The Construction of the Colosseum
The decision to build the Colosseum came from Emperor Vespasian. His ruling followed the infamous Nero. During the rule of Nero the Great Fire of Rome of 64 A.D. wrecked the city. Nero then appropriated prime land in the city to build a grand palace on. During the burning of Rome the main stone amphitheatre had been burnt down and many smaller had also. After the death of Nero, the Romans people's morals were at an all time low. Vespasian had to get support back from the people and assure the popularity of the Flavian family. His idea was to demolish the palace of Nero and construct a permanent area for housing free gladiators games and other entertainment for the Romans. The magnificence of the building was to convey the Glory of Rome.
Construction began in 73 - 75 A.D. and was almost completed in 79 A.D. when Vespasian died. Titus, Vespasian's eldest son saw the completion of the Colosseum. Vespasian's second son Emperor Domitian added the top tier of the Colosseum and many other vast connected rooms beneath the Colosseum. The cost of the construction is unknown but in 70 A.D. Titus had sacked a Jerusalem of their treasures. The Jerusalem treasure's were used for the expenses of the Colosseum. Over 100000 slaves from the Jewish War were used as labourers in the construction. The slaves did the labouring jobs and a team of professional builders did the skilled jobs.
Construction began in 73 - 75 A.D. and was almost completed in 79 A.D. when Vespasian died. Titus, Vespasian's eldest son saw the completion of the Colosseum. Vespasian's second son Emperor Domitian added the top tier of the Colosseum and many other vast connected rooms beneath the Colosseum. The cost of the construction is unknown but in 70 A.D. Titus had sacked a Jerusalem of their treasures. The Jerusalem treasure's were used for the expenses of the Colosseum. Over 100000 slaves from the Jewish War were used as labourers in the construction. The slaves did the labouring jobs and a team of professional builders did the skilled jobs.
Exterior of the colosseum
Unlike many other Greek theatres (Figure 2) that were built in the side of hillsides the Colosseum was a free standing structure. The shape of the Colosseum was shaped from placing two theatres back to back creating and rounded shape. The ellipse shape of the Colosseum is 189 meters long, and 156 meters wide, with a base area of 24,000 square metres (6 acres). The height of the outer wall is 48 meters. The perimeter originally measured 545 meters. The central arena is an oval 87 m long and 55 m wide, surrounded by a wall 5 m high, which above rows of seating rested.
The outer wall is estimated to have used over 100000 cubic metres of travertine stone (Figure 3). The travertine stone was set without mortar, but held by 300 tonnes of iron clamps. Sadly, over centuries of use it has suffered extensive damage, large sections have fallen apart and crumbled into ruins from earthquakes. The North side outer wall is still standing with the distinctive triangular brick wedges (Figure 4). They have been recently added. Other than that, the rest of the outer wall is still the original from ancient times. The surviving side of the outer wall compromises of four levels. The first three have arches and top is an attic with small windows. The ground floor had 80 arches used for entry to the amphitheatre (Figure 4). Each story contained columns of a different order. At the bottom were columns of the relatively simple Doric order, followed by Ionic and topped by the ornate Corinthian order. Each story has 80 arches going around the amphitheatre. Above each entrance was an entry number, this also happened on each staircase (Figure 5). 76 of the entrances were for commoners, the other four entrances were richly decorated in painted stucco reliefs, some these still survived to today. The Northern entrance was for Emperor and acquaintances would be the only people who could enter here. The other three entrances were for elites. There were awnings which could be unfolded on hot days to protect the spectators.
The outer wall is estimated to have used over 100000 cubic metres of travertine stone (Figure 3). The travertine stone was set without mortar, but held by 300 tonnes of iron clamps. Sadly, over centuries of use it has suffered extensive damage, large sections have fallen apart and crumbled into ruins from earthquakes. The North side outer wall is still standing with the distinctive triangular brick wedges (Figure 4). They have been recently added. Other than that, the rest of the outer wall is still the original from ancient times. The surviving side of the outer wall compromises of four levels. The first three have arches and top is an attic with small windows. The ground floor had 80 arches used for entry to the amphitheatre (Figure 4). Each story contained columns of a different order. At the bottom were columns of the relatively simple Doric order, followed by Ionic and topped by the ornate Corinthian order. Each story has 80 arches going around the amphitheatre. Above each entrance was an entry number, this also happened on each staircase (Figure 5). 76 of the entrances were for commoners, the other four entrances were richly decorated in painted stucco reliefs, some these still survived to today. The Northern entrance was for Emperor and acquaintances would be the only people who could enter here. The other three entrances were for elites. There were awnings which could be unfolded on hot days to protect the spectators.
INterior of the colosseum
The Colosseum could have fitted 87000 spectators but by modern estimates it is thought to have been able to fit 50000. The seating was ranked in social standings, with the senators sitting at the front, followed by the novels and knights, then the intermediate categories, then lastly women and commoners (Figure 6 and 7). There were special boxes which were built for the use of the Emperor. Some citizens were banned from the Colosseum including actors, past gladiators, and gravediggers. The Colosseum was known to be able to have all spectators leave in under 15 minutes.
The central arena was 87 metres long and 55 metres wide. The surfaces was made of wood which was covered in sand. Below, there was an 18 metre basement. The basement was about the same size as the arena and had many connecting rooms and corridors (Figure 8). The basement was used to support the show like modern theatres today. The basement was used for storing animals, medics, gladiators and many other things. Many ingenious pulleys so that an animal or gladiator could join the fight without interruption. The basement also had many taverns with many amenities including bar, food and gambling.
The central arena was 87 metres long and 55 metres wide. The surfaces was made of wood which was covered in sand. Below, there was an 18 metre basement. The basement was about the same size as the arena and had many connecting rooms and corridors (Figure 8). The basement was used to support the show like modern theatres today. The basement was used for storing animals, medics, gladiators and many other things. Many ingenious pulleys so that an animal or gladiator could join the fight without interruption. The basement also had many taverns with many amenities including bar, food and gambling.