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    The Colosseum

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    The Colosseum was constructed in Rome between 70-72 CE during the reign of Vespasian. It was built on the site of Nero's former palace complex and lake to replace the emperor's private domain with a public amphitheater. The Colosseum had a capacity of 50,000 spectators and hosted gladiator battles and animal hunts. After Rome fell, it was damaged by earthquakes and treated as a quarry for over 1,000 years before preservation efforts began in the 19th century. It remains one of Rome's most popular tourist attractions.

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    The Colosseum

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    The Colosseum was constructed in Rome between 70-72 CE during the reign of Vespasian. It was built on the site of Nero's former palace complex and lake to replace the emperor's private domain with a public amphitheater. The Colosseum had a capacity of 50,000 spectators and hosted gladiator battles and animal hunts. After Rome fell, it was damaged by earthquakes and treated as a quarry for over 1,000 years before preservation efforts began in the 19th century. It remains one of Rome's most popular tourist attractions.

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    The Colosseum was constructed in Rome between 70-72 CE during the reign of Vespasian. It was built on the site of Nero's former palace complex and lake to replace the emperor's private domain with a public amphitheater. The Colosseum had a capacity of 50,000 spectators and hosted gladiator battles and animal hunts. After Rome fell, it was damaged by earthquakes and treated as a quarry for over 1,000 years before preservation efforts began in the 19th century. It remains one of Rome's most popular tourist attractions.

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    34 views6 pages

    The Colosseum

    Uploaded by

    api-387894346
    The Colosseum was constructed in Rome between 70-72 CE during the reign of Vespasian. It was built on the site of Nero's former palace complex and lake to replace the emperor's private domain with a public amphitheater. The Colosseum had a capacity of 50,000 spectators and hosted gladiator battles and animal hunts. After Rome fell, it was damaged by earthquakes and treated as a quarry for over 1,000 years before preservation efforts began in the 19th century. It remains one of Rome's most popular tourist attractions.

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    The Colosseum

    By Christian Bigley
    When Was it made?

    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.
    What Did it do?
    The amphitheatre seated some 50,000
    spectators, who were shielded from the
    sun by a massive retractable velarium .
    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.
    What happened to it after Rome
    fell?
    • The Colosseum was damaged by lightning and earthquakes in
    medieval times and, even more severely, by vandalism. 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.
    Fun facts
    • It took 60,000 Jewish slaves to build the Colosseum. It was built of
    stone and concrete.
    • Some of the events and games that were held in the Colosseum
    lasted for up to 100 days.
    • Ray Charles, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel and Elton John have all
    performed concerts at the Colloseum.
    Sources
    • http://www.softschools.com/facts/wonders_of_the_world/colosseum_fa
    cts/88/
    • https://www.britannica.com/topic/Colosseum

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