The Amphitheatre of Mérida () is a ruined Roman amphitheatre situated in the Roman colony of Emerita Augusta, present-day Mérida, in Spain. The city itself, Emerita Augusta, was founded in 25 BC by Augustus, to resettle "emeritus" soldiers discharged from the Roman army from two veteran legions of the Cantabrian Wars (the Legio V Alaudae and Legio X Gemina). The amphitheatre itself was completed in 8 BC. The term "emeritus" refers to the soldiers, all of whom had been honorably discharged from service. The city became the capital of the Roman province of Lusitania.