Colosseum,s History and Facts

Today, the Colosseum is known for its architectural splendor and its painful history. It is one of the few structures that have survived the passage of time. However, during the Roman Empire, the Colosseum was famous for gladiatorial fights, animal hunts, and public executions of criminals, which were, after all, the Roman definition of entertainment.

History of the Colosseum 

The Colosseum was a place of death for some and a place of pleasure for others. The blood-soaked arena provided the Romans with a much-needed distraction from their hard lives. 

Often standing on the same architectural level as the pyramids, the Colosseum is the most magnificent symbol of ancient Rome. Built in AD 70, this structure inspires curiosity, wonder, and disbelief.

Despite everything that happened within its walls, the Colosseum is an engineering marvel. His brilliance has yet to be quenched, and the violence he uses can shock the hardest of hearts. 

Structure 

The Colosseum is 189 meters long and 156 meters wide, with a core area of ​​24,000 square meters. This place was formerly occupied by a lake built by Emperor Nero. 

The height of the building's outer wall was 48 meters, while the circumference of the original circle was 545 meters. The oval central area, surrounded by a 5 m high wall, was 87 m long and 55 m wide. Just outside the wall, the Colosseum began to stand.

To avoid flooding, drains were built 8 meters below ground, which led the water into the municipal sewage system. The depth of the foundation depends on where you are in the Colosseum—the foundation of the seating area was around 12-13 meters and the foundation of the arena was around 4 meters. 

About a million tons of concrete were used to construct this monumental structure, held in place by 300 tons of iron brackets. The Colosseum is the blueprint for many of the stadiums we see around the world today. If we were to build the Colosseum today, it would cost about $1 billion.

Seating 

The seating of the Colosseum is an interesting and revealing aspect to say the least. The building had 80 passageways, called vomitoria, meaning “rapid discharge” – hence the English word vomit. Seventy-six of these corridors were used by commoners, and four corridors were used by the aristocracy. 

The seating consisted of four rows representing the social classes of Roman society. The first tier – closest to the arena and thus offering the best view – was reserved for the Emperor, the Vestals, and the members of the sanatorium. 

The second tier was dedicated to the wealthy elite. The third tier was for civilians, and the fourth tier was reserved for slaves and women.

Large canopies were also erected to provide shade for spectators. The highest rank, representing the lowest social class, was given the best nuance, an undesirable advantage for the underprivileged in Roman society. 

What was under the floor of the Colosseum?

Beneath the floor of the Colosseum was a system of tunnels known as the Hypogeum, built by Emperor Domitian—he also built a top level to add more seating to the structure. 

The hypogeum consisted of two stories that housed wild animals, slaves (performing plays behind a curtain), and gladiators. There were elevators that brought animals and gladiators into the arena. There is also evidence that a hydraulic system existed.

What was it like to be a spectator in the Colosseum? 

The air was thick with blood and sweat as the Romans gathered in the Colosseum and took their seats to watch the gladiator fights, the laws of war and the hunting of animals. Viewers received free snacks and alcohol. When it was hot, they were sprinkled with scented water. 

It sounds funny and cheesy, but exactly the opposite happened on the field. During lunch breaks, those sentenced to death were thrown into the field to be eaten alive by wild beasts, and slaves were killed for fun—mostly criminals about to be executed. They killed each other before reaching the arena to avoid being torn apart, except for animals.

These acts would last for four centuries, but they ended when people developed compassion for the suffering of others. After the fall of Rome in AD 476, the Colosseum became an entirely different place. The last recorded gladiator fight was in AD 435, but animal hunting continued until AD 523. 

Abandonment 

After the fall of Rome, the Colosseum was all but abandoned. During the 6th and 7th centuries, the Colosseum was used as a chapel and part of the building as a cemetery. The site also offered accommodation and space for workshops. From the 14th to the 19th century, a religious order inhabited the Colosseum.

Why did the Colosseum collapse?

The Colosseum has undergone many structural changes throughout its history. A fire in 217 AD destroyed parts of the building, and it was not restored until 240 AD. After the site was abandoned, stone, marble and iron brackets were looted. 

An earthquake in 1349 did the most damage. Half of the outer wall collapsed. Until about the 17th century, the rubble was used for other projects in the city, some of the Colosseum's marble was used for St. Paul's Basilica. How long did it take to build the Colosseum? From 70 to 80 AD, the construction of the Colosseum took ten years.

Colosseum Facts, 

The largest amphitheater of ancient and modern times, certainly has some interesting facts to offer. From where it was built and why it was built to its seating capacity, everything about this mighty structure is a marvel. What are three interesting facts about the Colosseum? 

The Colosseum was built on the site of the Domus Aurea, meaning Golden House: 

a palace that belonged to Nero, who was notorious for his extravagant and decadent lifestyle. The Colosseum is also called the Flavian Amphitheater, but the name Colosseum is more popular and derives from a large statue of Nero inspired by the Colossus of Rhodes. The Colosseum can seat 50,000 to 80,000 people and is one of the new seven wonders of the world.