Colosseum

Here we are at the HUGE Colosseum dating back a mere 2000 yrs ago. Actually it was started in the peak of the Roman Empire in AD 80. It was originally called the Flavian Amphitheater and was used for gladiator contests and public spectacles. Towering at 150 feet high, it could accommodate some 50,000 plus spectators. It is 188 meters on the long axis and 156 on the short one with the total area of the arena in 3357 square meters.

The Colosseum is essential Greek columns it does have Doric columns on the ground floor, Ionic on the second story, Corinthian on the next level and a mixture on the top.

Here is an example of what it looked like in its day. Outside there use to be a 100 foot statue in bronze of Nero which is not longer here.

In the Colosseum are different sections. Some sections are for the senators, some for the spectators, and the very highest were for the woman and slaves. The women could not be near the men......

There was also the Emperor's podium and our guide said that there might have been two for him depending on the sun and view.

 The mass of people today shows you the size of it,

 Here you can see the iron rods in the side of the wall. A lot of the Colosseum building was destroyed during an earthquake because the rods had been taken by various people during the time that the Colosseum was not being used.

 The parade into the arena.

Types of Gladiators

 The entrance into the arena. You can see the underground water system which was used to fill up the Colosseum for water games with ships that were small enough to float between these walls.  Then the water would be drained for the games later in the day.

This shows a reconstruction of a partial wooden stage floor.  It was not here when we visited 22 years ago.  It really helps to understand the underground system of the arena.

 Looking down into the under rooms where the gladiators and the animals stayed until heading into the arena .  There was a tunnel that connected this section to the Gladiators' barracks.

 This is the turning mechanism to lift the animals up to the next level

 As you look at this model, you can see the turning devices and the pulley system. As the animals come up closer to the arena, they climb up the ramp onto the stage.

 Showing the bricks and more of the details of the buildings.  Originally, no bricks were exposed.  It was all covered in marble.  After the Colosseum fell out of use, it was used as a ready-made quarry.  Stones were carried away for other building.

I put this picture in because it is showing the dark build up of pollution done by cars, smoke, anything that is polluting the air. Oh what we do..

 There was an elaborate canopy system that was operated by sailors to shade the seating from the hot sun.

My last view. It is quite impressive.
On to showing you Rome.
Ciao :-)