The Colosseum is known as the most famous landmark of Rome. It is an awe-inspiring monument popular for its lurid past, immense size and scale, and the ability to withstand the test of time. The Colosseum was originally known as the Flavian Amphitheater and is nearly 2,000 years old. To this date, it remains as the largest amphitheater ever Rome Colosseum Tickets known to mankind.
Today, the Colosseum comes in the list of the New 7 Wonders of the World and attracts nearly 4 million visitors each year. It is undergoing major restoration work funded by luxury Italian shoe company Tod’s.
Now let’s take a look at its intriguing history and note the unique spectacles that occurred within its premises…
The construction of the Colosseum took over a short decade, that is, between 70-80 AD, and involved up to 100,000 slaves in the process of building. Three different emperors oversaw its building. These emperors ruled under the Imperial Flavian dynasty, lending the structure its original name.
Although the construction of the Colosseum was started by Emperor Vespasian, his son Titus oversaw the addition of another tier after his death in 79 AD. The underground tunnels were built by his youngest son Domitian. He also added an extra level to increase the seating capacity.
The Amphitheater Flavian takes its name from the more commonly attributed Colossus of Nero. This is an enormous bronze statue of the Emperor which was located right beside the structure and in the vicinity of the Domus Aurea (his famed villa complex).
The Colosseum once used to be a gathering and recreational space that was intended for gladiatorial contests, historical re-enactments, public spectacles, mythological theatrical performances, and of course, the bloody executions. It had the capacity to hold between 50,000 to 80,000 spectators. The seating arrangements are so that they reflect the stratification of Roman society, as in, the senators were seated closest to the stage that marks their importance. On the other hand, the poorest Roman citizens, including women, stood at the highest level.
An ingenious design was developed by the skilled architects of the Colosseum. This included an entrance system comprising 80 entrances and exits, each with a number to allow access in and out of the structure. The Colosseum, unlike most ancient amphitheaters that were built into hillsides for support, is quite different and impressive in so many ways. It is a freestanding structure made of travertine stone. This kind of stone was sourced from the nearby Tivoli area and iron clamps were used to hold it together.
Most closely associated with gladiatorial shows, the Colosseum often had combatants who were not skilled professionals but rather a bunch of unlucky slaves and criminals pitted against each other to amuse the public. As a matter of fact, the animal hunt, or as it was named – the venatio, became popular mostly for its novelty and shock appeal.
The Romans were always in pursuit of ostentatious displays of wealth and power. In the hope of this, they procured exotic animals such as lions, elephants, bears, giraffes and crocodiles from the outskirts of the empire and opened their cages off into the pit. This would often result in the deaths of unfortunate souls who would be mutilated to pieces.