Enter destination:

Rome » The Coliseum of Rome

The Coliseum, Rome
(a photo by WTL)

The Coliseum is the biggest structure from the Roman world, which has been survived until present days. Its magnificence and majestic influence are not darkened even from the long time that has passed and the ugliness of the contemporary traffic streaming by it. Centuries ago, between its stone walls echoed the sounds of the gladiatorial combats and the yelling of the excited crowd, and later, during the Middle Ages - the banging of the hammers when the its stones were pillaged for the building of new churches and palaces. Today, although half destroyed, its walls still stand as a challenge to the ancient prophesy, which says "While the Coliseum stands, Rome shall stand; when the Coliseum falls, Rome shall fall, when Rome falls, the world shall fall".

The Coliseum is a creation of Emperor Vespasian, who decided in 70 AD to build a monument to commemorate his military success in the Near East. When Vespasian died in 79 AD, the building was not finished yet. It was continued by his son and successor – Emperor Titus to be opened in 80 AD. The last finishing work was made between 81 and 96 AD by the inheritor of Titus – Diocletian. All these emperors were from the so called Flavian Dynasty and from this dynasty derives the name with which the Coliseum was firstly known - the Flavian Amphitheatre (Amphitheatrum Flavium). The present day name of the arena probably comes from its colossal size or most likely from the colossus of Emeror Nero, which was the biggest bronze statue in the Roman world. Although this statue has not survived, it is known that it was positioned near the Coliseum.

The Colosseum Inside
(a photo by Toshio)

With its tremendous sizes the Coliseum was a real ordeal for the Roman engineers, not lastly because the terrain was a swampy area, preferred only because of its proximity to the Forum and the Palatine Hill. It was previously occupied by the ritual lake of the Golden House of Emperor Nero (Domus Aurea). In the foundations of the arena were dug wide drainage canals, many of which can still be seen today, and in the construction of the walls were used a huge amount of light volcanic tuff and cement panelled with bricks. The Coliseum was covered by 100 000 cubic meters of porous marble with gilt, decoration, attached by cramps of iron. The cramps were removed in 664 and this explains the strange holes scattered on the outside of the walls.

The already completed amphitheatre was a perfect example of the ideal correlation between architectural beauty and functionality, followed by many other Roman amphitheatres, as well as by a lot of contemporary stadiums. Through its 80 numbered entrances could come in 50 000 spectators. More than 240 wooden struts supported from the last upper floor a ship sail, hoisted by seamen from the emperor’s fleet to protect the spectators from sun and rain. The floor of the stage was covered with sand no to be slippery and to absorb the blood of the killed gladiators and beasts. From this time the Latin world "arena", which originally meant only "sand", began to be used for places where were held different kinds of spectacle. The participants in the gladiator fights and the beasts came out on the stage through all sorts of passages under it, sceptres and lifting devices. The arena was filled with water through specially projected pipes and aqueduct for simulations of sea battles.

The Colosseum at night
(a photo by volvidejapo)

The decay of the Coliseum began early. Even as early as 240 AD, a larger part of the stage and the upper floor, made mostly of wood, burnt into a fire. During the next two centuries it was affected by several more fires and earthquakes. After the fall of Rome a small church was built nearby and the arena was used as a graveyard. After that some parts of the monument were turned into a fortress an the other – into shops and houses. Many stones and architectural elements were taken ruthlessly for the site for the construction of Palazzo Farnese, Palazzo Venezia, Palazzo Barberini and various smaller palaces, churches and later bridges. During the years almost two thirds of the monument disappeared and this number would be higher if, in 1749, Pope Benedict XIV had not sanctified the place in honour of the Christians who, as it was believed, perished as martyrs on the site. Later, other popes and governors undertook to restore, excavate and strengthen the Coliseum, activities which had been continued until present day.

A relief depicting two gladiators fighting
(a photo by ElissaSCA)

One of the most stable myths, survived for centuries long and stating that the Coliseum has been soaked up with the blood of the Christian martyrs, is exactly what it is – just a myth. The evidences from the archaeological excavations proof that a few Christians died here. The biggest persecutions of them were during the reign of Nero, at least 30 years before the building of the Coliseum. But it is for sure that many other people found their death here. In earlier times the gladiators executed only ritual combats, a custom that Romans inherited from the Etruscans and the Samnites. During the rule of Vespasian the ritual had been already degenerated and the games or, as they were called the "munera" (duties paid to dead ancestors), became a part of the decay of Romans. According to the famous phrase of the poet Juvenal they sold their souls for free food and games (panem et circenses / bread and games). In the very beginning the gladiator fights were paid by private people, but in the time of Emperor Domitian they already had such an important role in the social life that were held only as a gift by the emperor to the people. They were organised in a strictly determined order. First were the venations, or the beast hunting. For example, the Dacian victory of Trajan in 107 AD was celebrated with 123 days of games, in which 10 000 gladiators killed 10 000 beasts. After the venations came the public executions, often preceded by cruel torments done with sinister instruments of death. A slight refinement of the games introduced the performing of famous and fearful episodes from the Roman and Greek mythology. The last in order were the gladiator fights, the high spot of the programme. To increase the spectacularity, more savour elements were introduced. Various fights between men, women and beasts were held. Criminals and slaves were opposed in fights to professional gladiators and the audience made a bet who will win. The spectators could win in this betting even a slave and literally held in their hands the fate of the participants: if they waved a towel in their hand somebody was spared, if raised their hand with a thumb pointing down, which as done more often, somebody was fated to die. But very often after the games the spared criminals were slaughtered too and the dead ones were pierced with spear at white heat to ensure they are really dead. The gladiator fights were organised until 438 AD and the last fight with wild beasts, documented in the written sources, was held in 523 AD.

The Arch of Constantine
(a photo by Dennis Mueller)

Right next to the Coliseum is situated the Arch of Constantine, built in 315 AD in honour of the victory Emperor Constantine won against his rival Maxentius in 313 AD. This is one of the last imperial monumental structures built in Rome. For its decoration were used a lot of bas-reliefs taken from earlier antique buildings.