a book signing in the theatre's peristyle; the listing described access as open until capacity was reached.
• The monument is in the Roman Theatre and Amphitheatre enclosure at Plaza Margarita Xirgu in Merida. The Consorcio identifies the theatre, amphitheatre and nearby archaeological attractions within the monumental complex.
• The semicircular cavea is divided into three seating sectors, with small staircases and corridors providing access around the stands. The site includes the orchestra, stage facade and a former porticoed garden.
• Spanish is the official language used by the national administration in Spain, and the national currency is the euro.

Searching for Roman Theatre of Mérida on social platforms

These links open searches for Roman Theatre of Mérida on each platform.

Frequently asked questions about Roman Theatre of Mérida

When did Palabras Mayores take place at Roman Theatre of Mérida?

Palabras Mayores took place on 1 October 2026, with the conversation scheduled for 7pm.

What is Roman Theatre of Mérida?

It is a Roman performance venue inaugurated between 16 and 15 BC in Emerita Augusta, with seating for 6,000 spectators.

Where is Roman Theatre of Mérida and how do you get there?

The theatre is at Plaza Margarita Xirgu in Merida, within the Roman Theatre and Amphitheatre enclosure.