The Flavian Amphitheater, or Colosseum, is located in Rome and is a large ellipsoidal arena, built at the very beginning of our era (1st century), during the time of the rulers of the Flavian dynasty. The stadium was used for a variety of exciting public entertainment events. Let's take a closer look at the history of the amphitheater and figure out how old the Colosseum is in Rome.

Purpose of construction

Who built the Colosseum in Rome and why? Construction of the amphitheater began in 72, during the reign of Titus Flavius ​​Vespian (December 20, 69 - June 24, 79) on the site where the lake and gardens of the Golden House palace and park complex of Emperor Nero were once located.

The structure was part of a wider building program begun by Vespasian to restore Rome to its former glory, which had been lost in the civil war following the death of the tyrant ruler Nero. The emperor also ordered the start of minting new coins depicting new buildings - the Temple of Peace, the Sanctuary of Claudius and the Colosseum - in order to show the world that a resurgent Rome was still the center of the Ancient World.

Origin of the name

The first name of the attraction is the Flavian Amphitheater. As you might guess, the building received this name in honor of the dynasty that initiated the construction.

And the well-known modern name Colosseum (in English Colosseum) came from a very large sculpture of Nero, which stood next to the theater, but disappeared without a trace in the Middle Ages. The name literally translates as “huge statue” (from the English word colossus).

History of construction

The main construction work lasted eight years. The Flavian Amphitheater began its activity already in 80, that is, during the reign of Titus, the first heir of the former emperor Vespasian. But only during the reign of another son, Domitian, all the work was finally completed.

Financing was carried out through the plunder of Jerusalem and the sale of captives from there (their number was thirty thousand). Another hundred thousand slaves were brought to Rome to obtain building materials and the construction itself.

Therefore, it turns out that the theater was built mainly from local minerals and bricks. Thus, the walls were built from large travertine marble, and volcanic tuff stone, limestone and brick were used for their decoration. The vaults of the Colosseum were built from light pumice.

Building dimensions

The finished Colosseum in ancient Rome was something that had never been seen before. It had four floors and a wall height of more than 45 meters (about 150 feet), and in some places they reached 50 meters. The thickness of the foundation was 13 meters. And the dimensions in length were simply amazing - the walls of the outer ellipse were 524 meters long. The arena itself was 53.62 meters wide and 85.75 meters long. The total area of ​​the Colosseum is 24,000 square meters.

Thanks to such impressive dimensions, the structure could accommodate up to eighty-five thousand spectators.

Amphitheater architecture

The architecture of the Colosseum in Rome is also impressive - monumental arches arranged in three tiers, columns of the Ionic, Tuscan, Corinthian orders.

The structure included eighty entrances. Four of them were intended for rulers. They were located in the northern part of the structure. Fourteen entrances were for horsemen, the remaining fifty-two for other spectators.

Scheme of occupied places by class (bottom to top):

• senators;
• know;
• other citizens.

The seats of the emperor and his retinue were located in the north and south.

The system of corridors and tunnels practically eliminated the possibility of crushes and meetings of people from different classes.

Also, the architecture of the building provided for the installation of awnings over the arena during too sunny days.

Purpose of the amphitheater

In ancient Rome, in order to earn respect from the common people, the ruling class needed to put on mass spectacles. The Colosseum arena was perfectly suited for this purpose. Therefore, gladiatorial fights (munera), animal hunting (venationes) and naumachia (sea battles) were often held within the walls of the amphitheater.

Carrying out such events required not only large material costs, but also rules and special regulatory laws. Therefore, the Roman emperors created the Ministry of Games (Ratio a muneribus), which dealt with these issues.

Everyone could visit the Colosseum - from the nobility to the common people, but only free citizens. Therefore, it is not surprising that all segments of the population could meet within its walls.

Gladiator fights

The role of gladiators were people who, in fact, were not needed by the state for any other purposes and had no rights. Most often these were slaves and prisoners sentenced to death. These people were not sent to fight immediately. At first they were required to undergo training in gladiatorial schools.

Slaves had some advantage over criminals. The latter had no chance of survival - they had to die either in the arena during the battle or during the execution of the death penalty. Slaves had to perform in the Colosseum only for three years.

After some time, volunteers - free Romans - began to enroll in the ranks of gladiators. The training lasted several years before they were allowed to enter the arena. The gladiators were subordinate to the lanista - an overseer who had the right of life and death over the soldiers.

Animal hunting

Animal hunting was no less popular at the Colosseum. It was held in the first half of the day and was a kind of prelude to the gladiatorial fights in the evening.

These performances were the only opportunity for many citizens to see species of animals that were rare for them, which were specially caught in different parts of the Roman Empire and beyond. Among them were:

• lions;
• tigers;
• elephants;
• bulls;
• bears;
• crocodiles;
• rhinoceroses and others.

The height of the arena fence from spectators was increased to five meters for the safety of the latter. And for greater interest, the organizers exhibited mixed pairs. For example, python versus bear, bear versus seal, lion versus crocodile. But you could also see classic fights - lion versus tiger.

Another type of competition was fights between people and animals. The wrestlers were equipped with a spear and released into the arena.

Naval battles

The most expensive events held within the walls of the Colosseum were battles called naumachia, or naval battles. These were reproductions of famous battles on the high seas. The arena was filled with water using a complex hydraulic system.

The participants were almost always criminals who had been sentenced to death, sometimes including specially trained sailors in their ranks. For battles, ships were used that were in no way inferior to real combat ships.

During the period of the naumachia, the following naval battles were staged:

• the destruction of the Athenian fleet at Aegospotami;
• the triumph of the Greeks over the Persians during the battle of Salamis and others.

After the games

The history of the Colosseum in Rome changed greatly with the spread of Christianity throughout Europe. With his arrival in Italy, the killing of people within the walls of the amphitheater stopped, as did the hunting of animals. This happened in 405 by order of Emperor Honorius. In addition, organizing and holding the games required considerable financial expenses, which the Roman Empire could no longer afford due to the economic crisis caused by the barbarian invasions.

The Colosseum in Rome began to be used for simpler purposes at different times:

• for housing;
• as a fortress;
• as a religious monastery.

The building is no longer cared for as diligently as it was in the era of gladiatorial battles. The walls of the theater began to succumb to the barbaric attitude of people, who took almost everything they saw and could carry into their homes and for the construction of other buildings. For example, the marble cladding and bricks of the Colosseum were used during the construction of the Palazzo Venezia, the Cathedrals of St. Peter and St. John the Baptist. The earthquakes that occur from time to time had an equally destructive impact. For example, as a result of the most powerful of them in the fourteenth century, one part of the theater wall was destroyed.

Gradually, the Colosseum in Ancient Rome faded away, leaving behind only a shadow.

According to researchers, the amphitheater lost almost two-thirds of its original size in just five centuries (from the 6th to the 21st centuries).

Theater revival

What saved the Colosseum from disappearing from the earth altogether was its reputation as a sacred place where Christian martyrs met their fate. But the results of modern historical research suggest that the fact of Christian sacrifice within the walls of the amphitheater is nothing more than a myth.

Complete destruction stopped in 1749, when the Colosseum was recognized as a public church by order of Pope Benedict XIV. A huge cross was installed in the middle of the arena, and altars around it.

The walls of the once huge Colosseum were not only left alone, but gradually began to be restored. Since then, reconstruction efforts have continued with minor interruptions.

Today's Colosseum in Rome - a brief description

The Colosseum is still far from being completely restored to its former greatness - today only thirty percent of its total volume remains. But despite this, its ruins are one of the popular tourist attractions. The number of photos of the Colosseum in Rome is not inferior to those of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.

Among the restoration work carried out, which further increased interest in the amphitheater and increased the number of places for tourists to visit, the following are worth mentioning:

1. Clearing and restoration of underground tunnels intended as a place for gladiators to wait for their turn to enter the arena (work carried out in 2010).
2. Restoration of the third tier of the theater, which was intended for middle-class spectators (the first work was carried out back in 1970).

Today the following places of the Colosseum are freely available:

• an arena and part of the underground premises, where you can feel the full power of the amphitheater and feel like you are in the place of ancient gladiators;
• spectator seats in the first tier, that is, the imperial and senatorial boxes, on some you can still see the names of the Roman leaders who were here;
• almost all surviving galleries, stairs and passages;
• gates;
• the upper galleries, from which a stunning view opens, but only daredevils manage to climb there.

The Roman authorities plan to carry out several more complexes of reconstruction work:

1. Restoration of the internal area of ​​the theater.
2. Comprehensive restoration of underground premises.
3. Construction of a tourist service center.

In addition to being a tourist attraction, today the Colosseum in Rome serves as the site of the Pope's few religious services. Concerts by Americans Billy Joel and Ray Charles and Englishmen Paul McCartney and Elton John were also organized here.

And since July 7, 2007, descriptions of the Colosseum in Rome can be found in various publishing houses telling about the seven wonders of the world.

Where is the Colosseum?

The address of the Colosseum is Celio district of Rome, Piazza Colosseum, 1. Detailed directions can be found on the official website of the amphitheater.

They also offer to get to the attraction in the following ways:

• by metro, get off at Colosseo station (line B);
• bus numbers 60, 70, 85, 87, 175, 186, 271, 571, 810, 850, C3;
• electric minibus No. 117;
• on tram line no. 3.

Tickets can be purchased at the entrance to the Colosseum. But to get them, you have to stand in a long queue, the waiting time in which can last for several hours. The ticket office itself closes an hour before the Colosseum closes. Some tourists use a trick - they buy a complex ticket. It gives entry to three attractions - the Colosseum, the Palatine and the Forum. The price of such a ticket is about twelve euros.

Visiting times for the Colosseum may vary. This depends on the reconstruction work being carried out. The current schedule can always be found on the official website. According to the latest information, the amphitheater is open from 8:30 a.m. to:

• 16:30 (until February 15);
• 17:00 hours (from February 16 to March 15);
• 17:30 (from March 16 to March 28);
• 19:15 (from March 29 to August 31);
• 19:00 pm (from 1 to 30 September);
• 18:30 hours (from October 3 to October 31).

You can also learn more about opening hours thanks to information signs located at the entrance to the Colosseum.

The Colosseum (from the Latin colosseus - huge), or the Flavian amphitheater, is one of the most symbolic architectural structures of mankind. This is something of a prototype of the modern Western entertainment industry: giant stadiums, built in the spirit of the latest engineering technologies, still have at their core the timeless design of the Colosseum. Millions of references, quotes and allusions in popular culture, cinema and literature confirm the power and enduring significance of this grandiose monument. Now the Colosseum is a symbol of Rome and the most visited tourist site of ancient culture.

History of the Colosseum

Construction of the Colosseum began under Emperor Vespasian in 72. To build this colossal structure, a pond belonging to the luxurious palace complex of Vespasian's predecessor, the despotic ruler of Rome, Emperor Nero, was dried up.

The fire of 64, which occurred in Rome under mysterious circumstances during the reign of Nero, destroyed many entertainment buildings and amphitheaters. Traditionally, in the Roman Empire, theater, public battles and spectacles were a powerful way to control the population and strengthen the authority of the current government. Nero ordered the construction of a huge palace for himself in the center of the damaged city.

Vespasian, returning to Rome after the successful suppression of the Jews, to strengthen his cult, ordered the construction of a grandiose amphitheater in the center of the city for the entertainment of the people. This was a reasonable decision from a political point of view: the lands taken by Nero for the construction of an exorbitantly luxurious residence went to the people - thus, the memory of the despot paled before the glory of the new emperor.

In 1980, construction was completed. On the opening day, spectators were presented with a large-scale naval battle - naumachia. Millions of liters of water were pumped into the newly built Colosseum using a complex and massive hydraulic system.

For a long time, the amphitheater served as the main place of entertainment for the Romans; gladiator fights, animal persecution, and naval battles took place here. Scenes of hunting wild animals were very popular. Only here could the Romans see exotic animals brought from the environs of the empire and other countries.

After the establishment of Christianity as the state religion, most of the amusements familiar to the Romans were banned, but in practice they did not immediately disappear from the stages of the amphitheater.

At the Colosseum, everything was done to ensure that the spectators left the spectacle extremely satisfied. For example, during performances, the audience was sprayed with refreshing aromatic compounds. A special device, the design of which was restored by scientists only recently, sprayed incense over a large area.

The barbarian invasions marked the beginning of the systematic destruction of the Colosseum. And in the middle of the 14th century, a powerful earthquake caused the collapse of the main Roman amphitheater. From then on, the building began to be considered as a source of building material: the stones of the amphitheater were selected and chipped off on purpose, after which they were used in the construction of new structures.

The attitude towards the monument changed only in modern times. In the middle of the 18th century, the Colosseum was taken under the protection of the Catholic Church. Pope Benedict XIV declared it the place where many Christian saints were martyred and made it a reminder of the suffering of Christ.

Architecture and landmarks

The Colosseum is an ellipse in plan. The oval shape was traditional for Roman amphitheatres; it fit well into any area and was convenient for dynamic performances.

The oval structure of the amphitheater also contains a social idea. The circle is a democratic shape: everyone is an equal distance from the center. The oval made it possible to distribute the audience according to their social status: more distinguished people were seated closer to the stage. The emperor and his retinue were also clearly visible to visitors from all rows.

With its entire appearance, the amphitheater glorified the greatness of Rome. In the arched openings there were 160 gilded statues of deities of ancient mythology that have not survived to this day. On the wall of the upper floor there were huge shields emphasizing the military superiority of Rome. Even the columns used in the arch system were associated with temples, which were losing their popularity at this time.

The logistics solution used in the construction of the Colosseum proved so effective that it is used in the construction of large stadiums to this day. 80 entrances are distributed evenly along the entire perimeter of the structure. This makes it possible to fill a huge amphitheater with a capacity of several thousand people in 8 minutes and completely empty it in 5 minutes.

Each spectator received a token with a route, which indicated which doors he should enter, which passage he should climb, and which place he should take. The routes followed the shortest route. This system also made it possible to divide spectators by class. The bottom row of the theater was reserved for the nobility, and each subsequent tier was reserved for people of lower status.

A secret tunnel led to the emperor's bed. The inside was very richly decorated with colorful frescoes. This tunnel has not been completely excavated by archaeologists, so it is still unknown where this underground passage began.

Continuing the excavations is hampered by the fact that the corridor passes under a busy highway in modern Rome.

Under the arena there were rooms and cages in which slaves and wild animals were kept. During the performance, they climbed up using a complex technical device. These mechanisms, used in such cruel entertainment, amaze with their engineering precision and perfection. They were driven by the physical strength of slaves.

Another interesting fact is that under the ground of the Colosseum there were even burial places of the bodies of killed gladiators.
For clarity, a fragment of the arena was built at the height level at which it was historically located.

Museum

There is a museum inside the Colosseum. Thousands of tourists visit it every day to take photos of rare exhibits. A small exhibition contains preserved bas-reliefs and mosaics that decorated the amphitheater. It also stores models of the building and mechanisms used in the performances. The museum presents a collection of finds: objects that were left by the Romans, as well as the remains of war animals.

Among the items forgotten by viewers, most of all were dishes and disposable cutlery. Just as modern movie theatergoers buy popcorn before the show, ancient showgoers enjoyed snacking during the shows.

The Colosseum today

Currently, the Colosseum is protected and studied by the world scientific community. New historical artifacts are being discovered that shed light on the history of the amphitheater's construction.

Each stone of this grandiose monument is a UNESCO site and is carefully guarded 24 hours a day.

Efforts are being made to restore the building, which suffers from pollution and heavy traffic. Vibrations created by busy traffic on the road have a destructive effect on the condition of the monument.

The government of Rome is well aware of the symbolic and iconic role of the Colosseum in the mass consciousness of humanity. For centuries associated with cruelty and death, the Colosseum is gradually changing its image through the efforts of the Roman authorities. Thus, since 2000, it has been customary to change the color of the amphitheater’s night lighting every time the death penalty is abolished in the world or any death sentence is not carried into effect.

The Colosseum is still considered a monument to the history of Christianity; every Good Friday a procession of the cross takes place here, uniting hundreds of thousands of Christian believers.

Location on the map, opening hours and cost

Address: Piazza del Colosseo, 1. 00184 Roma, Italy.
Official website: www.the-colosseum.net

The Colosseum is open from 8:30 am to sunset. Visiting times should be checked on the official website; they vary depending on the time of year.

Ticket price - 12 euros. You can also use it to get to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. The ticket is valid for 2 days. For citizens under 18 years of age, admission is free. Free entry is available on City Day.

The cost of a 45-minute tour of the amphitheater is: 5 euros. Additionally, you can purchase a ticket for a tour of the underground passages, it costs 9 euros, duration of the excursion - 1 hour 20 minutes.

If you plan to visit a large number of museums in a short period of time, it is most profitable to purchase a general Roma Pass card. It allows you to visit 2 museums for free, and provides a discount on visiting the rest. The card is valid for 3 days.

How to get there?

The easiest way to get to the Colosseum by metro, reaching Colosseo station.

It is difficult to find a person who has not heard anything about him in our time. This is one of the most grandiose buildings in the entire era of human existence, a universally recognizable symbol of the Roman Empire. We are talking about the famous Colosseum amphitheater in Italy (Rome).

Amphitheater Colosseum in Rome: history and interesting facts

The Colosseum in Rome was built in 80 AD under the Roman Emperor Titus of the Flavian family. The building itself was called the Flavian Amphitheater. The Golden House of Nero, or rather its artificial lake, located in the city of Rome, was chosen as the site for construction. The construction of the building took only 8 years.

Colosseum is Latin for colossal. It is not surprising that it was this name that replaced the official version of the amphitheater among the people. And although by this time it was already difficult to surprise the ancient Roman architects with the construction of huge amphitheaters, the Colosseum in Rome surpassed all its competitors by an order of magnitude and quickly became associated as a new wonder of the world.

The size of the building is impressive. The oval-shaped arena occupies an area of ​​86 by 54 meters, the entire building has axial diameters of 156 and 188 meters, and the wall height is 48 meters. 80 entrances and 50 thousand seats confirmed the enormity of the Flavian amphitheater.

The architect of the building was Quintius Aterius. Slave labor was used to build such a huge structure. Construction went on both day and night.

The building was erected on a 13-meter concrete foundation, which was made in a drained lake. The reliability of the structure was ensured by a frame made up of 80 radial walls and 7 ring walls.

What is the Colosseum made of? During the construction of the Colosseum in Italy, a variety of materials were used: marble for seats, travertine for circular walls, concrete and tuff for radial walls, brick for arches. Marble cladding was made separately.

In its original form, the Colosseum amphitheater had 3 floors. On the first there was the emperor's box and marble seats for the Senate. On the second floor, marble benches were installed, intended for citizens of Ancient Rome. On the third floor there were places for all other spectators, made in the form of wooden benches and just standing places. In the 2nd century, the last fourth floor was completed.

On bad days (heat or rain) the arena of the Roman Colosseum could be closed with an awning stretched over the masts. It is worth noting the floor of the arena itself. It was made of wood, usually covered with a layer of sand, and was... movable. For naval battles, the arena could be filled with water from a suitable aqueduct.

The main purpose of the Colosseum in Rome was to host gladiator fights. The amphitheater arena could accommodate up to 3 thousand fighters. What stands out in history is the celebration of the opening of the Colosseum, which lasted for 100 days. In addition to gladiator fights, hunting scenes were also staged here, with special decorations pulled out from the wooden floor. Another date in the history of the Flavian Amphitheater is the celebration of the millennium of Rome in 249. Thousands of gladiators and animals also died here. The bloody massacres came to an end only in 405.

With the fall of the great Roman Empire, the building of the Colosseum amphitheater in Italy began to decline and began to collapse. In the Middle Ages, the Colosseum was referred to as a castle. During the Renaissance, local residents began to dismantle the amphitheater for the construction of local structures. Even later, homeless people found shelter here.

The end to the overgrowth and destruction of the Colosseum amphitheater was put in the 18th century by Pope Benedict XIV. On his initiative, a cross was erected here in memory of the shed blood, and church events began to be held. And nowadays, on Good Friday, the Way of the Cross takes place here, uniting thousands of Christian believers.

And although the Colosseum in Rome is half destroyed these days, it still makes a huge impression and proudly holds the title of symbol of Rome.

An ancient Roman amphitheater located in Rome. It is the largest of all existing amphitheaters and a perfectly preserved monument of ancient Roman architecture. Most likely, the Colosseum is the first association that many people have when mentioning the capital of Italy. That is, this ancient monument can be considered a symbol of the city, just as it is considered a symbol of Paris, and Big Ben is a symbol of London.

It was built in 8 years, from 72 to 80 BC. It was originally called the Flavian Amphitheater, and received the name Colosseum from the 8th century, probably due to its size.

Its structure is a classic ancient Roman amphitheater. This is an ellipse, in the middle of which there is an arena of the same shape. Tiers of seats for spectators were erected around the arena. The main difference between the Colosseum and other similar buildings is its shape. Its length is 187 meters, width – 155. The size of the arena is 85 by 55 meters, and the height of the outer walls of the Colosseum is about 50 meters.

TOolyseum served as the center for all Roman entertainment spectacles. Games, gladiator fights, animal baiting, and sea battles were held there. But in 405, fighting was banned and the Colosseum fell into disrepair. It suffered from the invasion of barbarians, then served as a fortress passing from hand to hand, and after which it gradually began to be dismantled for building materials. It was only in the 18th century that Benedict XIV took the Colosseum under his protection, and the popes who followed Benedict carried out a number of restoration works.

Now the Italian authorities are taking care of the Colosseum. Partially, with the help of debris, the arena was restored and excavated, under which basements were discovered. But, unfortunately, the condition of the Colosseum is far from ideal - rainwater, vibrations of the modern metropolis and pollution threaten this monument of ancient architecture with complete destruction.

But, despite the partial destruction and loss of its former beauty, it still makes a huge impression and attracts a huge number of tourists every year. The Colosseum can be called one of the world's most famous attractions, the main symbol of Rome.

The Colosseum or Flavian Amphitheater is a grandiose structure in the form of an amphitheater, built in the center of Rome by representatives of the Flavian dynasty in 72-80 AD. e. The main purpose of this construction masterpiece was the communication of the emperor with the people. It was accompanied by majestic and bloody spectacles of gladiatorial battles. The first of these was held in 80, and the arena was used for various competitions until 523. After this, spectacular events, on the initiative of the Roman senator and patrician Anicius Maximus, were prohibited due to their high cost.

The Colosseum today

Construction of the Colosseum

The construction of the Flavian amphitheater was preceded by the 14-year despotic reign of Emperor Nero. It ended in 68. The emperor committed suicide, and after this civil war broke out. It lasted a year and a half, and its culmination was the rise to power of Emperor Vespasian, who laid the foundation for the Flavian dynasty.

The new ruler needed the support of the people, and therefore required popular measures that could arouse admiration and veneration. At that time, the center of Rome was occupied by Nero's huge palace, which was called the Golden House. It included an unfinished palace, a park, and an artificial lake. They decided to erect government institutions on this territory, fill up the lake and build an amphitheater in its place. As planned, it was supposed to serve for the entertainment of free citizens of Rome. Thus, Vespasian wanted to emphasize that he was not a usurper, but a ruler who cared about the welfare of his subjects.

It should be noted that all amphitheaters in Ancient Rome were built on the outskirts of cities. And the Colosseum was the only one of its kind, which was erected in the very center of the capital. As a result of this, it acquired a special status and began to be considered a meeting place for emperors and their citizens.

The grandiose construction was preceded by military operations in Judea. There, rich spoils were taken from the Jewish temple. It was they who became the source of financing for construction work. The workforce consisted of slaves. Their number reached 100 thousand people. They did all the hard manual work. And they were led by professional builders from citizens of Rome. In addition, artists, decorators, and sculptors took part in the work.

All work began in 72, and by 79 3 floors were erected. The fourth floor or level was completed under Emperor Titus in 80. Under the next emperor Domitian, a dungeon was built. It consisted of rows of underground rooms in which slaves and animals were kept. They were lifted into the arena using special lifts. And they appeared as if from underground, which created an additional effect. An overhead gallery was also added to increase capacity.

This is what the Colosseum looked like under the Flavians

Architectural features

The Colosseum was a free-standing structure and shaped like an ellipse. This ellipse was 189 meters long and 156 meters wide. The original perimeter reached 545 meters. The central arena was 87 meters long and 55 meters wide. The arena was surrounded by a 5 meter high wall. Above it there were seats for spectators. The height of the outer wall of the amphitheater was 48 meters.

The amphitheater could accommodate 65 thousand people at a time, although the ancient Romans themselves called the number equal to 87 thousand people. Therefore, numerous entrances were provided along the perimeter. There were 80 of them in total. Each entrance had its own number. Citizens of Rome bought tickets in the form of shards, each with an entry number. Thanks to this, seats were filled in just 30 minutes.

There was a main northern entrance for the emperor and his entourage. In addition, there were 3 more entrances for the nobility. All of them were richly decorated with painted stucco bas-reliefs. The remaining entrances were intended for the general Roman public. Most of the entrances disappeared with the collapse of the perimeter wall. In our time, entrances 23 and 54 have been preserved.

The entire building structure rested on a foundation 13 meters thick. The outer wall was made of travertine stones. They were fastened not with mortar, but with iron staples. In general, the construction project had a relatively small weight, since its main share was occupied by arches decorated inside with statues.

The Colosseum in a section with underground structures

The arena was a wooden floor covered with sand. Under the arena there was a complex underground structure consisting of 2 levels. This is a network of tunnels and cages under the arena. Gladiators and animals were placed in cages before the competition began. There were 80 lifts. Thanks to them, animals and decorations were instantly delivered upstairs. The animals entered the underground cages through underground tunnels connected to rooms located outside the Colosseum. The lifts were special elevators that were driven by a whole system of pulleys.

There is evidence of large hydraulic mechanisms associated with the water supply network. With their help, it was possible to quickly flood the arena with water and simulate naval battles.

The seats for spectators were made of stone. They were divided into tiers. And each tier was intended for a specific class. The first tier had 20 rows of benches. Representatives of the city authorities and the equestrian class sat on them. There were 16 rows in the second tier. Wealthy Roman citizens sat there.

Next there was a high wall separating the second tier from the third. The third tier seats were positioned more steeply to improve the view of the arena. These places were also intended for Roman citizens, but only of the lower class. The fourth tier was built under Domitian. Visitors, slaves and the poorest citizens of Rome went up there, since no payment was taken for the fourth tier. But the seats there were mostly standing. There were groups of people who were not allowed into the Colosseum. These included former gladiators, funeral workers and actors.

The defeated gladiator is sentenced to death

Brief history of the Colosseum after construction

After its construction, the Flavian Amphitheater served as a place for colorful and bloody spectacles. They included gladiator fights, fights with lions and other large predators, and sea battles. Free citizens of Rome gladly attended such events. In addition, the emperor was constantly present there. At the end of the gladiatorial battles, it was he who decided whether the defeated opponents should live or not. But at the same time, the head of the empire was always guided by the opinion of the audience. Having made a decision, he either raised his thumb up, which meant life, or lowered it, which meant death.

In 217, the Colosseum was damaged by a large fire caused by lightning. He destroyed the wooden upper levels. Repair work continued until 240. Gladiatorial battles took place in the amphitheater until 435, but then they were banned because they did not correspond to the spirit of Christian morality. In 443 there was a strong earthquake and the amphitheater was badly damaged. Large restoration work was carried out in it in 484 and 508. The last animal hunt dates back to 523.

After the invasion of the barbarians, the Flavian amphitheater gradually began to fall into disrepair and collapse. At the end of the 6th century, a small chapel was built on its territory. The arena was converted into a cemetery. The tiers where the seats were located were converted into living quarters and began to be rented out. At the end of the 11th century, the wealthy Frangipani family (Roman clan) turned the Colosseum into their castle.

This is what a gladiator fight looked like from the top tier

In 1349, the amphitheater was heavily damaged by a strong earthquake. The entire south side of it collapsed. These stones were subsequently used to build churches, hospitals, and other buildings in other areas of Rome. After this, the huge structure began to be gradually taken away for building materials. Only the northern part of the Colosseum remained untouched, as it was considered the property of the Catholic Church.

In 1749, Pope Benedict XIV declared that the Flavian Amphitheater was a sacred site because the first Christians were martyred here. But there is no evidence to support Benedict XIV's statement. Apparently people were very interested in building materials. But no one dared to disobey dad. Therefore, a large cross and altars were placed in the middle of the arena. All this was removed only in 1874. Subsequent popes also continued to care for the Colosseum. And on their orders, major repairs of the remaining structures were carried out from time to time.

Inside the Colosseum today

Currently, the majestic building of antiquity is considered a symbol of Rome. A huge number of tourists visit it every year. Concerts are regularly held near the walls, using the preserved wall of the amphitheater as a backdrop. Unfortunately, the surrounding atmosphere, polluted by exhaust gases, negatively affects the ancient structure. The last restoration work took place from 1993 to 2000. They cost 40 billion Italian lire. The amount is large, but there is nowhere to go, because current generations should not forget the history of human civilization.