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| The '''Colosseum''' is a famous ] in ]. | |||
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| ⚫ | Its construction began under the Emperor ], circa ] A.D. and finished by his son, ], in the ]'s A.D. The Colosseum was built near the site of ]'s enormous palace, which was later destroyed in the great fire of Rome. There was a ''colossus'' (a very tall statue) of Nero nearby, from which legend says the Colosseum's name was derived. This statue was later remodeled by Nero's successors into the likeness of the sun-god by adding the appropriate solar crown. | ||
| The Colosseum was ingeniously designed. It has been said that most spectacle areas (stadiums, and similar) have been inspired by concepts expressed in the Colosseum's structure, even in modern times. | The Colosseum was ingeniously designed. It has been said that most spectacle areas (stadiums, and similar) have been inspired by concepts expressed in the Colosseum's structure, even in modern times. | ||
Revision as of 13:12, 5 September 2002
The Colosseum is a famous amphitheatre in Rome.
Its construction began under the Emperor Vespasian, circa 70 A.D. and finished by his son, Domitian, in the 80's A.D. The Colosseum was built near the site of Nero's enormous palace, which was later destroyed in the great fire of Rome. There was a colossus (a very tall statue) of Nero nearby, from which legend says the Colosseum's name was derived. This statue was later remodeled by Nero's successors into the likeness of the sun-god by adding the appropriate solar crown.
The Colosseum was ingeniously designed. It has been said that most spectacle areas (stadiums, and similar) have been inspired by concepts expressed in the Colosseum's structure, even in modern times.
The Colosseum could be emptied in about five minutes. But the single most ingenious part of the Colosseum was its cooling system. The Romans roofed the Colosseum using a net-like structure made of ropes, with a hole in the center and some covering stretched over the ropes. This roof was raised about 3 meters above the top of the Colosseum on big poles. The roof gradually sloped towards the center to catch the wind and provide a breeze for the audience.
Oftentimes, lions and other beasts were made to fight in the Colosseum, and they do not have a very pleasant odor. However, the breeze, once getting all the way down to the floor, would have gained enough heat to begin rising and carry any odors through the hole in the center of the Colosseum's roof. The senators and other high-ranking Romans would never have smelled a thing.
The Colosseum also hosted combats between Gladiators.
However ingenious the Colosseum was, it didn't survive the test of time intact. Even as it stands today, it is not even remotely as spectacular as it used to be.
In the middle ages, it was converted into a fortress and the marble was burned to make limestone for their mortars. During the Renaissance, but mostly in the Baroque age, the ruling roman families (from which many Popes of the Catholic Church came) used it as a source of marble for the construction of St. Peters Basilica and the private familiar Palazzi. A famous description is in the saying Quod non fecerunt Barbari, fecerunt Barberini; what the Barbarians weren't able to do, was done by the Barberinis.
When all is said and done, 1/3 of the original Colosseum was destroyed. This, coupled with earthquakes, leaves the ruins we now know as the Colosseum.