THE COLOSSEUM - ROME 

The Colosseum is originally known as the Flavian Amphitheater, it was the largest building of that era. The Flavian Amphitheater Emperor Vespasian, founder of the Flavian Dynasty, started construction of the Colosseum in AD 72 and completed in AD 80. The huge amphitheater was built on the site of an artificial lake, part of Nero's huge park in the centre of Rome which also included the Golden House (Domus Aurea) and the nearby Colossus statue. This giant statue of Nero also gave the building its current name.

The Building The Colosseum in Imperial Rome

The elliptical building measures 188m by 156m and reaches a height of more than 48 metres. The Colosseum could accommodate some 55,000 spectators and it has more than 80 entrances. Above the ground are four storeys, the upper storey contained seating for lower classes and women. The lowest storey was preserved for prominent citizens. Below the ground were rooms with mechanical devices and cages containing wild animals. 

Velarium

The Colosseum was covered with an enormous awning known as the velarium. This protected the spectators from the sun. It was attached to large poles on top of the Colosseum and anchored to the ground by large ropes. 

Bread and circuses

Emperors used the Colosseum to entertain the public with free games. Those games were a symbol of prestige and power and they were a way for an emperor to increase his popularity. Games were held for a whole day or even several days in a row.  Sometimes free Romans and even Emperors took part in the action.

Inauguration

Titus, Vespasian's successor, opened the building in AD 80 with one hundred days of games.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9c4bsbl4g0

A reconstruction of Colosseum in Gladiator

The Colosseum was virtually reconstructed for the Ridley Scott's film Gladiator starring Russell Crowe. The following video is n example of the techniques used for its reconstruction.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtufDL90azI

THE COLOSSEUM’S LOCATION

The Colosseum was built in the aria occupied by the huge Nerone’s palace . The Domus Aurea,  was built after the big fire of Rome in 64 B.C., and it had to be a valley between “Colli della velia,Palatino, Celio,Appio, and Fagutale; it was crossed by a little river that ran towards the Tiber. The little lake was used to save on the foundation that were made of travertine  pilasters laying on a concrete ring, alternating with only some little flutes that  was used for the flowing of the rain water that otherwise would flood the whole area. Near this building there was a colossal statue of Nerone, and the legend says that the name Colosseum came from  this big statue. After the death of the Emperor Nerone the “colosso” was moved from its original collocation and in the same place was put the Venus temple.

THE USE OF COLOSSEUN IN THE PAST

In the Colosseum there were a lot of gladiators’ fighting ,some hunting performances and also human executions. Historically It isn’t showed that this was a place of Christian executions, as the tradition wanted. The most important events were celebrated with bloody fighting, and the gladiators were supported by a shouting audience of about 70000 people.

In the arena were built incredible scenaries to give more excitement to the fighting. Fires and earthquakes destroyed seriously the Colosseum so there were a lot of interventions of restoration between the II and IV century. After Teodorico started the end of the Colosseum that became a stone quarry. Then it was transformed in a fortes and Benedetto XIV declared it sacred for the memory of the Christian martyrs.         by Stefano spera