FREE ESSAY ON ROMAN COLUSSEUM

ROMAN COLUSSEUM

Architecture of the ancient Roman Empire is considered one of the most impressive of all
time. The city of Rome once was home to more than one million residents in the early
centuries AD1. The Romans had a fine selection of building monuments in the city of Rome
including the forums for civic services, temples of worship, and amphitheaters for
recreation and play. The Romans made great use and pioneered great architecture
mechanisms including arches, columns, and even mechanical elements in pulleys and early
elevators. However, when one tends to think of great buildings, one building stands out
in Rome. This building is the Flavian Amphitheatre, or better known as the Colosseum. 
When discussing such a great monument such as the Colosseum, it is very important to
realize the time, place, and culture in wish it stood to fully understand both its form
and function. In the beginnings, Rome was both influenced by the Etruscans of the North
and Greeks of Italy and South but had its basic roots from a long time of Samnite
domination2. The Etruscans were that of an interesting type as described by Peter
Quennell:
The Etruscans...combined a passionate devotion to the ordinary pleasures of life with a
haunting fear of death. They were cruel, too, and deeply superstitious...their victims
were ordered to fight among themselves until the last had fallen.
The Etruscans would have a strong impression in Roman lifestyles and philosophies. For
example, the purple robe worn by leaders would be later adopted by the Romans. They also
were the influence which brought gladiatorial battles of sacrifice into the Roman
culture. This was a time of blood thirsty humans who loved the site of battle. Even an
early christian named Alypius proclaimed that he took away with him a mad passion which
prodded him not only to return (to gladatior events) with those by whom he had first been
forced in, but even ahead of them and dragging in others.3 This was a time of paganism,
which meant sacrifice and death. Early christians were persecuted for their beliefs in
the first few centuries. Clearly in Rome, the focus was not only on religion or the
emporer, but we have a focus on leisure and activities. It is said that of a
three-hundred and sixty-five day year that one-hundred and fifty days were celebrated as
regular holidays, with over ninety days given up to games4. This type of lifestyle would
dominate the cities and architecture of the Romans for some time to come. The people of
Rome enjoyed theatres, battles, races, baths, comical events, and of course the game of
death. There were many forums, temples, and many amphitheaters in the history of Rome,
however only a few stand out even today.
The Colosseum is the greatest standing building of Rome, and one of the most recognized
worldwide architectural achievements to this day. The amphitheater is a type of
architecture that was without Greek precedents. This makes sense since its primary
purpose was to hold gladitiator fights and brutal shows which were banned in Athens at
the time. Such events held in Roman amphitheaters were horseracing, gymnastics, mock
cavalry battles, footraces, prizefighting, wrestling, fights between animals, between
men, animals and men, and even naumachiae, or mock sea battles5. One of the first
amphitheaters was the Pompeian amphitheater of Pompeii of 30 BC. Like the Colosseum, it
was oval in plan. It was supported on great masses of solid earth pierced by a broad
corridor at each end. Stone seats were added at one time but most spectators sat on the
earth or wooden chairs. Although this amphitheater was a great innovation, it would be
eclipsed by the Flavian Amphitheater, better known as the Colosseum.
The great building although fitting and plain in design to its surroundings of Rome still
stood out due to its sheer monstrosity and oval shape. Although the site viewed today is
still a marvel, back in the days of its prime it was a spectacular site that would be
difficult to apprehend with only words[TVK1]. [TVK2] The city which held the great
structure was full of great examples of the use of arches, columns from every order, and
of course sheer size. When traveling the city to the Colosseum the whole area had been
paved and railed off. The approach was taken by cobbled slabs of lava, and then one
entered an area paved with travertine more than five thousand feet wide and surrounded by
huge boundary stones6. To a spectator at the time the Colosseum from the outside is
described by the romantic poet Johann Wolggang von Goethe:
When one looks at it all else seems little; the edifice is so vast, that one cannot hold
the image of it in one's soul- in memory we think it smaller, and then return to it again
to find it every time greater than before.
As one looked at it from the city, there were many sights to behold, but the Colosseum
stood out 19 centuries ago, and still does to this date.
At the end of the Emperor Nero and the triumph of the Flavians every effort was made to
forget the times of the Julio-Claudians (of which Julius Caesar's family) and move to
newer times. The focus of arhictecture and buildings shifted from the emperor's creations
to the public's buildings. The next prominent emperor was Vespasian. His first
contribution to the public was an enormous forum with a temple of Peace in it.7 His
greatest feat was the beginning of the construction of the Colosseum for games purposes
around 72 AD. Titus succeeded the ever-joking Vespasian and completed his fathers dream
around 79-80 AD. The dedication of the Colesseum was a lavish gladiator show that lasted
for exactly one-hundred days in which over nine thousand animals were killed.8 A typical
day at the Colesseum show usually started with a bloodless comic relief battle, often
times with dwarfs, women, or cripples battling with wooden objects. A tuba would sound
and the main events would begin. The gladiator fights were the most popular and prominent
fights. These featured two highly trained men battling for courage, strength, and
dignity. They would often rather take a blow and stand strong than wimper and run in
defense. The people were in love with gladiators much like today's sport heroes. It is
written that famous women would even leave their husbands for famous gladiators which
were known to be very scarred and ugly by Roman standards.9 The gladiator fight was a
ruthless blood-ridden spectacle which usually ended in death by the loser who begged for
mercy and was chosen to die by the present emperor or crowd cheers of 45,000 hysterical
fans. Even more appalling than the gladiator fights may have been the famous wild beast
hunts. Some beast slayers fought lions, tigers, bears, and bulls which brought many
animals to near extinction in the surrounding areas. However, even worse than the wild
beast hunts was the killings of rather harmless animals such as ostriches, giraffes,
deer, elephants, and even hippopotami all for the delight of the crowd. The Colosseum
utilized machinery to even raise animals to the battle floor from beneath where the
catacombs and passages lay. The Colosseum would be decorated with trees, hillocks, and
other elements to simulate natural surroundings.10 One such fighter was the deranged
emperor Commodus who had such a passion for unequal combat he visited the Colesseum more
than a thousand times slaughtering at one time one hundred bears, killed ostriches, and
even innocent fans if they laughed. It was clear to many that he was insane, and he was
assinated by a famous athlete. Perhaps the most interesting of all events held was the
mock sea battles. The Romans were famous for running water in their architecture, and
this allowed them to flood the battle field and hold mock sea battles. 
Of course with all of this bloodshed, it was very controversal starting in the third to
fourth centuries. The paganism of Rome had rooted from the Etruscans and was evident at
the Colosseum. Christianity was also spreading around, but most Roman emperors would not
accept Christians. As Peter Quennell puts it in his writings:
The Christians, like the Jews with whom they were sometimes confused, were reported to
worship an ass-headed god and were also said to practice incest, cannabalism, and other
equally atrocious crimes. The Christians were inflamed, said their pagan adversaries, by
an odium generis humani, a downright loathing of the human race, and as public enemies
they at once received the blame for any calamity that might befall the empire. 
As one can tell from the above descriptions, many Christians were persecuted by the Roman
emperors. If one did not choose to pledge their loyalty to the emperor by a sacrificial
ceremony and to deny their own religion, they were executed. Some executions were in the
Colosseum where the Christians were defenseless and killed by wild lions. Others were
burned alive at the stake, shot with arrows, or stoned. The major changes of attitude
towards Christians came with the Constantine the Great. He last exchanged the purple
pagan robes for the white robes of Christian faith. However paganism continued until 392,
when Theodosius I and Valentinian II prohibited any form of pagan sacrifice. However it
was Honorius who abolished the games of the Colosseum, but criminals were still
persecuted there for more than one-hundred years. 11 After that it was generally used up
until the end of the sixth century for concerts, sermons, and bullfights. 
The structure itself of the Colloseum can be summarized as the symbol of Rome and it's
respect across the world: mammouth. The overall plan is a huge elliptical structure
measuring about 617 by 512 feet: the measure of the actual arena are 280 by 180.12
Estimates of capacity range from 45,000 to 50,000 spectators. It is believed to be made
of two half circles in order for the accoustics to be amplified. The building
incorporates many Roman influences with some Greek past, and some of its own technologies
that are some of the most wonderous creations of man. The most important of aspects of
this monument are in its arches, columns, vaulting, technological advances, and in its
mere magnitude.
The arches and barrel-vaulting are typical of Roman buildings and architecture, but
should be given more thought. The Colosseum is built as four stories which was
unprecedented in its day. The arch was a great Roman architecture innovation which
allowed for great amounts of weight to be carried over long spans. The arches allowed for
the great load bearing required to support a monument such as the Colosseum. Arches are
built by a series of stones or bricks placed side by side in such a manner that they can
support one another and weight while bridging a wide space. A barrel-vault is a half
cylinder created from the continuation of the arches. The outermost walls of the
structure sat on eighty piers connected by stone barrel-vaults. The four stories
symbolized the basic Roman orders: Tuscan (variation of Doric), Ionic, Corinthian, and
tall Corinthian pilasters on the fourth story. The outer walls on the bottom were faced
in Doric columns faced with travertine with an Ionic entablature which ran all around the
building. Inside the building the columns on the bottom were Doric and contained two
parallel corridors barrel-vaulted in concrete which surrounded the building. The second
level and third level were similar to the first, except the outer walls were separated by
lined up columns of the Ionic order, and the third level outer wall was Corinthian. The
fourth level is different than the first three and this had much to do with the covering
of the Colosseum which will be discussed later. It consisted of a flatter surface with
Corinthian pilistars and in alternating sections contained windows. The roof of the upper
corridor seems to have formed a flat wooden platform below the top of the outer wall. The
sailors who operated the roof used this platform. The seating was sat at a 37 degree
angle13, and had a stairway system to enter the three levels as shown by the cutouts of
the four levels below. The building was not made all of travistine, but was made of
lighter and porous pumice stone and also of brick and concrete. The seating on the bottom
was covered in marble and brass, and higher levels were made of wood. 
Some of the technology employed at the time of this building is very similar to today's
buildings of similar uses for games. For instance there were 76 entrance gates of the 80
piers. The latter four were used for emperors and gladiators (one of which was used to
drag the bodies to an unmarked grave). The entrance gates were numbered and corresponded
to numbers stamped on the fan's tickets much like todays sporting events. With 80 gates
one could easily maneuver to their correct gate. In the ground floor contained an
intricate labyrinth of cells which housed the gladiators, animals, and workers. There
were splendid uses of machinery in which to lift the gladiator or animal to the surface
of the battle arena. But the most amazing construction at the Colosseum had nothing to do
with the show. It was designed purely for the benefit of the audience, to keep them calm
and content as the violent spectacle unfolded below. It was a roof. 
The roof of the Colleseum was one that was retractable and much like a sailor. So much in
fact, sailors who lived in a nearby town managed the velarium, or colored awning. This
was a remarkable feat considering that most stadiums now days are still not fully
enclosed (such as the Cowboy's stadium). The use of the corbels on the uppermost deck and
the use of a pulley system brought about this feat of ingenious. Some archeologists
thought that the roof was non-existent or was a web of ropes, but it is now believed to
be made from masts and pulleys. The masts would hold horizontal masts on which to pull
the awning over. It is believed that it did not cover the whole structure, but at least
the most important seatings of the emperor for the whole day.14 
Hebrew prisoners and slaves of the time employed the building of the Colesseum. All the
details of the actual construction are unknown, but it is based upon a barrel-vaulted
scheme that circles around. The builders used tavertine blocks to construct a framework
of piers, arches, and linked walls and vaults. The cement posts go deep into the ground
to support the great weight. The lower level vaults were constructed of tufa or pumice.
On the upper floors the walls were built with brick and concrete (utilizing volcanic sand
to dry). Travertine was used to surround the outside and was held in place by iron
clamps. 15 
The experience of being outside the Colosseum was plain except for the added statues. The
outside of the building was paved with boundaries and roads. One could make out the
hundreds of semicircles and arches. The arches increased upwards from Truscan, Doric, and
Corinthian columns to the Corinthian Pillars and wall of the fourth deck. The outside was
a brilliant travertine that must have been a spectacular sight. Next to the building one
would feel he is nothing but a little gnat compared to the great building. To get inside
one must enter their gate, and proceed up the stairway to the designated level much like
a modern stadium. Since there were 80 entrances, many people could occupy the great
Amphitheater. Inside the Coloseum the arena floor was wooden and covered with sand to
soak the blood. There was a great podium made of marble on the sidelines housed the
dignitaries. Above that were marble seats for distinguished private citizens. The second
held the middle class, the third held slaves and foreigners, and the fourth levels were
for women and the poor who sat on wooden seats.16 The great velarium was multicolored and
must have been a specticle on the inside of the Colosseum when raised. This would also
shadow and protect the fans from nature. The arches allowed for great ventilation,
stability, and passageways to keep the crowd comfortable all day. 
On a whole the Colosseum is symbolized by its size which represents the greatness of
Rome. The name may be attributed to its size, or some believe to the colossal statue of
Nero nicknamed the crowned colossus that was nearby. With all of the circular motifs used
by the arches, and of the building itself, some believe it symbolizes the sun. This also
makes sense considering part of the Colosseum was built from the Golden House of Nero,
also known as the solar statue, or sun statue. Many symbols used in the Colosseum were of
Pagan descendent. This included the sacrifices, purple robes, battle-axes, and hammers of
the Etruscan Pagans. The cross was erected to commemorate the early Christians who are
believed to have died here (although there is no evidence to support this belief). The
great arch beside the Coliseum was erected in the third century in honor of Constantine,
although much of its decoration was pilfered from monuments to other emperors. 
Since one of the symbols was of the sun, the arches created natural and splendid light
and shadows as shown in the picture. Much poetry has been written of the light, shadows,
and even smoke from the arches of the Colosseum. When it was not noon the light would
create long shadows and yet have bright instances which accentuate the arches and columns
in the bright light. It shows an alternating natural pattern of shadows. 
One of the first natural changes of the Colosseum came in 320 when lightning struck and
damaged the building. In 422 it was damaged by an earthquake. However Theodosius II and
Valentitian III repaired it only to be again damaged by an earthquake in 508. After the
sixth century the city of Rome and the Coleseum went downhill because of some devastating
disasters. Towards the end of the sixth century grass was starting to grow rampant at the
Colosseum, . 
1 The colleseum, pg 52
2 history arch p 191
3 the colle p 60
4 the colleseum pf 52
5 history theatre p 61
6 colo pg 41
7 rome p 64
8 history theatre p61 9000!
9 P 48, colesseum
10 drama
11 cole p72
12 arc rom greece
13 hist arch p 208
14 nova
15 the colop 40
16 col the, p 39
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[TVK2]PICTURE!!!