2. Table of Cantante
01.
Colosseum Location
02.
Interaction
03.
Naming Reason
04.
Colosseum Plan
05.
General Description
06.
Exterior Facade
07 - 08.
Within the Colosseum
09.
The Arena
10.
The Sails
3. Table of Cantante
11 - 12.
Materials
13 - 14.
The Construction
15.
Colosseum Style
16.
Colosseum Columns
17 - 18.
Colosseum Underground
19 - 20.
Section
21.
Colosseum Before and After
22.
The Colosseum and Modern
Stadiums
23.
The Resources
5. Introduction
The Flavius Amphitheatre is the biggest and most imposing in the
Roman world, but is also the most famous monument in Rome and is
known as the "Colosseum" or "Coliseum". Started by Emperor Vespasian
of the Flavia family, it was opened by his son Titus in 80 A.D. The highly
ostentatious opening ceremony, lasted one hundred days during which
people saw great fights, shows and hunts involving the killing of
thousands of animals (5000 according to the historian Suetonius). For
the opening, the arena space was filled with water for one of the most
fantastic events held in Roman times. It is the largest Roman
Amphitheater in the world and despite suffering multiple fires,
earthquakes, and other natural disasters –as well as substantial
mistreatment at the hands of men– it is still standing today. The shows
taking place in the Colosseum were both of a symbolic and solid nature
and created a link between citizens and their leader through common
participation at important public events with the not unimportant
function of giving the people some fun to distract them from political
problems.
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Fig.2 Shows a sketch drawing of colosseum. source: Google
Fig.3 Shows the outer
face of colosseum.
source: Google
6. This name appeared for the first time in a famous prophecy
of the medieval monk Venerable Beda: “Rome will exist as
long as the Colosseum does; when the Colosseum falls so
will Rome; when Rome falls so will the world”. Perhaps he
got the name from the enormous statue of the Emperor
Nero, “the Colossus” 35 meters high, which stood right next
to the Amphitheatre and has now been completely
destroyed.
Naming Reason
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Fig.4 Statue of the Emperor Nero, “the Colossus”. source: Google
Fig.5 Digital rendering from Rome Reborn, in which both the Colosseum and
the Circus Maximus are visible. source: omeka.wellesley.edu
8. The colosseum had four floors; the first three had eighty arches each;
the arches on the second and third floors were decorated with huge
statues. The Romans were really good at an architectural technique
that they knew well: the arch. An arch allows you to distribute the
weight of heavy constructions effectively, in a perfect manner. The
Romans used arches as the main element of their architecture, think
of Roman aqueducts, for example. The Coliseum can be viewed as
though it were a series of aqueducts built one on top of the other.
What we see nowadays is just the skeleton of what was the greatest
arena in the ancient world.
Three-fifths of the outer surrounding brick wall are missing.
The Amphitheatre could hold up to seventy thousand
spectators. The tiers of seats were inclined in such a way as to
enable people to get a perfect view from wherever they sat.
Entry was free for all Roman citizens, but places were divided
according to social status, similar to seating divisions in
today’s theatres; the seats at the top were for the common
people, but with distinct sections for men and women, the
nearer you got to the arena the higher your social status; in the
front row were senators, vestals, priests and - naturally - the
emperor.
General Description
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Fig.8 Inside the colosseum. source: Google map
Fig.7 Shows the exterior arches of the Colosseum . source: Google
9. Exterior Facade
The exterior facade of the Colosseum consists of four levels,
with the bottom three levels composed of 80 arches each.
Structurally speaking, the arches make possible the immense
size of the structure. Aesthetically, the arches lighten the visual
aspect of the bulk of the massive building. But ideologically,
they function as numerous triumphal arches, reflecting the fact
that the Colosseum was built from the spoils of Judea.
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Fig.9 Shows external view of colosseum. source: Google
Fig.10 Giacomo Lauro Colosseum cutaway diagram
Wellesley College Special Collections. source:
omeka.wellesley.edu
Fig.11 Shows the exterior façade of colosseum. source:
Google map
10. Within the Colosseum
Inside the Colosseum, there are four levels that are visible from outside provide huge amounts of spectator seating. Contemporary estimates claimed the
Colosseum could seat up to 87,000 people, though modern, more conservative estimates put that number closer to 50,000 people. The tiers of seats were
inclined in such a way as to enable people to get a perfect view from wherever they sat. Entry was free for all Roman citizens, but spectators were seated based
upon their social status and with distinct sections for men and women, with the most elite viewers closest to the arena, and the lower class citizens higher up.
The nearer you got to the arena the higher your social status. The vaulting within the arena was crucial not only for the structural integrity of the building, but
also to provide easy access and free circulation for spectators. Spectators were not free to walk anywhere they wanted, but were carefully funneled throughout
the structure based on their social status. This segregation was so complete that the corridor systems made it impossible for Senators and Equestrians to run into
each other, and it was possible for plebs only to meet other plebs.
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Fig.12,13,14 Show the inside. source: www.italyguides.it
11. The complex was designed not only to control the crowds, but to
keep them comfortable. It had 110 drinking fountains and two
restrooms large enough to accommodate a packed house. The
Coliseum even had a retractable roof. On hot days an awning
called a velarium was unfurled above the upper deck to shade
spectators from the Sun. It was operated by sailors from the
Roman Navy who were stationed around the top of the
Colosseum's arcade.
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Fig.15 Shows the audiences' seating of colosseum. source: Google Fig.16 Shows the nearest seating area in colosseum which was specific for noble class. source: Google
12. The Colosseum’s most distinctive feature was the arena
upon which gladiators, prisoners, convicts, and wild
animals fought and died. It measured 83 meters in length
by 48 meters width. The arena floor was made of wood
panels, covered with a layer of sand which was drawn
from the nearby Monte Mario hill. The arena wall was
made of red and black stone blocks, marking a strong
contrast with the rest of the building which was intensely
white, and mirroring what transpired on the arena floor.
The Arena
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Fig.17 Shows the large arena space of colosseum . source: Google
Fig.18 Pollice Verso (Thumbs Down) by Jean-Léon
Gérôme, 1872. source: www.italyguides.it
Fig.19 Shows one of the arena entrance.
source: Google
13. Aside from its sheer size and permanence, the
Colosseum's architecture also boasted several notable
engineering features. One such feature would be the vela
(Latin for "sails"). The vela were canvas awnings that
covered the audience, protecting them from the heat of
the sun as they watched the games. These vela, massive in
structure like everything else in the Colosseum, likely
required a thousand men, all sailors from the Roman navy,
to control. While the vela capped off the very top of the
Colosseum, the substructures beneath the Amphitheatre
are also intricate and fascinating.
The Sails
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Fig.20 Shows the Colosseum from top. source: Google Fig.21 a rendering photo show the sails in the
Colosseum as they were before. source:
www.italyguides.it
Fig.22 Shows the sails in details. source: Google
14. * The colosseum was all white, covered in splendid travertine stone slabs.
travertine blocks were used for load-bearing pillars, and external walls,
stairs, and radial walls were constructed from blocks and bricks of tufa.
* Travertine: The limestone which was used in the main pillars and walls
were strong and brought from Tibur. It was generally white or yellow.
* Tuff: Tuff is softer than travertine and it brings elasticity. However; since
it was not resistant to the fire, the damage was bigger in cases of big fires
in Colosseum.
* Concrete: Concrete was invented by the Romans. It was cheap, quick to
make, and easy to use. Big lumps of heavy rubble were used in the
Colosseum’s foundations. Small lumps of light rubble were used in the
upper walls.
* Bricks: Bricks were mixed with water, sand and tiles.
* Iron / Bronze Clamps: In order to bind stones together these clamps were
used.
* Marble: Marble is used both in decoration and the entrances of the cavea
in Colosseum. Some of the columns are also made of marble. The first
three marble rows were for the nobles and special guests.
* Lime: Lime was used as binder for the cement by adding water. It was
made of limestone which is heated.
* Stone: Stone was used on the outside walls of Colosseum and the
sections of the building that took the most weight. Big lifting cranes
hoisted stone blocks into the air. They were powered by roman slaves
walking around and around a treadwheel.
Materials
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Fig.23 Shows one of materials used in colosseum. source: colosseumrometickets
15. The pictures above show the different materials that were used in its use in coliseum
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Fig.24,25,26,27 Show the brickwork and different materials used in colosseum. source: colosseumrometickets.com Fig.28 Shows holes in the columns due to
the extraction of iron from it. source:
colosseumrometickets.com
16. The planning began in 70 AD and construction in
72, on the site of the artificial lake Nero had
constructed as part of the Domus Aurea. Most of
the labor for the construction of the building was
provided by Jewish slaves, who had been taken as
prisoners following the first Jewish-Roman war.
The building was oval-shaped and set on a north-
west to south-east axis, with its main axis
measuring 189 meters and its shorter one 156
meters. For reference, that is almost twice as long
and 1.5 times as wide as a modern football field.
The Colosseum was built from an estimated
100,000 cubic meters of travertine stone, plus a
similar measure of Roman cement, bricks, and
tuff blocks. In addition to the different types of
stone and cement, an estimated 300 tones of iron
clamps were used to bind the large blocks
together. These clamps were scavenged in later
centuries when the Colosseum fell into disrepair,
leaving large pockmarks in the building’s walls
that are still recognizable today.
The Construction
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Fig.29,30 Show the different techniques used in colosseum construction. source: Google
17. Explanation of the
important elements
in the Colosseum
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Fig.31 Show the different techniques used in colosseum construction. Source: Google
18. The Colosseum was conceived as a testament to
Rome’s might. At the time of its completion, it was
the most complex man-made structure in the world
and one of the largest. The travertine stone used as
the primary material in its construction was white,
and at nearly 50 meters in height (at a time when
most buildings were single-story) and with a
footprint of 6 acres it would have gleamed in the sun
and inspired awe in anyone who laid eyes upon it. Its
effect on an ancient Roman viewing it for the first
time would have been the same as standing at the
foot of the Empire State building today.
Colosseum Style
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Fig.32 a rendering photo show
the the Colosseum as was before.
source: www.italyguides.it
19. All three of the major architectural orders of the time were represented:
- The ground floor columns were done in the Tuscan style.
- The second floor featured slightly more elaborate Ionic columns.
- The third floor employed the more intricate and decorated Corinthian style.
Therefore, from bottom to top, the Colosseum went from lesser to greater
stylistic complexity. Each half-column was the centerpiece of an arch, of
which there were a total of 80 forming the external perimeter of the building
on the first three floors. These were largest on the ground floor, at 4.2 meters
wide and 7.05 meters tall. On the two upper floors they were the same width
but slightly shorter, 6.45 meter tall. Unlike the first three, the fourth floor wall
was not made of arches and columns, but rather of flat panels, which thanks
to recent cleaning efforts we know were decorated with carvings and insets
of azurite and bronze. The Colosseum had two main entrances: the
northwestern Porta Triumphalis, which as its name suggests was the gate
used for triumphal processions and through which gladiators entered the
arena, and the southeastern Porta Libitinaria, named for the Roman goddess
of funerals and burial Libitina. This gate was used to removed the bodies of
those who perished on the sands.
Colosseum Columns
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Fig.33 Shows columns in the Tuscan style. source: Google
Fig.34 Shows columns in the Ionic style. source: Google
Fig.35 Shows columns in the Corinthian style. source: Google
Fig.36 Shows the three different
columns in colosseum. source: Google
20. While the Colosseum’s most distinctive feature was the arena, it’s most important was the hypogeum, its underground area. The hypogeum was a network of
tunnels and chambers distributed in two levels where gladiators and animals were kept before appearing in the arena above. It wasn’t part of the original
design as conceived by Vespasian and his son Titus. It was added after the building had already been inaugurated in 80 AD on orders of their successor
Emperor Domitian. 80 vertical shafts connected the hypogeum to the arena above. Gladiators and animals could access the arena through these shafts. Some
of these shafts incorporated a system of large moving platforms, called Hegmata. These were used to move large beasts such as elephants up and down. The
hypogeum was connected to the outside through a network of underground tunnels, such as to the gladiators’ barracks and to nearby stables where animals
were kept. The Colosseum had a private access tunnel for the Emperor, so he could enter and exit the building safely, avoiding the large crowds. With the
construction of the hypogeum, it became impossible to flood the arena and therefore to hold naumachia (mock naval battles) in the Colosseum.
Colosseum Underground
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Fig.37 Shows the underground area of
colosseum. source: Google
21. Pictures showing the paths under the Colosseum in the hypogeum
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Fig.38 Various entrances,
exits and paths in the
hypogeum area under the
Colosseum.
source: Google
22. Here is a sectional plan of the Colosseum, which allows to
see the different existing corridors, as well as the 4
occupation areas of the stands: At the bottom, the
senators, above, the free men, in the 3rd sector, the rest of
the population and finally at the top the women and the
people.
Section
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Fig.40 Shows section perspective of colosseum with details. source: Google
Fig.39 A section of colosseum.
source: wonders-of-the-world.net
23. P.20
Fig.41 Shows number of
sections in different parts of
colosseum. source: Google
A group of other sectors in different parts of the Colosseum
The underground area and basement
24. Before
After
The following images show the Colosseum in its complete form thousands of years ago, based on the
perception of archaeologists
Colosseum Before and After
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Fig.42 a rendering photo show the the Colosseum as was before. source: www.italyguides.it
Fig.43 photo show the the Colosseum as it is nowadays. Source: www.italyguides.it
25. Modern stadiums are much more humane in every sense. Even though the
majority of stadiums primarily cater to sporting events, they are also used for
other purposes. Many major musicians who tour play in stadiums because of the
number of people the stadiums can hold.
The Roman Colosseum was very advanced for its time when it came to
amenities. Another astonishing feature is that it could be filled with water for
events such as the previously mentioned mock sea battles. In contrast, modern
stadiums can be covered and have tunnels to transport people around the
stadium out of the audience's view. Modern stadiums have several retractable
seats which allows for people to easily walk through rows of seats. These
stadiums are also larger than the Roman Colosseum and can hold up to 100,000
people, almost twice as much as the Colosseum.
The Colosseum is made of stones and concrete. This structure is one of the most
famous examples of Roman architecture and is recognized worldwide for being
the largest amphitheater, even though it is free-standing and not built on a
hillside like most amphitheaters.
In conclusion, As one of the new seven wonders of the world, the Roman
Colosseum has an architectural importance and influence unlike any other.
Modern stadiums reflect that. Modern stadiums wouldn't have advanced the
way they have today without the guidance of such a supreme, historical example
to follow.
The Colosseum and Modern Stadiums
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Fig.44 a photo of modern stadium. source: Google
Fig.45 a rendering photo show the the Colosseum from the top. source:
www.italyguides.it
