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ROMAN COLOSSEUM
ROME’S MOST ADVANCED ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT
ISABELLA GIBSON
CONSTRUCTION OF THE COLOSSEUM
• Construction began in 72 A.D under the order of
Emperor Vespasian of the Flavian dynasty
• Three tiers of seats were placed at all angles around the ellipse
shaped stadium, and could seat more than 50,000 people at
once
• They chose this shape because if the stadium had corners, it would
be easier to trap and kill an opponent, making the fight shorter and
less entertaining
• The tree tiers were intended for the class systems: the wealthy
in the front, working class in the middle, and slaves and
foreigners in the back
• However, these unwritten rules were often ignored due to the
excitement and chaos that went with the Colosseum
• Gladiators were men (and some women) that trained tirelessly at special
schools for years before entering a battle
• Gladiators would often fight using various weapons such as nets, swords,
tridents, lances, etc.
• The Colosseum would also host mock naval battles where the stadium would be
flooded with about 5 feet of water using advanced plumbing systems
• Ships and boats full of convicted criminals and prisoners would often be set
on fire or sunk with the convicted still on them
• The Romans would also have imported exotic animals to be slaughtered by the
bestiarii, or professional beast fighters
• Some animals include leopards, lions, ostriches, wolves, bears, elephants,
and even whales.
• The Romans eventually lost interest in gladiator battles, and new forms
of entertainment were introduced
• Chariot races were popular, along with Roman adaptations of track
and field games derived from Greece
• After the gladiator fights ended, the Colosseum was used for some
religious services and housing a couple of wealthy families
• The Colosseum underwent a series of earth quakes that left it with only
2/3 of its original design from 500 CE to the 20th century
• A combination of natural disasters and vandalism left the walls,
seating, and floor permanently damaged
• As the years went on, locals also began using the fallen stone that they
found as building materials for their own uses
• In 1744 CE, Pope Benedict XIV outlawed any further removal of
artifacts or ruins from the Colosseum’s grounds.
THE COLOSSEUM TODAY: WHAT IT REPRESENTS