The history of the Colosseum dates back to the 1st century AD. e. It is full of bright events and facts. This grandiose building has survived to our time almost in its original form. About the Colosseum itself, its rich history, interesting facts and events will be discussed in this article.
History of the Colosseum
Colosseum in Latin means "colossal, huge". It is also known as the Flavian Amphitheater (a dynasty of Roman emperors). The Colosseum is a monument of ancient Roman architecture and one of the many attractions that Italy is known for.
It was built between the Caelievsky, Esquiline and Palatine hills. The construction of the Colosseum began in 72 (I century AD). During the reign of Emperor Vespasian, founder of the Flavian dynasty. Eight years later, in the year 80, Emperor Titus consecrated the amphitheater, which was erected on the site of a pond belonging to the famous Golden House of Nero complex.
Reason for construction
To be more precise, the history of the Colosseum began in 68. That year the Praetorianthe guard changed their oath to the emperor, supporting the rebellious Senate. This led to the fact that Nero, after 14 years of dictatorship, committed suicide in a country estate near Rome.
His death led to a civil war that lasted for 18 years. In 69, the war was over, the victory was won by Titus Flavius Vespasian, the founder of the dynasty of emperors.
Before Vespasian was the task of reconstructing the center of Rome, not only to restore it, but also to strengthen his own power and cult, the eradication of any mention of his predecessor. A big problem for the construction of the Colosseum in Ancient Rome was the palace of Nero, which was called the Golden House. The palace itself and the area adjacent to it covered an area of 120 hectares in the very center of Rome.
Vespasian reconstructed most of the buildings, and the lakes next to the palace were filled up, having built the Colosseum in their place. All this large-scale event was quite symbolic, because the land that Nero used now began to serve the common people.
Construction history
The ancient amphitheater was erected at the expense of funds that were received after the sale of military trophies. According to historians, more than 100 thousand slaves and captured soldiers were brought to Rome for the construction and reconstruction of the entire complex of buildings. They were used to perform the most difficult work, for example, in the extraction of travertine in the quarries of the Roman suburb of Tivoli. They also transported stone from the quarry to Rome, the average journey was more than20 miles.
Large groups of architects, builders, decorators and artists completed their tasks, erecting an ancient amphitheater. However, the emperor Vespasian was not destined to live to see the completion of the grandiose structure; he died in 79. A year later, his successor Titus consecrated the Colosseum during its opening.
General Description
Like all the other amphitheatres of Ancient Rome, the Colosseum amphitheater was built in the shape of an ellipse, in the center of which there is an arena of the same shape. Concentric rings with seats for spectators are built around the arena. From all other structures of this kind, the Colosseum is distinguished by its impressive dimensions. The length of the outer ellipse of the Colosseum is as much as 524 meters, the large axis is about 188 m, and the small one is almost 156 m. The arena of the amphitheater reaches a length of about 86 m, and a width of almost 54 m, the height of the walls of the Colosseum ranges from 48 to 50 meters.
The construction is based on 80 radially directed pillars reinforced with walls, as well as load-bearing vaults and ceilings. The Colosseum is so massive that for its construction it was necessary to make a foundation, reaching 13 meters in thickness. Outside, the building was finished with travertine, which was delivered from Tivoli.
Facade of the amphitheater
The architecture of the Colosseum is majestic and grandiose, it still amazes with its magnificence. In the outer wall of the amphitheater, which reaches a height of almost 50 meters, there is a two-stage plinth, and the facade of the building itself is divided into four tiers. Three lowertiers are arcades (several arches of the same size and shape, which are supported by columns or pillars). This architectural technique was very popular in the 1st century AD.
The arches of the lowest floor are a little over seven meters high, and the supports supporting them reach a width of almost 2.5 meters and a depth of about 2.8 meters. The distance between the supports is 4.2 meters. Doric columns are built in front of the arches, but the entablature (upper part) was created in a different architectural style.
An interesting fact is that 76 arches of the lower tier out of 80 were numbered. Four remained without numbers, which were located at the ends of the axes, they were the main entrances to the Colosseum.
Upper part of facade
The columns located on the second tier of the Colosseum amphitheater rested on an attic (decorative wall), which was located above the entablature of the initial tier. The arcades of the second tier differ from the arcades of the first tier by the height of the columns, and also by the fact that they have not a Doric, but an Ionic order. The entablature, the attic, which served as the basis for the columns of the third row, was also smaller than on the first tier.
The height of the arches on the third tier is slightly less than on the second, and is 6.4 meters. The main difference between the arches of the second and third tiers was that there was a statue in each opening. On the third tier, the walls were decorated with pilasters in the Corinthian style. A window was made through each pair of pilasters.
Building name
Many people ask the question: "Why was the Colosseum namedColosseum?" It is worth noting that it was originally called the Flavian Amphitheater, since this dynasty of emperors was engaged in its construction. This building received the name Colosseum much later, it appeared in the 8th century. was.
However, there is a version that the Colosseum was so named because the colossus (statue) of Nero stood next to it. It was made of bronze and reached a height of 37 meters. Later, the emperor Commodus remade it, replacing the head of the statue. Now it is difficult to say in honor of what the Flavian amphitheater was renamed into the Colosseum, but both versions are quite consistent, and historians have not yet found a refutation.
The purpose of the Colosseum
The Colosseum in ancient Rome for the common people and for the patricians was the main place where various entertainment events were held. Basically, gladiator fights took place here, which at that time were very popular. Also, animal persecution and naumachia (sea battles) were carried out here. For naval battles, the arena of the Colosseum was filled with water, after which the battles began.
During the reign of Emperor Macrinus, in 217, the building of the Colosseum was seriously damaged by fire. But under the next emperor, Alexander Severus, the Colosseum was restored. In 248, in this building, Emperor Philip celebrated the millennium of Rome on a grand scale. And in 405, gladiator fights were banned in the Colosseum by Emperor Honorius. Relatedthis was with the spread of Christianity, which later became the main religion of the Roman Empire. Animal persecution continued here, but after the death of Emperor Theodoric the Great, in 526, they also stopped.
Colosseum in the Middle Ages
The history of the Colosseum in the Middle Ages was not the best. The invasions of the barbarians led to the decline of not only the amphitheater, but also Rome itself, gradually the Colosseum began to collapse. In the 6th century, a chapel was added to the amphitheater, but this did not give the whole structure a religious status. The arena, where gladiators used to fight, pit animals and arrange sea battles, was turned into a cemetery. The arcades and vaulted spaces have been converted into workshops and dwellings.
From the 11th to the 12th centuries, the Colosseum became a kind of fortress for the Roman nobility, who challenged each other for the right to rule over ordinary citizens. However, they were forced to cede the amphitheater to Emperor Henry VII, and he later gave it to the Roman people and the Senate.
Local aristocrats staged bullfights in the Colosseum at the beginning of the 14th century, from that time the building began to gradually collapse. In the middle of the XIV century, a powerful earthquake caused the collapse of the building, its southern side suffered the most.
Colosseum in the XV-XVIII centuries
Because the Colosseum was not one of the world's most famous landmarks at the time, it gradually began to be used as a building material. In addition to taking a stone from collapsed walls, itspecially pulled out of the Colosseum itself. From the 15th to the 16th centuries, stone was taken from here by order of various pontiffs for the construction of the Venetian palace, the Farnese palace and the Chancellery palace.
Despite this barbarism, a significant part of the Colosseum has been preserved, but part of the structure has been mutilated. Pope Sixtus V wanted to use the surviving amphitheater as a cloth factory, and Clement IX turned the Colosseum into a s altpeter factory.
Only in the 18th century did the pontiffs begin to properly treat this ancient majestic structure. Pope Benedict XIV took the Colosseum under his protection and began to consider it a place of memory for Christians who fell during the persecution of Rome. A huge cross was installed in the center of the arena, and several altars were placed around it in memory of the path of Christ to Golgotha.
In 1874, the cross and altars were removed from the arena of the Colosseum, and the new pontiffs continued to take care of the construction. By their order, the amphitheater was not only kept intact, but those walls that could collapse were strengthened.
Colosseum today
Currently, the Colosseum is under the protection of the state and guarded around the clock. The surviving fragments of the amphitheater, where possible, were installed in their places. It was decided to explore the arena, and archaeological excavations were carried out on its territory. Surprisingly, scientists found basements under the arena. Presumably they were used as a kind of backstage for people and animals before they went out onarena.
Despite almost two thousand years and hard trials, the remains of the Colosseum, without interior and exterior decoration, still make an unforgettable impression on a person who finds himself here. Even in this state, it is quite easy to imagine what exactly the Colosseum was like at its best. The monumentality of architecture is striking in its scale, along with this, an exquisite Romanesque style is visible. The Colosseum is deservedly considered one of the most famous sights in the world.
Today it continues to gradually deteriorate due to rainwater and atmospheric pollution. The Italian government has developed a program for the restoration and preservation of this amazing monument of history and architecture of Ancient Rome. It will be implemented in the near future. During this period, tourists coming here from all over the world will no longer be allowed into the Colosseum.
This building has become one of the symbols of Italy, just like the Leaning Tower of Pisa or the Trevi Fountain. The Colosseum today claims to be one of the new wonders of the world. Among the traditional seven, the following attractions are known:
- Pyramids in Egypt.
- Statue of Zeus in Greece.
- Temple of Artemis at Ephesus.
- Mausoleum in Halicarnak.
- Colossus of Rhodes.
- Alexandria lighthouse.
- The Hanging Gardens of Babylon in Babylon.
However, of all the listed sights, only the pyramids have survived to this day. The rest can only be learned from myths and legends. The Colosseum can still be admired today, despite the fact that this structure is almost 2 thousand years old.years. If you find yourself in Rome, be sure to visit this unique historical and architectural monument.
