pictured above: an artists impression of the Colosseum, the Colosseum as it is today
The Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Ampitheatre, was built by the emperor Vespasian. It took eight years to complete, and was finished in the year 80 CE. It rises to a height of 50 metres and could seat about 50,000 spectators.
pictured above: a diagram of the Colosseum (information below)
- The attic
- Tiered seating for the spectators - with senators at the front, then noble class, ordinary citizens, then women, slaves and poor people at the very top.
- The velarium, a retractable awning which shielded the occupants from the weather
- The mast corbels, which held up the velarium
- The outer wall
- The box where the Emperor and his family sat
- Entrances to the arena
- Seating for the Senators
The Colosseum was used for games and entertainment, primarily: gladiatorial combat (fights between men); venationes (men against wild beast); and naumichiae (naval battles), as the wooden floor could be removed and the oval flooded. The people participating in these fights were recruited and trained in special schools, then divided into categories according to things such as their armour and physique. When the gladiators entered the arena, they would greet the emperor with the following: "Ave, Imperator! Morituri te salutant!", which means "Hail, Emperor! Greetings from men about to die!". And while it is widely thought that the emperor would turn his thumb down to signal the death of the gladiator, that is more than likely a myth.
For the ancient Romans, going to a gladiatorial fight was like going to the cinema. People would read the Acta Diurna (Daily Acts, a sort of gazette that was updated daily and displayed in the forum) to see when the next fight would be on, and root for their favourite gladiator. The modern day equivalent would be going to a sports match, and for the Romans (at least, those who could afford it) it was a part of daily life and form of entertainment.
Author's comment:
The Colosseum and the events that went on there give us a glimpse into the lives of the Ancient Romans, and is an excellent and well preserved example of the entertainment that they enjoyed. It is truly interesting to see such a long standing monument with such a rich history.