Colosseum, Also Called Flavian Amphitheatre, Giant Amphitheatre Built

Colosseum, also called
Flavian
Amphitheatre, giant amphitheatre built
in Rome under the Flavian emperors.
Construction of the Colosseum was begun
sometime between 70 and 72 CE during the
reign of Vespasian. It is located just east of
the Palatine Hill, on the grounds of what
was Nero’s Golden House. The artificial lake that was the centrepiece of that palace
complex was drained, and the Colosseum was sited there, a decision that was as
much symbolic as it was practical. Vespasian, whose path to the throne had relatively
humble beginnings, chose to replace the tyrannical emperor’s private lake with a
public amphitheatre that could host tens of thousands of Romans.
The structure was officially dedicated in 80 CE by Titus in a ceremony that included

100 days of games. Later, in 82 CE, Domitian completed the work by adding the
uppermost story. Unlike earlier amphitheatres, which were nearly all dug into
convenient hillsides for extra support, the Colosseum is a freestanding structure of
stone and concrete, using a complex system of barrel vaults and groin vaults and
measuring 620 by 513 feet (189 by 156 metres) overall. Three of the arena’s stories
are encircled by arcades framed on the exterior by engaged columns in the Doric,
Ionic, and Corinthian orders; the structure’s rising arrangement of columns became
the basis of the Renaissance codification known as the assemblage of orders. The
main structural framework and facade are travertine, the secondary walls are
volcanic tufa, and the inner bowl and the arcade vaults are concrete.
Colosseum
The amphitheatre seated some 50,000 spectators, who were shielded from the sun
by a massive retractable velarium (awning). Supporting masts extended
from corbels built into the Colosseum’s top, or attic, story, and hundreds of Roman
sailors were required to manipulate the rigging that extended and retracted the
velarium. The Colosseum was the scene of thousands of hand-to-hand combats
between gladiators, of contests between men and animals, and of many larger
combats, including mock naval engagements. However, it is uncertain whether the
arena was the site of the martyrdom of early Christians.
In medieval times, the Colosseum was used as a church, then as a fortress by two
prominent Roman families, the Frangipane and the Annibaldi. The Colosseum was
damaged by lightning and earthquakes and, even more severely, by vandalism and
pollution. All the marble seats and decorative materials disappeared, as the site was
treated as little more than a quarry for more than 1,000 years. Preservation of the
Colosseum began in earnest in the 19th century, with notable efforts led by Pius VIII,
and a restoration project was undertaken in the 1990s. It has long been one of
Rome’s major tourist attractions, receiving close to seven million visitors annually.
Changing exhibitions relating to the culture of ancient Rome are regularly mounted.
The Colosseum is famous because it is an origin of gladiator battles that took place in the time of Roman
Empire. Moreover, Dion Cassius claimed that 9000 wild animals were killed in the one hundred days of
celebrations which inaugurated the amphitheater.
The Colosseum was built as part of an imperial effort to revitalize Rome after the
tumultuous year of the four emperors, 69 CE. As with other amphitheatres, the
emperor Vespasian intended the Colosseum to be an entertainment venue, hosting gladiator
fights, animal hunts, and even mock naval battles. The Colosseum fell into serious disrepair
after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. During the 12th century, the Frangipane and
Annibaldi families repurposed the arena to function as their fortress. In the late 15th century,
Pope Alexander VI permitted the Colosseum to be used as a quarry. After over a thousand
years of neglect, state-funded restoration efforts began in the 1990s. As one of the few mostly
intact structures from the Roman Empire, the Colosseum stands today as a monument to
ancient Rome’s architectural and engineering prowess. It is also a major source of tourism
revenue for the Italian government. In 2018 the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill
together brought in more than $63.3 million (€53.8 million), the highest revenue of any
tourist attraction in Italy.

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Colosseum, also called

The structure was officially dedicated in 80 CE by Titus in a ceremony that included

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