THE ROMAN COLISEUM

 

THE ROMAN COLISEUM

• At the time of its construction, the Colosseum had the capacity of seating around 50,000 spectators.
• Initially, the amphitheatre was used for holding gladiatorial contests and public spectacles, such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles and dramas based on Classical mythology.
• Roman Coliseum remained in use for nearly 500 years. The last recorded games were held in it in the 6^th century.
• It was in the medieval era that the amphitheatre ceased to be used for entertainment purposes. Thereafter, it was used for housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry, and a Christian shrine.
• The games played in the Colosseum are believed to have taken the lives of about 500,000 people and over a million wild animals.
• Though ruined by earthquakes and stone-robbers, the amphitheatre serves as an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome.
• Roman Coliseum is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Rome and still holds close connections with the Roman Catholic Church.
• On every Good Friday, the Pope leads a torch lit "Way of the Cross" procession to the amphitheatre.

• The amphitheatre has been depicted on the Italian version of the five-cent euro coin.
• The Colosseum is an entirely free-standing structure, 189 m (615 ft) long, 156 m (510 ft) wide and with a base area of 6 acres (24,000 m²).
• The height of the outer wall of the amphitheatre is 48 m (157 ft), with the perimeter originally measuring 545 m (1,788 ft).
• The central arena of Roman Coliseum is oval in shape, being 287 ft long and 180 ft wide. It stands surrounded by a 15 ft high wall, which has tiers of seating above it.

• It has been estimated that the outer wall of the amphitheatre required over 100,000 cubic meters (131,000 cu yd) of travertine stone.
• The stones used in the outer wall of the Colosseum were set without mortar. In fact, they were held together by 300 tons of iron clamps.
• The arena of the amphitheatre is estimated to have the dimensions of 83 m by 48 m (272 ft by 157 ft).
• The surviving facade of Roman Coliseum's outer wall is made up of three stories of superimposed arcades, framed by half-columns of the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders.

• The arcades of the amphitheatre have been surmounted by a podium on which stands a tall attic, decorated with Corinthian pilasters.
• There were special boxes in the Colosseum, at north and south ends, for the Emperor and the Vestal Virgins, providing the best views of the arena.