The main floor of the Colosseum was composed of wooden blocks covered with sand. The wooden blocks could be removed to reveal an extensive underground area lit by flares.
This 2-floor maze of corridors had human powered elevators that would bring wild beasts up through trap doors in the arena floor. The Flavian Amphitheatre was very much meant for the masses. The size was impressive to behold and admission was free. Free food was also given out which helped to appease the unemployed. Gladiators were the mainstay of Colosseum entertainment. There were also wild animal hunts, battles between charioteers, and warm up plays with midgets pretending to fight lions.
In the interim between matches, the upper classes would often go out for lunch. Executions were held to entertain the poorer classes and women remaining in the stadium. The Romans were fascinated with death. There have been many explanations for gladiatorial tradition. One is that it came from a tradition of human sacrifice to the gods. Another is that it came from a military tradition of allowing captured criminals to fight to the death rather than be executed.
Gladiators were usually impressed war criminals and a few were glory seekers. Gladiators usually only fought one-on-one, refereed matches. A typical day would have gladiators fighting at the very end.
The bloodbath has been exaggerated; there would usually only be a few deaths a day. Gladiators wore visors and helmets to make themselves appear as more aggressive and impersonal monsters. The dead were taken out through the Arch of Libitana, named after the goddess of death. There were many different types of gladiators. One of the most popular was the Retiarius, who only had a small shoulder shield, net, and trident.
Spectators loved to watch him fight more heavily armoured gladiators as he was always the underdog. Telemachus, a Christian monk, was stoned to death by spectators when he tried to separate two fighting gladiators. This led to an imperial decree in abolishing gladiatorial combat though animal hunts and other brutal forms of entertainment would continue for many decades. When the Colosseum was used as a quarry, so much material was carted away that a special road was set up specifically for that purpose.
The function of the Colosseum later changed to a grazing ground, a fortress for an Italian baron, and later as a theatre for Passion plays when it was taken over by the church.
It was used as a symbol of the triumph of Christianity over pagan traditions and preserved because of the martyrs that died inside. Restorations and excavations began again in the s and continue to this day. Changes in Function : Taken from the-colosseum. Observe the receding hairline and the wrinkled, shaven face. Vespasian was the first major emperor after Nero, the infamous emperor whose reign was characterized by excessive grandeur.
The extravagance of the Golden House sat in the center of a acre park, centered by a large artificial lake that Nero had built and a ft tall gilded bronze statue of Nero himself. Unlike Nero, Vespasian was the son of a plebeian. This amphitheatre in the center of the city was the largest ever built, taking almost a decade to construct during the Flavian dynasty.
Let us help you plan the perfect outing with tips on how to visit the Colosseum and make the most of your voyage through Roman history. The Colosseum was originally meters long, spanning meters at the widest point of the oval. That makes modern football fields look pretty puny in comparison! The south side was destroyed by an earthquake in , but the original construction remains at the north end. The ground pillars are Doric, followed by Ionic and topped by Corinthian.
This was a huge maze of tunnels and rooms where the props, scenery, and wild animals were kept. The wooden floor of the Colosseum rotted out centuries ago, making the ruined walls of the Hypogeum easy to see.
See if you can find the relief that shows the sacrifice of a sheep, a bull and a pig to Mars to purify the land. The Emperor and Vestal Virgins watched from boxes at either end of the arena, and the Senators were seated in the expanse in between. Their names were carved into the stone and can still be seen if you look for them. It was a real honour to be chosen as only six could ever serve at one time.
At one end of the Colosseum, a bronze cross commemorates the deaths of Christian martyrs. The Colosseum in Rome is freestanding. It could hold over 50, spectators who were seated according to their rank in society. From three levels marked with distinctive arches, everyone could watch clashes between gladiators , wild animals, and even mock naval battles.
The Colosseum was where all the action happened for about years, until gladiatorial combat was phased out in the 6th century. Popular means crowded — so and you should plan your visit really carefully. The best tip for visiting Rome is to go between October and April when many of the big groups of tourists have dissipated and the temperature is lower. The weather hardly dips into freezing during the off season so you will never a very cold Italian holiday.
Spring is busy in Rome as it is Lenten season. Thousands of Christians flock to Rome during the Easter weeks to visit churches and museums inside the Vatican and in the surrounding areas of Rome. Not only will it be very busy but the hotels will also hike their prices up. Christmas is celebrated with numerous elaborate nativity scenes in churches and a huge Christmas market in Piazza Navona. All religious festivities are paired with processions both through the city and the neighbouring Vatican.
Most of the tour busses have gone by then, so the crowds have thinned out a lot. Avoid visiting in the middle of the day, especially in the summer months as there is no shade and very few places to sit down or rest. If you arrive in Rome during August , you may struggle to find locals as the tourist take over the city. Romans, like many others, take their vacations in August, so hotels, restaurants and museums may appear short staffed or operate on a limited schedule.
The central area of the Colosseum, the arena, was covered with a great wooden floor and canvas to make it waterproof. Over this was a layer of sand that was used to absorb blood. Used as a venue to entertain the public with games, mock sea battles, animal hunts, and competitions, it is probably most famous for its gladiator contests.
Although the Colosseum stirs images of classic civilized early Roman life the reality is that thousands of animals and gladiators brutally lost their lives within the walls of the Colosseum all in the name of entertainment. The Christian emperor Honorius outlawed the gladiator contests in AD and fights with wild animals were banned in AD bringing to an end the bloody legacy of the Colosseum. By the late 6th century the Colosseum was being used for other purposes such as housing, workshops, a fortress, a quarry, and a Christian shrine.
In , an earthquake caused severe damage to the Colosseum and collapsed much of the south side of the structure. Instead of rebuilding the Colosseum the site was used as an informal quarry and the stone was used for other purposes around Rome including building hospitals, churches, and St. Peter's Basilica. Today, visitors can relive the history of the Colosseum by touring the structure on your own or taking a guided tour of the building.
Arch of Constantine — This is the largest Roman arch at the Colosseum which marks a famous victory by Emperor Constantine at the battle over Milvian Bridge. The Roman Forum — Located next to the Colosseum, this was the epicenter for Roman politics and an incredible ruin with impressive columns, arches and stonework.
Palatine Hill — Looking out over the city, the top of this hill offers the best views of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. You can also learn about the history of this neighborhood, for this is was one of the most sought after places to live back in Roman times.
You can take a taxi or bus right up to the entrance but due to traffic, the metro station is often the best way to arrive. As for entry, you can buy tickets at the entrance or from local tourist offices and different packages include access and tours to various parts of the Colosseum. That being said, the easiest and best way to get access to the Colosseum is to buy tickets online.
After all, this will save you from a rather painful wait and ensure that you can join a much smaller lineup at the entrance at which your printed ticket needs to be scanned.
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