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The Colosseum Italy
The Colosseum's name is derived from a bronze colossus of Nero that once stood nearby, though it disappeared sometime during the Middle Ages and has largely been forgotten. Construction was begun by Emperor Vespasian and completed by his sons in the late first century. The arena floor was covered with sand to soak up the blood shed by those humans and animals unlucky enough to find themselves in its center. Its elliptical shape kept the players from retreating to a corner and allowed the spectators to be closer to the action than a circular arena would allow - the design of the Colosseum in Rome has influenced nearly every modern venue.
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You'll probably never forget your first glimpse of the Colosseum (Colosseo), one of the world's most famous buildings. As you get to know Rome, the huge arena may slide down your list of Rome priorities, but its initial impact is overwhelming.
The building, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, received its more common name from a giant statue, or colossus, of Nero, which stood close to the spot. Designed to replace the excesses of Nero's unpopular Domus Aurea (or Golden House), the Colosseum was begun by Vespasian and inaugurated after his death in 79AD by his son Titus. Up to 50,000 spectators enjoyed immense gladiatorial shows of death and violence. They entered through numbered arches - the Roman numerals above the entrances are still visible in places. Later the Colosseum was denuded by popes who wanted to use its marble elsewhere; it was also damaged by an earthquake.
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| Colosseum Architechture |
 The Colosseum is 48 meters (157.5 ft) high, 188 meters (617 ft.) long, and 156 meters (512 ft) wide.
There are 80 arches on each of the first three levels, and the wooden arena floor was covered with sand.
Its elliptical shape kept the players from retreating to a corner, and let the spectators be closer to the
action than in a circle. More than 100,000 cubic meters (3,531,466.62 cubic ft) of travertine stone was
used in its construction. The Colosseum was cleverly designed, and most modern stadiums have
important features first seen here. Seating was divided into sections: the podium, or first level, was for the
Roman senators, and the emperor's cushioned box was also here. Above the podium was the area for
other Roman aristocrats. The third level was divided into three sections: a lower part for wealthy citizens
and an upper part for poor ones. A wooden area at the very top of the building was standing room only,
for lower-class women. Today, the arena floor no longer exists, though the walls and corridors are visible
in the ruins. There are also tunnels, still in existence, made to flood and evacuate water from the
Colosseum floor so naval battles could be staged. Another innovative feature of was the cooling system,
known as the velarium: a canvas-covered, net-like structure made of ropes, with a hole in the center. This
roof covered two-thirds of the arena and sloped down toward the center to catch the wind and provide a
breeze for the audience. Sailors on special platforms moved the ropes on command.
The Colosseum was in use until 217, when it was damaged by fire from lightning. Four earthquakes
between 442 and 1349 severely hurt the building, which was then converted into a fortress with a
Christian church built into one small area.
Over the road from the Colosseum, next to Via San Giovanni in Laterano, you'll see a partially excavated area. This was the site of the gladiators' barracks. A small arena suggests that here they were given the opportunity to practice their crowd-pleasing moves.
The Colosseum is located at the foot of Mussolini's Via dei Fori Imperiali; from Piazza Venezia head past the Roman Forum. Colosseo Metro station (Linea B) is right opposite. The Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum are next to the Colosseum, as is the Arch of Constantine, cobbled together from earlier monuments. The Circus Maximus is a short walk away; the Baths of Caracalla are a little further.
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Colosseum Construction
Remarkably it took only 10 years to built the arena. Remarkable because this was one of the most impressive pieces of architecture the world had seen.
The Colosseum is a huge ellipse with tiered seating, with an elliptical arena within. It combined a mix of materials including (a surprise for modern visitors here perhaps) concrete for the foundations. The Romans invented the super-strong material, and it allowed them to build larger, more stable buildings. Travertine stone (mined from the hills of Latium around Rome) was used for the piers and arcades. Tufa (softer volcanic rock) was used as infill between the piers on the walls of the lower two levels. Concrete faced with brick was used for the upper levels and for the ceiling vaults. The characteristic rounded arches that the builders used also provided great strength and support, spreading the weight of the upper tiers.
There was a mix of styles too. The Romans may not have been architectural innovators on a par with the Greeks, but they could replicate the detail. The three tiers of arcades had a facade of three-quarter columns and entablatures, with a succession of architectural orders: Doric on the first storey, Ionic on the second, Corinthian on the third. The attic storey bore Corinthian pilasters and little square windows in alternating bays. Along the top were brackets and sockets to support the velarium, a canopy providing shade ... the first sports arena with a retractable roof.
Eighty radiating walls supported the rising tiers of seating for the 50,000 seated spectators and for the stairs and passages that linked the vast complex. Within the outer walls, staircases joined the levels, and the Colosseum had much in common with a modern football stadium.
The whole thing covered some six acres, measuring 188 x 156 metres (615 ft x 510 ft), with the base of the building covering about 6 acres. Vaults span between eighty radial walls to support tiers of seating and for passageways and stairs. The facade rose to 48.5m, about the height of 15 modern storeys. The new arena was alternatively known as the Amphitheatrum Caesareum (hunting theatre) a reflection of the hunting games that took place alongside the gladiatorial contests.
The arena had a wooden floor spread with sand to absorb the blood (our word 'arena' derives from the Roman harena meaning sand). Beneath this, a subterranean complex of passages and rooms, cages for the lions and tigers, food stores for the spectators, robing room for the spectators, had been built within the dip of Nero's old lake. Trap doors from here opened onto the floor of the arena itself, providing continual surprises for the spectators (and contestants) within.
Vespasian began his amphitheatre 72 AD and his son Titus opened it in 80AD with a games lasting 100 days (one gets intimations of the hubris and decadence that led to the eventual fall of Rome here). The building wasn't actually finished when it opened (nothing changes) but Domitian, Titus's brother, saw it to a conclusion.
The most popular games were hunts (venationes) and gladiatorial games (munerae). Domitian constructed four ludi, the prisons where gladiators were trained, next to the arena. There were also bestiarii, gladiators who fought lions, tigers and other beasts. The Catholic Church today claims the Colosseum as a shrine to the Christian martyrs they say were fed to the lions ... though some historians dispute this popular image.
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| Opening time |
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The Colosseum is open every day of the year, excluding Christmas Day and New Year's Day, and opens at 09.00 AM; closing times are as follows:
Last Sunday of March to end August, 07.30 PM
September, 07.00 PM
October, 06.30 PM
November to February 15th, 04.30 PM
February 16th to March 15th, 05.00 PM
March 16th to last Saturday of March, 05.30 PM
Ticket Booking Prices include booking fees and service charges. There is no charge whatsoever for children under six years of age (they do not need to reserve). EU citizens between the ages of 18 and 25 qualify for reduced price tickets.
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| Getting There
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Air:- Rome is serviced by two international airports. Leonardo da Vinci, commonly known as Fiumicino, handles most scheduled flights and is about 29 kilometers (18 miles) southwest of the city. Ciampino is about 14 kilometer (nine miles) southeast and is used for charter flights.
Train:- Train is by far the most efficient means of transportation for any land journey within Italy, to or from Rome.The Italian State Railways have several levels of service, from local trains that stop at every station, to the Pendolino, a fast, luxurious first-class-only train
Bus:- The Metro system is useful and simple to master. There are two lines, A and B, which cross at Termini. Metro trains run approximately every ten minutes, from 5:30 AM until 11:30 PM, 12:30 AM on Saturday. Tickets for metros are valid for one single journey only. |
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