The eternal symbol of Rome
In the beating heart of the Eternal City stands one of the world's most famous wonders: the Colosseum. Officially known as the Flavian Amphitheater, this imposing monument is not only an icon of Rome but a true universal symbol of the greatness, ingenuity, and power of Roman civilization.
Every year, millions of visitors from every corner of the planet converge to admire this millennia-old structure, awestruck by its majesty and the extraordinary history it holds within its ancient stones. But what makes the Colosseum so special? It is not just its antiquity, but the extraordinary combination of history, architecture, engineering, and culture that has made it, and continues to make it, a timeless icon.
History and construction of the Flavian Amphitheater
The origins: a political and popular gesture
The history of the Colosseum begins with an act of great political and social significance. After the tumultuous reign of Emperor Nero, characterized by excesses and despotism, his successor Vespasian, founder of the Flavian dynasty, undertook a restoration of popular consent. He chose to return to the Roman people an area that Nero had transformed into a private artificial lake within the sumptuous gardens of his Domus Aurea.
On this drained land, Vespasian wanted to build a large amphitheater for public entertainment, a symbolic gesture of great impact: to return to the people what a tyrannical emperor had taken from them, transforming a place of private pleasure into a stage for public and free entertainment for all Roman citizens.
The project was ambitious and aimed to restore Rome to its ancient splendor, showing the world that the city remained the undisputed center of the ancient world.
The timelines and emperors of the Flavian dynasty
The construction of the monument, which began around70-72 AD,at the behest of Vespasian, was an undertaking of extraordinary size and speed for the time. The amphitheater was officially inaugurated in80 AD,by Vespasian's son, Emperor Titus, with grand games that, according to chronicles, lasted one hundred consecutive days, during which it is estimated that about 5,000 wild animals were killed.
The completion of the work was finally the work of the third emperor of the dynasty, Domitian, who added the last tier of seating and, above all, had the complex and innovativeunderground structures (the hypogeum)built beneath the arena.
Architecture and engineering of the Colosseum
The dimensions of the Flavian Amphitheater are truly impressive and testify to the advanced engineering capabilities of the Romans. The structure, with an elliptical plan, reached a height of over48 meters(the equivalent of a sixteen-story building), with a total area of about24,000 square meters..
The name "Colosseum" does not derive from its size, but from the enormous golden-bronze statue of Emperor Nero, theColossus of Nero, which stood in the immediate vicinity of the amphitheater.
Materials and construction techniques
The construction of the Colosseum made the best use of available materials and the most advanced Roman techniques. The outer facade, still partially visible today, is made up of imposing blocks oftravertine, a durable limestone.
The internal supporting structures were made oftuffandconcrete, while lighter elements such as the vaults and the seating were made usingbricksand, for the upper parts, thepumice, a lighter volcanic stone that reduced the weight of the structure. The materials were held together by iron clamps, which were removed and reused in subsequent centuries, leaving the characteristic holes still visible on the outer walls.
The four architectural orders
The outer facade of the Colosseum was, and still is in part, a masterpiece of elegance and functionality. It was structured onfour superimposed orders. The first three orders consist of eighty arches framed bysemi-columns of different architectural orders: on the first floor, more massive, Tuscan order (Roman variant of the Doric), on the second floor Ionic, and on the third floor Corinthian. The fourth and final level, the attic, is instead characterized by a smooth wall marked by Corinthian pilasters and interspersed with small rectangular windows.
The Velarium: the movable roof of the Colosseum
To protect the spectators from the sun or rain, masonry and wooden supports were inserted in the last order to support a hugetarpaulin (velarium). This complex structure was made up of about 80 triangular sails made of hemp, operated by a team of experienced sailors who, with a system of ropes and winches, opened and closed it depending on the weather conditions.
The Hypogeum: the underground theatrical machine
One of the most fascinating and lesser-known aspects of the Colosseum is its complex underground system: thehypogeum. Under the wooden arena, Domitian had a two-level structure built consisting of a labyrinth of corridors, cells, and trapdoors. It was here that the shows were prepared: the gladiators waited for their turn, cages with wild animals were raised into the arena through an ingenious system of winches and hoists. The trapdoors allowed scenic elements to appear and disappear in the arena unexpectedly, creating special effects that left the audience in awe.
The Cavea and the organization of the spectators
The cavea, or the seating area, wasdivided into five horizontal sectors(meniani) that reflected the rigid Roman social hierarchy. Seats were strictly assigned based on wealth and rank. The best seats, closest to the arena, were reserved for theemperor and his family, the vestal virgins, senators, and magistrates. Following them were the knights (ordo equester), then common citizens, and finally, in the highest and furthest tiers, women, children, and slaves.
The games and spectacles of the Colosseum
The amphitheater was primarily intended to entertain the Roman people with free public spectacles. In addition to gladiatorial combats (munera) and hunts of wild animals (venationes), in the early years of its history, the Colosseum also hosted thenaumachiae, that is, real naval battles, made possible by flooding the arena, which was considered a true hydraulic marvel.
A typical day of the games
A day of spectacles at the Colosseum followed a precise ritual. The night before, the editor (the organizer of the games, often the emperor himself) would offer the gladiators a dinner open to the public. The following morning began with thevenatio(hunt), in which hunters (venatores) faced wild and exotic animals such as lions, tigers, and bears. The lunch hour was reserved for theexecutionsof those sentenced to death (noxii), who were burned at the stake, crucified, or thrown to the beasts (damnatio ad bestias). The highlight of the day came in the afternoon, with themunera gladiatoria, the much-anticipated and celebrated duels between gladiators.
After the Empire: Middle Ages, Restorations, and Renaissance
With the abolition of gladiatorial games in 438 AD by the will of Emperor Valentinian III, the Flavian Amphitheater entered a new and surprising phase of its existence. In the early medieval period, some internal spaces were used asa cemetery, and between the 6th and 7th centuries, the church of Santa Maria della Pietà al Colosseo was established within it. From the 10th century, the area came under the control of the nearby church of Santa Maria Nova, which began renting out spaces and residences within the amphitheater, transforming it into a lively neighborhood populated by artisans and tenants, complete with stables and storage.
The hard blow came with theearthquake of 1349, which caused much of the southern outer ring to collapse, the mass of travertine of which is still visible on the ground today. Starting from the Renaissance, the structure underwent systematic plundering: its precious blocks of travertine and marble were repurposed for the construction of many palaces and churches in Rome, including, as tradition holds, St. Peter's Basilica.
The first modern and structural restoration of the Colosseum was decreed by Pope Pius VII in 1807, the so-called "Sperone Stern," to stop the progressive degradation and the danger of further collapses.
The Colosseum today: a symbol and cultural icon
Today the Colosseum is a global icon that continues to inspire and amaze. It is part of theColosseum Archaeological Park, along with the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. In 1980, it was included by UNESCO in the list of World Heritage Sites and is also one of the seven wonders of the modern world.
Its immortal charm has crossed through art, literature, and cinema. The Colosseum has been a favored destination forGrand Tourfor poets and artists like Shelley, Byron, and Dickens, it has inspired countless paintings and views and has become an icon of pop culture, from neorealist cinema to blockbusters likeGladiatorby Ridley Scott.
And it is the same charm that continues to attract visitors from all over the world every day, eager to experience the thrill of being in the presence of one of the greatest testimonies of human history, whose legend is well summarized by the ancient saying:"As long as the Colosseum stands, Rome shall stand".
Curiosities about the Colosseum
A repurposed prison: the construction of the Colosseum took less than ten years, largely thanks to the forced labor of over 100,000 prisoners of war, many of whom were Jews captured during the First Jewish War.
The flora of the Colosseum: its ruins are home to over 350 different species of plants, many of which are of exotic origin, unknowingly imported as seeds in the fur of the beasts of the venationes.
The underground labyrinth of the Hypogeum: for a modern visitor, the arena floor, partially reconstructed, is the most spectacular observation point from which to admire the complexity and extent of the undergrounds. Special tours allow visitors to delve into the tunnels of the Hypogeum, where gladiators and beasts awaited their turn to fight.
Naval battles: In the early years after its inauguration, the arena of the Colosseum could be flooded to host real naumachiae, the spectacular reenactments of naval battles. Despite its size, a complex system of locks, canals, and conduits, still partially visible today, allowed for the rapid filling and emptying of the arena area. This was all made possible by the proximity of a huge aqueduct, theAqua Claudia, which provided the necessary water.
Questions and Answers about the Colosseum
1. Why is the Colosseum called that?
The official name at the time was the Flavian Amphitheater, in honor of the dynasty that built it. The name "Colosseum" comes from the colossal golden-bronze statue of Nero (the Colossus of Nero) that stood near the amphitheater.
2. How big is the Colosseum?
The amphitheater is 189 meters long, 156 meters wide, and reaches a height of over 48 meters, with a total area of about 24,000 square meters.
3. How many spectators could the Colosseum hold?
Its capacity is estimated to be between 50,000 and 73,000 people, making it the largest amphitheater ever built in the Roman world.
4. What does the saying “As long as the Colosseum stands” mean?
The famous Latin saying"Quamdiu stabit Colyseus stabit et Roma; cum cadet Colyseus cadet et Roma; cum cadet Roma cadet et mundus"symbolizes the indissoluble bond between the fate of the monument and that of the city of Rome, and between Rome and the entire world.
5. How long did it take to build it?
Construction began around 70-72 AD at the behest of Vespasian, was inaugurated by Titus in 80 AD, and completed by Domitian in 90 AD.
6. What materials is the Colosseum made of?
The supporting structure is made of travertine, tuff, and concrete, while the tiers and vaults are made of bricks and wood. The blocks were held together by metal clamps, which were later removed and reused.
7. What were the games that took place in the Colosseum called?
The main games were themunera(gladiatorial combats) and thevenationes(hunts of wild and exotic animals). In the early years, there were also thenaumachiae(naval battles).
8. When and why did the games in the Colosseum end?
Gladiatorial games were officially abolished by Emperor Valentinian III in 438 AD with the advent of Christianity and the changing social customs.
9. Why is the Colosseum "broken"?
The southern side collapsed due to a violent earthquake in 1349. Additionally, for centuries, the structure has been used as a quarry for building materials, contributing to its current appearance.
10. What does the Colosseum represent today?
Today, the Colosseum is the undisputed symbol of Rome and Italy in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the seven wonders of the modern world, and one of the most visited tourist attractions on the planet.