The colosseum
The colosseum
A visit to the colosseum :
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The colosseum, an architectural marvel that stands to leave one with a binate emotion of awe and distaste. Built over the existing palace lake of the tyrant emperor, Nero, the colosseum was a gift from Vespasian to the people of Rome. The 50m high structure towered over Rome, a symbolic representation of the power and perseverance of the empire.
Depiction of the slaughter of animals for sport
However, as beautiful as the structure is one cannot forget the darker thread that exists. Built on the backs of Jewish prisoners of war. The colosseum was built to host games that slaughtered gladiators and exotic wild animals for entertainment, it conducted horrific executions of prisoners. It is hard to wrap our minds around the glorious yet dark truth to a symbolic and celebrated monument
Made or 100,000 cubic meters of locally sourced travertine, the colosseum stands tall and measures 620ftx513ft. It is an intricate system of barrel and groin vaults. Made from combined materials of travertine, roman cement and Volcanic tufa (a rock made of volcanic ash). The façade of the colosseum is a series of 80 arches on the first three levels. The columns for each of these arches are influenced by the Greek order. Starting with the Corinthian at the top, ionic in the middle and the Tuscan at the bottom. The arcade along the arches, connect to an intricate system of brick staircases and vaulted corridors that would take the spectators to the amphitheater in the center. The top level of the facade, is made of flat walls, into which inlays and carvings were made in bronze and azurite.
Volcanic Tuffa Rock
Depiction of a fight between gladiator and a wild animal
A section showing the intricate system of the vaults, arcades and staircase leading to the theatre
The seating in the theatre was divided based on class or wealth. Starting with the emperor and senates at the bottom followed by the wealthy businessman and then the women, slaves and foreigners at the top. The marble seating was reserved for the wealthy while the top seats were of plain wood. A structure called the velarium would extend over the seating to provide shade.
The brick stairs leading to the inner ring
The corridor around the theatre
A corinthian coloumn (for scale, i am 5'10" tall!) Behind we see some travertine blocks from the structure
Brick, travertine and Volcanic tuff
The system of arches and vaults that carries through in the walls as well, this provided ample support especially for embankments.
Groin Vault in the arcades
Barrel Vaults, a view directly to the theater
Fired clay Bricks
A scaled model showing the facade, with the wooden masts that held the velarium
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