why was the colosseum built

Damaged by earthquake in 422 CE it was repaired by the emperors Theodosius II and Valentinian III. Despite their brutality, the gladiatorial shows had a strong religious aspect to them, and were seen as paying tribute to the death of powerful men. Although historically tied to earlier Etruscan games which emphasised the rites of death, the shows in the Roman arenas were designed simply to entertain, however, they also demonstrated the wealth and generosity of the Emperor and provided an opportunity for ordinary people to actually see their ruler in person. License. Encircling the arena was a wide marble terrace (podium) protected by a wall within which were the prestigious ring-side seats or boxes from where the Emperor and other dignitaries would watch the events. These three emperors, Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian, are collectively referred to as the Flavian dynasty, which is why the word “Flavian” is in the alternate nam… From the Renaissance period both artists and architects like Michelangelo and later tourists on their Grand Tour took a renewed interest in Roman architecture and ruins. Eventually, as these spectacles became dated, the Colosseum was rarely used and became largely neglected. Cartwright, M. (2018, May 29). The animals included elephants, aurochs, Caspian tigers, Barbary lions, wisents, rhinoceros, crocodiles, bears, leopards, panthers, and many more. "Colosseum." Explore Architecture of Imperial Rome in VR. https://www.ancient.eu/Colosseum/. The venue continued to be used for wrestling matches and animal hunts up to the 6th century CE but the building began to show signs of neglect and grass was left to grow in the arena. Two entrances were used for the gladiators, one of which was known as the Porta Libitina (the Roman goddess of death) and was the door through which the dead were removed from the arena. Cartwright, Mark. As a consequence, in 1744 CE Pope Benedict XIV prohibited any further removal of masonry from the Colosseum and consecrated it in memory of the Christian martyrs who had lost their lives there. To this day, it is the largest structure of its kind to have ever been built and is considered one of the new seven wonders of the world. The sheer size of the theatre was the possible origin of the popular name of Colosseo, however, a more likely origin may have been as a reference to the colossal gilded bronze statue of Nero which was converted to resemble the sun-god and which stood outside the theatre until the 4th century CE. The construction of the Colosseum was begun in 72 CE in the reign of Vespasian on the site that was once the lake and gardens of  Emperor Nero’s Golden House. Primarily, the amphitheater was used as a venue for gladiatorial contests as well as other social functions. Usually, these hunts were held in the amphitheater after the stage was set properly to look like a forest. Seen as an unacceptable challenge to the authority of Pagan Rome and the divinity of the Emperor, Christians were thrown to lions, shot down with arrows, roasted alive and killed in a myriad of cruelly inventive ways. There were no less than eighty entrances, seventy-six of these were numbered and tickets were sold for each. It is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Italy. To explain this, historians have theorized that the Colosseum was abandoned as the location for these particular shows early on because of the extent of the preparation necessary to have them there. To stand in the centre of this giant structure and marvel at its continued existence spanning millennia, the history it embodies, the millions of feet that stood on the same ground, the lives ended at your feet, is an experience unlike many other. Will 5G Impact Our Cell Phone Plans (or Our Health?! Is the Coronavirus Crisis Increasing America's Drug Overdoses? By Ferdinand Bada on October 9 2020 in World Facts. The shows, which were known as munera, were mostly planned and organized by private citizens rather than the state. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 29 May 2018. However, these accounts have been a source of debate as historians cannot understand how the structure could have been waterproofed or if warships would have enough space to fit. It was often landscaped with rocks and trees to resemble exotic locations during the staging of wild animal hunts (venatiories). There were dangerous animals such as lions, tigers, bears, elephants, leopards, hippopotamuses and bulls but there were also events with defenceless animals such as deer, ostriches, giraffes and even whales. The great earthquake of 1231 CE caused the collapse of the southwest facade and the Colosseum became a vast source of building material - stones and columns were removed, iron clamps holding blocks together were stolen and statues were melted for lime. The other door was the Porta Sanivivaria through which victors and those allowed to survive the contests left the arena. Colosseum. The following blood sports between various classes of gladiators included weapons such as swords, lances, tridents, and nets and could also involve female combatants. Mark is a history writer based in Italy. Related Content The Colosseum , also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre (Latin: Amphitheatrum Flavium; Italian: Anfiteatro Flavio [aɱfiteˈaːtro ˈflaːvjo] or Colosseo [kolosˈsɛːo]), is an oval amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy. Today, the Colosseum does not have many uses except to act as a major source of tourism for the city of Rome. The Colosseum was built as part of an imperial effort to revitalize Rome after the tumultuous year of the four emperors , 69 CE. The biggest building of its kind, it had the following features: The theatre was principally built from locally quarried limestone with internal linking lateral walls of brick, concrete and volcanic stone (tufa). Between the years 81 and 96, under the leadership of Emperor Domitian, a few modifications were made. As Vespasian claimed on his coins with the inscription Roma resurgens, the new buildings --the Temple of Peace, Sanctuary of Claudius and the Colosseum-- would show the world that ‘resurgent’ Rome was still very much the centre of the ancient world. The Colosseum was also the scene of many executions during the lunch-time lull (when the majority of spectators went for lunch), particularly the killing of Christian martyrs. One of the oldest depictions of the Colosseum appeared on the coins of Titus and shows three tiers, statues in the upper external arches and the large column fountain - the Meta Sudans - which stood nearby. The Colosseum, also named the Flavian Amphitheater, is a large amphitheater in Rome. Repairs were also made in 467, 472 and 508 CE. In order to learn a more about how the Colosseum came to be, we need to take a step back through history. The condemned people would be placed in the Colosseum without any form of clothing or defense against vicious beats. The top floor had Corinthian pilasters and small rectangular windows. Also known as the Coliseum or the Flavian Amphitheater, the Colosseum is an oval-shaped amphitheater in the heart of Rome, Italy. Vaults were built of lighter pumice stone. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2020) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. Underground archaeology is a niche topic and is highly specialized... 6 Surprising Facts About the Roman Colosseum. Why was it built? "Colosseum." Cartwright, Mark. Books 14 Oct 2020. It was built by at least 60,000 Jewish slaves, and about a third of the original structure still exists today. At the time of its construction, it had as many 80 entrances, and it was the sight of many displays of decadence, excess and brutality during the Roman Imperial period. Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization. Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University and Michigan State University and University of Missouri. Witness the monumental architecture of Imperial Rome, the product of centuries of building activities. Indeed, Pope Alexander VI actually leased the Colosseum as a quarry. The building was part of a wider construction programme begun by Emperor Vespasian in order to restore Rome to its former glory prior to the tur… On top of this roof platform sailors were employed to manage the large awning (velarium) which protected the spectators from rain or provided shade on hot days. We have also been recommended for educational use by the following publications: Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. Emperors Titus and Claudius were noted for shouting at the gladiators From Their seats in the colosseum. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Our mission is to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. The infamous Roman Colosseum was an amphitheater built for the entertainment of Roman citizens, commissioned by Emperor Vespasian. His special interests include pottery, architecture, world mythology and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share in common. The Roman Colosseum history is 1940 years old. Built under the Flavian dynasty, the Colosseum was the largest amphitheatre ever built at the time and could hold up to 80,000 spectators. Last modified May 29, 2018. The Colosseum is a centuries old oval amphitheatre in the centre of Rome, Italy. Hundreds, sometimes even thousands of animals, were butchered in a single day’s event and often brutality was deliberate in order to achieve crudeliter -- the correct amount of cruelty. This was drained and as a precaution against potential earthquake damage concrete foundations six metres deep were put down. The scene of all the action --the sanded arena floor-- was also eye-catching. Despite this crumbling away though, the venue was still used for the occasional religious procession and play during the 15th century CE. No special gear required, works on mobile and tablet! The infamous Roman Colosseum was an amphitheater built for the entertainment of Roman citizens, commissioned by Emperor Vespasian. Ancient History Encyclopedia. The animals that were hunted were mostly exotic beasts from around the world such as the Middle East and Africa. Why was the Colosseum built? The Roman Colosseum: The story of the world's most famous stadium and... A Monument to Dynasty and Death: The Story of Rome's Colosseum and the... Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. If there was one thing the Roman people loved it was spectacle... Slavery was an ever-present feature of the Roman world. ), The Secret Science of Solving Crossword Puzzles, Racist Phrases to Remove From Your Mental Lexicon. However, blood sports and death were the real purpose of the spectacular shows and an entire profession arose to meet the massive entertainment requirements of the populace - for example under Claudius there were 93 games a year. One vestige of the earlier Etruscan tradition continued, however, with the presence of the attendant whose job was to finish off any fallen gladiator by a blow to the forehead. It is estimated that up to two-thirds of the building is gone. Aside from munera, there was another popular show known as venation, which involved animal hunts. The finished building was like nothing seen before and situated between the wide valley joining the Esquiline, Palatine and Caelian hills, it dominated the city. Though in many ways the Colosseum symbolizes flamboyance, elitism and violence of the Roman Empire, it is still a stunning sight to behold to this day. Written by Mark Cartwright, published on 29 May 2018 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. Cite This Work Construction began under the emperor Vespasianin AD 72 and was complete… In addition, the Roman Catholic Church has used it as a venue for ceremonies such as Good Friday celebrations. The 19th century CE did, though, begin to see the fortunes of the once great amphitheatre improve. The Papal authorities sought to restore parts of the building, notably the east and western ends, with the latter being supported by a massive buttress.

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