Built in the Esquiline, Palatine and Caelius hills, with its 48 metres of height it owes its name to the gigantic bronze statue of Nero which used to dominate the Imperial Forums. It was certainly a favourite place with the ancient Romans, who loved bloody combats. The amphitheatre had a capacity of up to 85.000 spectators who enjoyed the shows with gladiators (munera), wild animals hunts (venationes) and even naval battles. No military victory, anniversary or religious festivity would go unduly celebrated. Flabbergasting sceneries were set up in record times to make the fights more elating; sometimes they would last for days.

The name of the constructor is not known, perhaps Rabirius or a certain Gaudentius, what is certain though is that the Colosseum is a work of extraordinary engineering. The four floors are a superimposition of orders recalling Greek architecture. The first was 10,50 mt adorned by halfcolumns of the Doric order. The second floor, in the Ionic order, was 11,85mt high. The third floor, in the Corinthian order, was 11,60 mt high. The fourth floor consisted of a plain wall with projecting corbels supporting the bases of masts to which the Velarium, a large canopy, was attached, to shelter spectators on days of strong sun.

After many centuries of degrade and neglect, during which it was even used as a quarry for building materials, at the end of the 19th century the Colosseum was cleaned from the thick vegetation that covered it; at that point the structure underneath the arena was revealed- at the time it was used to host the necessary services for the games.
(Photo: APT Roma)

March.2003

Municipality of Roma (In Italian)
Tourism in Rome