The Colosseum
or
The Flavian Amphitheatre
First opened 1,940 years ago by Emperor Titus in 80 A.D. after a mere 10 years of building work. This huge building, originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, named after the family who built it, is the largest amphitheatre ever built. It could accommodate around 7,000 people at one time. It’s elliptical in shape and is at the longest point, measures 188 metres long and 156 metres wide. The outer walls are 50 meters high and formed by 80 arches. That’s the boring bits out of the way. Now, these arches functioned as entrances and led to a series of tunnels and steep stairways that would direct visitors to their allocated seating or in the case of the very top level, standing room only. You accessed your level by one of the 160 vomitoria (which means a rapid discharge, and it’s obviously where we get the words vomit from). The way the theatre was built meant that it could be filled or more importantly in an emergency, emptied very quickly within a matter of minutes. Probably even faster than modern theatres or stadiums. Romans were clever. Watch this short video as proof:
Where one sat within the theatre was dependant on your social class. The Emperor and Vestal Virgins got the best seats in the house. The senatorial class was level with them in the surrounding seats; above them were the Equites, who were a noble class of citizen. Above them were the wealthy citizens then the higher you went, the poorer it became. The last wooden area for standing was for slaves and the common rabble. Regardless of your seating allocation, the games or processions were free to watch. Sometimes, depending on the goodwill of the Emperor, they could even get a free meal included with the entertainment.
Like I said, these Romans were smart. It is hot here, I can totally testify to that. I am writing this with the A.C. blasting. They were smart because who wants to watch games, even if they are free in the baking hot sun. They included in the top of the theatre, huge retractable awnings. Sailors, brought up from the ports close to the city, were hired to move them since they would function much like sails. Once fully opened, one could watch the games from a shaded marble seat, but better remember to bring your own cushion though!
Another amazing feat of architecture, was that for a brief time, the arena could be flooded and filled with actual boats. The Emperors like to show off their victories in war and that included re-enactments of naval battles. This was only possible for a few years until they decided to create a huge labyrinth under the floor of the arena. This included quarters for the wild animals used in hunts, equipment and scenery storage areas, and elevators used to bring people and animals into the middle of the arena. There was also a tunnel to link the nearby gladiator school. Along with naval battles, they were noted for creating whole landscapes with hills and trees and rivers, complete with roaming wild animals found in that region. It was important to create entertaining animal hunts since they eventually banned the fighting of gladiators around 438 A.D.
Why Is It Called The Colosseum?
Let’s go back and look at why we know this building as the Colosseum rather than its original name. Where it stands in the centre of Rome, was once heavily populated but in 64 A.D. after a great fire that rampaged through this part of the city, the Emperor at that time made an unpopular decision … any guesses who it could be?
Although he did not actually play the violin, Emperor Nero seized this land for himself and created a huge villa, the Domus Aurea and park complete with a man made lake. At the entrance to his park, he placed a massive 30-meter high bronze statue of himself, known as the Colossus of Nero.
After Nero’s death, a year of chaos ensued and the one who came out still standing was the Emperor Vespasian. He then wanted to distance himself from this highly unpopular man. Destroying a large part of Nero’s villa, he filled in the lake and started to build a giant entertainment theatre for the people of Rome, (smart move, keep the people happy!) Work started in the year 70 A.D., it was almost finished by his death but completed and opened by his son Titus.
Remember the statue? Not wanting to destroy such a huge, and I am sure, awe-inspiring statue, they changed it to depict the Sun God Apollo. It remained standing outside the theatre until medieval times when it was finally melted down for its metal. Overtime, people began to refer to the Flavian amphitheatre by the name of the statue. Which is less of a mouthful?
“Hey guys, let’s meet at the Flavian amphitheatre.”
Or
“Hey, see you at the Colosseo later?”
Visit The Colosseum
If you would like to go visit the Colosseum, I can recommend either of three ways. If you are not very organised in advance, you can find a tour promoter hanging around outside the Colosseum, this way is only really useful if there is a huge queue as it allows you to skip the queue and obviously you get a tour and then free time to wander by yourself. Or book your ticket online for a allocated time to enter on http://www.coopculture.it/en/colosseo-e-shop.cfm. This website allows you to booked guided tour in advance including the area underneath the arena and third ring. The last is just to join the regular queue and wait, there are many signs within the theatre full of useful information.
One thing I really must recommend, make sure you take a bottle or two of water. It gets very hot in there and there are no movable awnings any more to help shade the inside.
Included in the ticket price is the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, which is situated just across from the arch of Constantine.
Have you been to the Colosseum? What did you think?
