The Tyr Gladiatorial Stadium (CGH)

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Before the construction of Kalak's ziggurat, the gladiatorial stadium was the single largest structure within the walled city of Tyr. At one end of the stadium is the golden tower and high bureaus. This walled city within the walled city houses the king's templars, private gardens, and the king's personal residence, the golden tower. A special viewing box for the templars and the king connects the high bureaus to one of the anterior ends of the stadium.
The far side of the arena stands at the foot of the exquisite and immense multi-colored tiled ziggurat of Kalak. The enormous ziggurat dwarfs the stadium as it rises hundreds of feet into the air above the city. A stair rises from the gladiatorial floor to the very top of the ziggurat. Areas to each side of the stair are adorned with beautiful mosaics depicting Kalak as a great warrior god. It is impossible for gladiators to ascend the stair, as it is protected by magical spells.
The stadium was built with a rectangular combat field, 300 feet long and 80 feet wide. To distance spectators from combatants, there is a 15-foot tall barrier that rises from the floor of the arena to the first level of stadium seating.
The floor of the arena itself is hard-packed sand. The color of the sand holds an auburn, almost reddish hue. It is said that the color is a result of the blood of thousands who have fallen there.
The stadium has the only multi level seating configuration in the Tablelands. On the two long opposing sides of the stadium, there is an upper and lower seating sec- tion. The sections themselves are 300 feet long, with stairs that rise to the back every 50 feet. Long stone benches supported by squat ionic columns allow respite for attendees to the gladiatorial matches. They are seldom used, as the crowd at Tyr generally remains on its feet during the entire match.
The stadium is configured with four identical sections, two upper and two lower. The upper sections, identical in size to the lower, are supported by doric columns. Traditionally, nobles, senators, and members of powerful trading houses sit in the lower sections. This is because the upper sections grant shade to the lower, protecting patrons from the blistering Athasian sun. The king and templars have a reserved section at the end of the arena.
The two upper sections of the stadium are called the sun seats." The sun seats are open to the general populace of the city. This section generally attracts rowdy rabble rousers and slaves who have been allowed (and can afford) to attend the games. On more than one occasion following an argument or disagreement, these rowdy (and occasionally inebriated) fans have picked up an opposing gladiatorial fan and thrown him down to the arena floor (for more information, see the "Life in the Stands" section, later in this chapter).