Colosseum has long been one of Rome’s major tourist attractions. Also called Flavian Amphitheatre, is located just east of Palatine Hill.
image source:http://www.reidsitaly.com/images/lazio/rome/sights/colosseum-ext.jpg
The Colosseum, built in Rome under theFlavian emperors, was the scene of thousands of hand-to-hand combats between gladiators, between men and animals, and of many larger combats, including mock naval engagements. It is uncertain whether the arena was the site of themartyrdom of the first Christians.
History
It was built inRomeunder theFlavian emperors:Vespasian(69-79 CE),Titus(79-81 CE), andDomitian(81-96 AD). The construction of the Colosseum was started between 70 and 72 ce during the reign of Vespasian, based on what was thegoldenhouse ofNero. Vespasian, of relatively humble origins, chose to build apublic amphitheaterthat could accommodate tens of thousands of Romans, and which would replace the private lake of the tyrannical emperor. The structure was officially dedicated in 80 ce by Titus in a ceremony that included 100days of games. Subsequently, in 82 ce, Domitian completed the work by adding the top floor.
image source:http://www.the-colosseum.net/ita/history/chronology.htm
Later in History
In 404 CE, with the changing times, thegamesof the Colosseum were abolished byEmperor Honorius. It was damaged by an earthquake in 422 CE and was repaired by the emperors Theodosius II and Valentinian III. Colosseum continued to be used forwrestling matchesand animal hunts up to the 6th century CE but it began to show signs of neglect.
伟大的earthquake of 1231 CE caused the collapse of the southwest facade and the Colosseum became a vast source of building. Pope Alexander VI leased the Colosseum as a quarry, it was still used for theoccasional religious processionand play during the 15th century CE.
In 1744 CEPope Benedict XIVprohibited any further removal of masonry from the Colosseum and consecrated it inmemory of the Christianmartyrswho lost their lives there. This, however, did not stop locals from using it as an animal stable.
image source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colosseum
The 19th century CE did, though, begin to see the fortunes of the once great amphitheater improve. The Papal authorities sought to restore parts of the building. In 1871 CE the Italianarchaeologist Pietro Rosaremoved all of the post-Roman additions to reveal a stillmagnificent monument, an enduring testimony to both the skills and the vices of the Roman world.
Architecture
Unlike earlier amphitheaters the Colosseum is a freestanding structure of stone andconcrete, measuring 18 by 156 meters.Several materials
were employed for the building of the Colosseum, all of them easily found or produced in the Roman area: first of all, there is thetravertine, alimestone, then tuff for the other pillars and radial walls,tilesfor the floors of the upper storeys and the walls; finally,concretefor the vaults.
Three of the stories of the arena are surrounded by arcades framed by decorative semi-columns of theDoric,Ionic, andCorinthianorders; the basis of the Renaissance codification known as theassembly of the orderswas due to the ascending arrangement of the columns of the structure.
The amphitheater could accommodate about50,000 spectators, protected from the sun by a huge retractable velarium (awning). Support masts extended from corbels built at the top of the Colosseum, and it took hundreds of Roman sailors to manipulate the rigging that extended and retracted the velarium. The Colosseum was damaged by lightning and earthquakes inmedieval timesand, also by vandalism. Having been treated as little more than a quarry for more than 1,000 years, all themarbleseats and decorative materials have disappeared. In the19世纪,began theconservation of the Colosseumby Pius VIII, and a restoration project was undertaken in the 1990s.
image source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colosseum
The ordered beauty and formal regularity of the Colosseum’s exterior are created by three storeys of superimposed arches with engaged columns. These columns are of different orders on each storey:
- the一楼carriedDoric columns;
- the secondcarriedIonic;
- the third Corinthian.
- The top floorhadCorinthian pilastersand small rectangular windows.
There wereeighty entrances:
- seventy-six of these were numbered and tickets were sold for each;
- two entranceswere used for thegladiators;
- thefinal two entranceswere reserved for theEmperor.
image source:https://www.wdl.org/en/item/4243/
Encircling the arena was a wide marble terrace protected by a wall within which were the prestigious ring-side seats or boxes from where the Emperor would watch the events. Beyond this area, marble seats were divided into zones: forricher private citizens,middle-class citizens,slaves, and foreigners,最后standing roomforwomenand thepoor.
image source:http://www.ducksters.com/history/ancient_rome/colosseum.php
Games & Shows
Theperformancesin the Roman arenas were designed to entertain, demonstrated theEmperor’s generosity,and provided the opportunity for ordinary people to see their ruler in person.
The shows often lasted all day and the gladiators usually kicked off the show with a procession of chariots accompanied by trumpets and a hydraulic organ, once disassembled everything went around the arena, greeting the emperor with the famous verse:Ave, imperator, morituri te salutant!
During the shows the arena was covered withyellow sandtaken from the hill ofMonte Mario; on special occasions, the arena was covered with specially colored sand, or mixed with speckles of glittering minerals.
The Colosseum was also the scene of many executions during the lunchtime lull, for example, thekilling ofChristianmartyrs. Seen as an unacceptable challenge to theauthorityofPagan Romeand theEmperor, Christians were thrown to lions, shot down with arrows, roasted alive, and killed in a myriad of cruelly inventive ways.
image source:https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jean-Leon_Gerome_Pollice_Verso.jpg
What’s the Colosseum today?
The Colosseum today is amajor tourist attractioninRome. There is now a museum dedicatedto Eros located on the upper floor of the outer wall of the building.The Colosseum is also the site ofRoman Catholic ceremoniesin the 20th and 21st centuries.Pope Benedict XVI led theStations of the Crosscalled the Scriptural Way of the Cross at the Colosseum on Good Fridays.
image source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colosseum
Info sources:http://www.britannica.com/topic/Colosseumhttp://www.the-colosseum.net/architecture/materials_en.htmhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/colosseum_01.shtmlhttp://www.the-colosseum.net/architecture/descriptio_en.htmhttps://www.hisour.com/colosseum-rome-italy-55673/
