Italy and a Journey to the Ancient Roman Empire (Part I: The Coliseum)
Vespasian (AD 9 – 79) started the construction of the
Colosseum (or Coliseum) on becoming emperor in 69 AD. Built on the site of
Nero’s Golden Palace, the idea was to give the land back to the people having
been acquired by Nero following the great fire of Rome in 64 AD when the
previous amphitheatre was destroyed. Vespasian never saw the amphitheatre
completed as he died in 79 AD. His sons, Titus and then Domitian continued the
mission to complete the project.
The Colosseum, on the first stage of its architectural
life, was surrounded by a paved area with large travertine slabs, and boundary
stones set in the ground. A Colossal statue of Nero, which stood by his palace,
was retained. That’s how the building received the current name, although the
right former one was the Flavian Amphitheatre - after the Flavian dynasty of
Vespasian, Titus and Domitian.
The building itself is elliptical in shape, 187 meters
long by 155 meters across and 50 meters high. It originally consisted of three
floors – with the attic being added later by Domitian, 240 external arches,
out of which 76 were used as entrances. The numbered access determined the
entrance to be used by each ticket holder. An efficient circulation between
50,000 to 70,000 people could be possible to accommodate. Also, swift access
and egress were provided - calculated to be approximately 30mins - and keeping the
different classes of separated spectators.
The arena is 75 meters by 44 meters with the floor
made of timber, and covered with yellow sand, which is called harena in Latin. Actually,
this denomination is where we get the word arena. Spectators sat down in
tiers above the arena according to the class, with the higher social classes in
the first seat rows. A fence was placed on the podium, wooden rollers
covering the top, in order to prevent anything from climbing over from the
arena.
When initially constructed, the floor could be
removed, allowing the arena flooding for sea battles—Romans called this event “naumachia”.
Later, Domitian added a complex of stores and holding rooms constructed on two
floors and known as the hypogeum (meaning underground), which brought an end to
the naumachia. Animals and gladiators would be kept in the hypogeum until they
were required in the arena.
They were lifted into the arena by a series of
elevators, or guided up ramps. The hypogeum was connected by
underground tunnels to a number of points outside the Colosseum in order to be
able to bring in the animals, gladiators and the condemned without them having
to use the streets around the Colosseum.
The construction of the Colosseum involved the
draining of the lake built by Nero, and was achieved due to a number of
technical innovations in architecture and construction developed by the Romans.
The arch, concrete and mass production of bricks were among them. A
considerable number of additional implemented materials maximized their qualities;
these were travertine, tufa, brickwork and cement. The project required vast
resources, much of which came from the sacking of the Temple in Jerusalem.
The games themselves lasted all day long— the morning
entertainment was the hunt, where they chased animals to massacre; in many
cases with the use of elaborate scenery. Midday was the moment for the
condemned to be executed and the afternoon was the gladiatorial combat.
During the games, spectators protected themselves from
sun burning by an awning, which was secured to poles passing through sockets at
the top of the building and supported on rests built into the walls. The awning
was controlled by a unit of sailors of the imperial fleet.
The Colosseum became famous as the arena of death due
to the number of animals and people who died there in the name of
entertainment. The inaugural games lasted 100 days with thousands of animals
being required. The Colosseum remained in service for four and a half
centuries with the last gladiatorial combat in 404 AD and the last hunt in 523
AD.
Tickets for
a visit to the historical site can be bought at the Palatine Hill offices located
in Via San Gregorio No. 30. Piazza Santa Maria Nova No. 53 (200 meters from the
Colosseum) allows entrance to the Palatine Hill and to the Roman Forum as well.
The full price is €12. European Union citizens between 18 and 25 years
old, and European Union teachers can get a reduced fee of €7. Furthermore, the
entrance is free for visitors 17 years of age, and under.
If you need
information on visiting hours, booking, audio guide, tours, and so on, visit
the web page coopculture
or email ssba-rm.infocolosseo@beniculturali.it
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