Many historical monuments have been preserved, but the most extraordinary of them is the Colosseum, in which people doomed to death fought and died desperately for the entertainment of the free citizens of Rome. It became the largest and most famous of all Roman amphitheatres, and one of the greatest masterpieces of Roman engineering and architecture that has survived to this day. The building had 80 entrances/exits and seated approximately 50,000 spectators - more than most sports facilities today, a testament to its grandeur nearly 2,000 years after its completion. Having eclipsed with its grandeur the ruins of the Roman Forum (the central square in Ancient Rome), the Pantheon and other sights of the city, the Roman Colosseum will forever remind visitors of the inhuman past, when the bloodlust brought the audience to the stands of this structure, and nothing excited them as much as depriving a person of life.

The Colosseum is the most famous and most visited tourist attraction in Italy, the largest building in the world built during the Roman Empire. It is considered one of the greatest structures in the world of engineering technology and architecture, a cult symbol of the Roman Empire during the period of greatest power, the most famous and instantly recognizable monument that has survived from antiquity. Even in modern world The skyscrapers of the Colosseum are impressive. This is a glorious and at the same time mournful monument to the Roman imperial power and its cruelty. Inside, behind close-knit rows of arches and columns, the Romans for centuries coolly watched the murder of tens of thousands of condemned criminals, captive warriors, slaves, animals. Almost two thousand years later, it still arouses great interest of visitors.

History of the Colosseum

The Colosseum was originally called the Flavian Amphitheatre. Its modern name (Colosseum in English) is derived from the word colossus, meaning a huge statue (next to the Colosseum there was a huge statue of Nero, which disappeared without a trace in the Middle Ages). As it should be big city empire, it became the largest amphitheater in the Roman world, capable of accommodating 50,000 spectators. In total, there were more than 250 of them in the Roman Empire - it is not surprising that the amphitheater and the spectacles associated with it were the main symbols of Roman culture.

Unlike most other amphitheaters located on the outskirts of the city, the Colosseum was built in the very center of Rome. It was the product of the irrepressible extravagance of the Roman emperor Vespasian (69-79), who decided to strengthen his position by building an amphitheater at the expense of the huge booty obtained as a result of suppressing the uprising of the Jews. The construction, begun in 72, was completed by Emperor Titus in 80. The grand opening of the Colosseum was accompanied by gladiator fights, hunting for wild animals and naumachia (reproduction of a sea battle in a water-filled arena), the games continued for 97 days.

Emperor Domitian (81-96) significantly modernized the building, built a series of underground tunnels in which animals and gladiators were kept before entering the arena, and also added a fourth tier, significantly increasing the capacity.

Unlike a circle, the elliptical shape of the Colosseum, measuring 83x48 meters, did not allow the fighting gladiators to retreat into a corner and gave the audience the opportunity to be closer to the action. Almost every modern sports facility in the world has inherited this design.

The Colosseum's honeycomb structure of arches, passageways, and stairs allowed thousands of people to easily take their seats and watch the deadly spectacle. It is strikingly different from most ancient public buildings, inherited from the classical model of Greek temples with their rectangular rows of columns topped with pediments.

History of the Colosseum after construction

With the spread of Christianity within the walls of the amphitheater, the killing of people stopped, and the last hunting of animals took place around 523. But the main reason that put an end to the games was the military and financial crisis of the western part of the empire, accompanied by numerous barbarian invasions. The amphitheater required colossal expenses for the organization of the games, and in the absence of them, the need for the existence of the Colosseum disappeared.
With the glory of imperial Rome sunk into history, the purpose of the Colosseum has changed. No longer a place for entertainment, it was used as a dwelling, fortress and religious abode in different time. It ceased to serve as an arena for the entertainment of bloodthirsty Roman citizens, and began to suffer from earthquakes and the barbaric attitude of people who ripped off rich marble facings and bricks to build palaces and churches. The famous Cathedrals of St. Peter and St. John the Baptist on the Lateran Hill, Palazzo Venezia are built using the brick and marble of the Colosseum. As a result of 2000 years of wars, earthquakes, vandalism and the inexorable action of time, two thirds of the original structure was destroyed. From the former glory of the Colosseum, only a shadow of its former appearance, the famous ruins, remains. The reputation of the amphitheater as a sacred place in which Christian martyrs met their fate saved the Colosseum from total destruction (but the legend that Christians were sacrificed to lions here is recognized by historians as unfounded).

In 1749, Pope Benedict XIV declared the Colosseum a public church. From that moment, the barbaric removal of stones from the walls of the amphitheater finally stopped. The building began to be restored, and since then reconstruction has continued intermittently until today.

Organization of games in the Colosseum

Invented in the Roman Empire, the amphitheater served as a venue for spectacular fights, the most popular of which were venationes (animal hunting) and munera (gladiator fights). In the first years after the opening of the Colosseum, naumachia ( naval battles). The ruling Roman class was obliged, according to the generally accepted concepts of the time, to organize spectacles in order to earn the respect and favor of the common citizens of the empire and to maintain public peace. All free citizens of Rome had the right to visit the amphitheater.

The organization of the games required huge costs and was regulated by numerous laws. In the first century AD, the emperors created the Ratio a muneribus, something like the "Ministry of the Game", which has the necessary financial resources to organize the games.

For the Romans, visiting the Colosseum became not only a way of recreation and entertainment, but also a meeting place for people belonging to different classes. Roman society was divided into classes, and the amphitheater became a place where the public could meet the emperor and even address him.

gladiators

Gladiators usually became prisoners of war who did not have any rights under Roman law, whose lives were of no value to the state, slaves and criminals sentenced to death. Prisoners of war were trained in gladiatorial schools for performances in the arena of the Colosseum and other amphitheatres. When there was a shortage of gladiators, runaway slaves were sent to schools. They fought on common grounds, and after three years they stopped their performances in the arena. In this, slaves differed from the criminals condemned to death who fought in the Colosseum without any hope of survival, like those condemned to ad bestias (torn to pieces by wild beasts) or ad gladium ludi damnati (condemned to death by the sword). In the latter case, one armed gladiator killed an unarmed opponent, then he himself turned out to be disarmed and became the victim of another armed gladiator, and so on, until the last condemned criminal remained.

Beginning in the first century AD, free citizens of Rome (auctorati) voluntarily became gladiators and fought like professionals in the arena of the Colosseum. These freemen began their careers as gladiators in complete obedience to Lanista's demands. Lanista in the Roman world was considered the most disgusting profession (even lower than pimps or executioners), had the right of life and death over gladiators, who were required to take an oath of complete obedience as a prerequisite for admission to school. The gladiator swore "to endure punishment with a whip, brand or death by the sword." Such terrible punishments were intended to cut off any hint of disobedience and instilled the belief that overcoming any trials was the only means of their survival. The audience demanded professional spectacles, so training took several years before entering the arena. On last step the existence of the Roman Empire, about half of all gladiators were free citizens of Rome.

The gladiators fighting in the arena of the Colosseum were armed equally: a warrior better equipped with offensive weapons had less means of defense, or vice versa. Fighting techniques adhered to the traditional battle scenario, the duel was a skill well known to the public, counting on professional performance. Spectators could approve or disapprove of the gladiators' maneuvers, as we do today when we watch sports such as football. The public did not tolerate monotony and imitation, highly appreciated courage and courage.

In 73 BC, about 70 gladiators led by Spartacus fled from the Capua school, created an army of 90,000 people, and within three years the largest slave uprising flared in the territory of the Roman Empire. After the suppression of the rebellion, the Roman Senate took steps to avoid such incidents. Near each school there was a garrison of soldiers who brought weapons there every morning and carried them back in the evening. In the event of the slightest disturbance, the soldiers intervened immediately. Schools were considered quite safe, so they were located inside the cities. The detainees could not flee, and they could only hope to save their lives, fighting bravely in the arena of the Colosseum in order to attract the attention of powerful aristocrats, arouse their sympathy and gain freedom from them.

Visit to the Colosseum

Games in the Colosseum were considered the privilege of only free citizens (slaves were not allowed), but tickets for them were not sold. Various communities, brotherhoods, fellowships, leagues, unions, associations, and the like had reserved seats in the amphitheater in accordance with their role and rank in society. Who was not a member of any society, tried to find a patron, and get a place from him on the basis of an invitation. This tradition has been followed for a long period of time. Not only in the amphitheater, but also in the circus or theater, each category of citizens was provided with certain places.
All spectators were instructed to dress appropriately: male citizens must wear a toga. Citizens who did not enjoy a good reputation - bankrupt, depraved or extravagant - sat with the plebs in the upper ranks. In ancient times, even single women were allowed access to the Colosseum. The use of alcohol in the stands was forbidden, the writer Lampridius criticized the emperor Commodus when he sometimes drank alcohol.

On the day of the games, spectators arrived very early, and some even slept in the Colosseum. Spectators presented a tessera (invitation) to enter the room. Tessera was a small plate or cube of marble, which, like today's tickets, indicated the exact location of its owner (sector, row, place). Each seat in the stands had a number. People sat on wooden boards placed on marble stones, and the Roman aristocracy settled down on more comfortable soft seats. The poor, including women, were located on the highest tier.

Spectators walked to their seats through the arches marked with numbers I - LXXVI (1-76). The four main entrances were not numbered. The best seats were on or behind the podium, which was raised 5 meters above the arena for safety reasons.

Modern scholars argue that the arrangement of places reflected the social hierarchy of Roman society. The two lowest tiers (that is, the most prestigious) stands could accommodate 2,000 and 12,000 spectators, respectively. On the upper tiers of the Colosseum, spectators crowded like sardines in a jar, each of them accounted for an average of 40x70 cm of space.

The arena of the Colosseum was covered with a layer of sand 15 cm thick ( latin word sand is spelled "arena"), sometimes painted red to hide spilled blood. And, as can be seen from the film by Ridley Scott "Gladiator", holes were opened from below, from where wild animals were released into the arena.

Naumachia

Naumachia was a reproduction of famous sea battles, the participants of which, as a rule, were criminals sentenced to death, and sometimes simply trained warriors and sailors. Such shows (mainly held in Rome) were extremely expensive. The ships were no different from combat ships and maneuvered in battle like real ones. The Romans called such spectacles navalia proelia (sea battles), but the Greek word naumachia (naumachia) became famous, a term indicating that the spectacle takes place in a specially equipped place.

Naumachia often tried to reproduce famous historical battles, such as the victory of the Greeks over the Persians at the Battle of Salamis, or the destruction of the Athenian fleet at Aegospotami. During the show, the sequence of historical events that took place was followed, and the audience got great pleasure from the skill of the warriors and their equipment.

Sources claim that the naumachia was staged in the Colosseum immediately after the grand opening of the amphitheater. During the reign of Emperor Domitian (81-96gg), a system of tunnels was built under the arena and the naumachia was abolished.

Animal hunting

Hunting scenes were very popular in the Colosseum and other amphitheaters of the empire. This was the only chance for the Romans to see wild animals unfamiliar to them in those days. At the very beginning, hunting for wild animals was demonstrated in the morning, as a prelude to gladiatorial battles. In the last period of the republic, hunting in the arena was organized in broad daylight, sometimes it lasted several days. All kinds of wild animals - elephants, bears, bulls, lions, tigers - were caught throughout the empire, transported and kept by the day of the games.

To ensure the safety of spectators in the Colosseum, the height of the fence around the arena was 5 meters. Most of the couples were classic: lion versus tiger, bull or bear. Sometimes the pairs were clearly unequal: dogs or lions were released on deer, in which case the outcome was predictable. To break the monotony, the Romans resorted to a strange combination of animals: a bear against a python, a crocodile against a lion, a seal against a bear, and so on. Sometimes animals were chained to the arena of the Colosseum to prevent them from maneuvering.

Most martial arts were animals against trained people armed with a spear (venatores). Animal hunting has become extremely popular among wealthy citizens. The venatores involved in this type of fighting became so famous that their names can still be read on some of the mosaics and graffiti.

A huge number of wild animals died in the arena of the Colosseum (sources say that 9,000 animals were killed in the first days of opening only). Even if this figure is exaggerated, it is safe to say about the large number of animals that died for fun in the arenas of the Roman amphitheatres. Bears were caught in Caledonia (Scotland) and Pannonia (now Hungary and Austria); lions and panthers - in the province of Numidia in Africa (now Algeria and Tunisia), tigers in Persia, crocodiles and rhinos in India.

Capturing animals, transporting them to good condition for thousands of kilometers was extremely expensive. Animals must be caught alive, and this was the main danger. The animals were trapped, put in cages, fed all the way to their destination in order to deliver them in good condition. Hunting for large animals is reflected in numerous mosaics and paintings depicting the search, capture, transportation, and, finally, killing. The costs were huge, so the provinces of the Roman Empire were subject to special taxes, so that Rome would have the opportunity to organize hunting in the amphitheater arenas.

Tourism

Today, the Colosseum is Rome's main tourist attraction, hosting millions of tourists every year. Thanks to the reconstruction carried out in 2010, for the first time in modern history the amphitheater, underground tunnels are open to the public, in which once shackled gladiators were waiting to enter the arena. Also restored and reopened (for the first time since 1970) the third tier of the Colosseum, from where middle class Rima watched the desperate battles in the arena. Tours are organized for groups of 25 people and must be booked in advance. The wooden walkway in the center that you see in the last photo is the result of the latest renovation.

Although the Colosseum has lost its former grandeur, it is still used for various events. From time to time, the Pope conducts worship here. Under the shadow of the ancient monument, famous performers held their concerts: Paul McCartney, Elton John, Ray Charles, Billy Joel. On July 7, 2007, he was included in the list of one of the new seven wonders of the world, the only European nominee.

The Colosseum of Rome, the unadorned photo of which shows us simply ruins cleared of debris, will remain simple ruins if you do not know the facts of its plight. When you meet him in a crowd of tourists, you do not see the main thing - the traces of the history you know. From the article you

• you will see those details in the photo of the monument that raise questions from tourists,
• get an answer that the guide could not give,
• you will be able to visit the beginning of our era and see with your own eyes the past of the most important symbol of ancient civilization.

Colosseum of Rome: photo and "silence of the lambs"

Colosseum in Latin colosseo- a colossus is a sculpture or architectural structure of enormous size. Near the theater stood a colossal statue of Nero, which was later remade into the sun god. Back in the 8th century, 7 centuries after the construction of the building, in a word colosseo called the sculpture, not the amphitheater.

In the Middle Ages, it (the sculpture) was considered a symbol of the constancy of Rome. An epigram of those times is known: “If the Colossus (Coliseum) falls, Rome will fall. If Rome falls, the world will fall."

The Colossus eventually fell. It may have been knocked down to reuse the bronze. Some traces on the Colosseum itself (we will talk about them a little later) confirm this version. By the year 1000, the amphitheater began to be called that. The statue itself was forgotten and only its base, located between the Colosseum and the nearby Temple of Venus and Roma, has survived.

Notice the punched holes in the wall. We'll talk about them.

The Colosseum is the largest amphitheater in ancient Rome. So it was conceived for a specific purpose by a follower of Nero. It had a height of about 50 meters, which is comparable to a 16-storey building. Due to its oval shape, it could accommodate up to 70 thousand spectators!

For comparison: the capacity of the largest Olympic stadium Fisht, which hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, is 40,000 people.

TOP 3 photos of the former greatness of the Colosseum

The grandiose white building, lined with travertine (limestone tuff), had 4 floors. The first three consisted of repeating columns and arches:

• the simplest columns of the Doric order were on the first,
• Ionic columns on the second,
• and ornate Corinthian columns on the third.

Statues of gods and noble citizens flaunted in the arched gaps. The fourth floor had no arches - small windows let in light. Stone fastenings located along its circumference are noticeable. Wooden masts leaned on these mounts to support the sail roof. A crown of 240 masts held the sails to protect the spectators from the sun during the midday shows.

This is what the Colosseum in Rome looked like. Photo illustration by Giorgio Albertini Link
Click to enlarge image

A masterpiece of architecture as the emperor's revenge

The construction of the Colosseum was commissioned by the Flavian emperor Vespasian in 72 AD. By the way, it was he who renamed the statue of Nero to Helios because of his dislike for the first. And the theater, exceeding the height of the Colossus by 13 meters, was placed specifically on the site of the palace pond in the park of its predecessor.

The building was built for several years and was completed under the emperor Titus (also Flavius), who ruled from 79 to 81 years. That is why it was originally called amphitheater Flavio, not the way we are used to today.

Less than a thousand years later, the Colossus of Nero was completely forgotten. The name easily stuck to the building, which is colossal to this day. The largest amphitheater could be a monument to the emperor Nero, whose favorite pastime was acting. And it became an act of revenge not by the irony of fate, but at the behest of Vespasian.

Meal'n'Real

For many years, gladiator fights, animal persecution and naval battles (naumachia or naumachia) were held in the theater arena. The latter were considered a particularly luxurious sight. After a fire in 217 AD. The Flavian Amphitheater has been restored.

The millennium of Rome was celebrated there with great performances in 248.

As eyewitnesses noted, hundreds of animals were killed during the "triumph", among which were 60 lions, 32 elephants, 40 wild horses, elks, zebras, tigers, giraffes and hippos. In addition, the fights of 2 thousand gladiators were presented for the amusement of the public.

When Christianity became the dominant religion of the empire, gladiator fights were banned as contrary to the spirit of Christianity, but animal persecution continued.

"Chips" of the architecture of the Colosseum in Rome

Huge amounts of materials were brought in to construct the building: 100,000 tons of travertine and 300 tons of iron were required. To make such a huge structure stable, blocks and columns were fastened from the inside with iron fasteners and lead in a very ingenious way. We even provided a schematic for better understanding.

1. A small square recess and a small groove (scanalatura) were prepared in the base block.
2. An iron pyramid-shaped fastening, similar to the tip of a spear, was inserted into this square hole.
3. Another building block was superimposed on top, and molten lead who mobilized the iron mount.

Thus, the two blocks could no longer slide off, but they could be removed if necessary. The holes that are visible today on the blocks are the result of attempts to get lead and iron out of there. Look carefully at the first and second photos at the beginning of the article: the holes are clearly visible.

Roman Colosseum today. Photos of basements

The floors of the building were completely covered with beautiful white marble slabs. To prevent rust stains from remaining on these slabs, the Romans fixed them with marble nails.

Unfortunately, it was this technology and magnificent materials that caused the destruction of the Colosseum during the Middle Ages. The "grateful" descendants of the great ancestors stole materials for the construction of new palaces and temples. The Colosseum became a quarry.

Secrets behind the scenes and special effects at the Colosseum

Under the arena, covered with sand, there were two underground floors. They kept cages with lions and gladiators there. You can see it well in the photo above.

As in all theaters, the Colosseum had backstage. They were located on the sides of the stage. That's where the special effects came from. One of the most interesting was the sudden appearance of beasts and gladiators in the arena.

Elevators of the Colosseum in Rome

This stunt was made possible thanks to the elevator system. There were 28 of them. The elevator was set in motion manually and instantly went up, thanks to a heavy counterweight. Thus, the door was suddenly lifted, and gladiators or predatory animals appeared in the arena in a cloud of dust.

The seats in the Roman Colosseum reflected the status of the spectators. The most prestigious were on the lower floor. You can still see the beautiful white Carrara marble floors and fountains to this day. drinking water. Inside, the Roman Colosseum had a well-organized system of stairs and passages. This made it possible to avoid crowds. The audience could leave the building just a few minutes after the end of the performance.

What do a cemetery, saltpeter and the Colosseum have in common?

For next centuries artisans, shopkeepers, hermits settled in the arches of the Flavio amphitheater. By the end of the 6th century, a chapel was added to the theater and the arena was used for burials.

Later, the Colosseum was a fortress for noble Roman families who fought for power. In the end, they were forced to hand it over to Emperor Henry VII. And that, in turn, to the Roman Senate and people. After that, the arena was used for a short time for bullfights.

At the end of the Roman Empire, the city of Rome was deserted. One of the grandest buildings ancient world, the Colosseum, was abandoned. A powerful earthquake in 1349 destroyed the southern part of the building and it turned into a spring building materials for the Venetian Palace, for the Palace of the Chancellery (Cancelleria), for the Palazzo Farnese - the best example of the Renaissance style in Rome. Years later, Pope Clement IX turned the theater into a saltpeter factory.

It was not until the 18th century that Benedict XIV took it under his protection as a place of torture for many Christian martyrs. The following years, the popes took care of the safety of the surviving parts and even tried to restore some of the details.

In the 21st century, the Colosseum was included in the list of "7 new wonders of the world", which was organized by Bernard Weber. Elections were held via SMS, phone and internet.

The two-minute video gives an idea of ​​the grandeur of this architectural monument of Ancient Rome.

The Colosseum of Rome is under guard. Wherever possible, the fragments were inserted into their original places. Excavations were carried out in the arena and the basements were opened. The hardships and hardships that deprived the Colosseum of its exterior and interior decoration only added to the harsh grandeur of the ruins. Thanks to this, a clear understanding of its architecture comes.

This was the Colosseum of Rome at the beginning of our era. Photo of the reconstructed model.

Incredible Facts

Forgotten and neglected, the 2000-year-old Roman Colosseum holds many secrets and there are many interesting facts associated with it.

Ancient Colosseum in Rome

1. Its real name is the Flavian Amphitheater

The construction of the Colosseum began in 72 AD. e. by order of the emperor Vespasian. In 80 AD e., under the emperor Titus (son of Vespasian), the construction was completed. Together with Titus, from 81 to 96, Domitian (Tito's brother) ruled the country. All three were of the Flavian dynasty, and in Latin the Colosseum was called Amphitheatrum Flavium.

2. There was a time when there was a giant statue of Nero next to the Colosseum - the Colossus of Nero

The infamous emperor Nero erected a giant bronze statue of himself, 35 meters high.

Initially, this statue was located in the lobby of the Golden House of Nero, but under the emperor Hadrian, it was decided to move the statue closer to the amphitheater. Some believe the Colosseum was renamed after the Colossus of Nero.

3. The Colosseum was built on the site of a former lake

The golden house of Nero was built after the Great Fire of 64, and on its territory there was an artificial lake. After the death of Nero in 68 and a series of civil wars, Vespasian became emperor in 69.

He nationalized palace of Nero, after which he completely destroyed it, and the ground on which he stood, handed over to the publicthe people of Rome. All the expensive ornaments of the palace were removed and buried in the mud, and later ( in 104-109 years ) on this site were built the Baths of Trajan. The Romans usedcomplex underground irrigation system to drain thezera near the house of Nero, after which it was filled up and, by order of the emperor, the construction of an amphitheater intended for the entertainment of the people of Rome began.

After the Siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Emperor Vespasian completely destroyed The Jerusalem Temple, from which only the "Wailing Wall" remains, which still stands to this day. After that, he began the construction of the Colosseum, using materials left over from the destruction of the Golden House.

5. This is the largest ancient amphitheater ever built.

The Colosseum can be called a "double amphitheater" (two half rings connected in the form of an oval). It is made of cement and stone. The length of the outer ellipse of the Colosseum is 524 meters, the major axis is 187.77 meters long and the minor axis is 155.64 meters. The arena of the Colosseum has a length of 85.75 m and a width of 53.62 m, and the walls rise 48 - 50 meters.

The most important thing in this building it is that it is built entirely of cast concrete, unlike other buildings made of bricks and stone blocks.

6. The Colosseum had 5 tiers and separate lodges

The building was designed in such a way that there were places for both the poor and the rich. All spectators were divided into tiers depending on their social status and financial situation. Members of the Senate, for example, sat closer to the arena, and the rest of the inhabitants on other tiers, which were distinguished by a lower price. On the very last - the 5th tier - the poor sat. All tiers were numbered I-LXXVI (i.e. from 1 to 76). There were different entrances and stairs for People of different status, and there were also walls that separated them.

©BaMiNi/Getty Images

A seat only 35 cm wide was allocated for each person. Today, not all football stadiums can boast of the attendance that the Colosseum had.

Arena of the Colosseum

8. Battles between gladiators were organized with incredible care.

© slavazyryanov / Getty Images

For 400 years, volunteers fought in the arena, former soldiers, military prisoners, slaves and criminals, all of which served as entertainment for the Romans. But the fighters were chosen for a reason. To enter the arena of the Colosseum, competing gladiators were selected for their weight, size, experience, fighting skill and fighting style.

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9. The Colosseum has become a cemetery for a huge number of animals.

© Gary Whyte / Pexels

In addition to fights between gladiators, the Romans staged battles between animals and demonstrative hunting. Lions, elephants, tigers, bears, hippos and other exotic animals could be seen in the arena killing or being severely injured.

Fights with animals can be seen to this day - this is a bullfight ("tauromachia" - that is, "bullfight"). Fights with animals were called "morning games", and fights of gladiators - "evening games" The winners were awarded medals (bone or metal), and statistics were kept - the number of fights, victories and defeats.

Of course there were deaths or gladiators were injured, which did not allow them to perform further. After a career as a gladiator, the former warrior received a lifetime pension.

More than 9,000 animals died during the opening of the arena and another 11,000 were killed during the 123-day festival hosted by Emperor Trajan. According to conservative estimates, during its existence, about 400,000 people and more than 1 million animals died in the arena of the Colosseum.

10. Grand battles on ships

Surprisingly, the arena of the Colosseum was specially flooded by about 1 meter so that ship battles could be arranged. Reconstructions of warships were installed in the arena so that great naval victories could be celebrated. Water flowed through special aqueducts directly to the arena. All this could be seen before the emperor Domitian, during which the Colosseum was made into a basement, where there were rooms, passages, traps and animals.

When the bloody gladiator fights lost their spectacle and the Roman Empire began to collapse in the 5th century, the Colosseum ceased to be a venue for large public events. Moreover, earthquakes, lightning strikes and other natural phenomena significantly influenced the structure.

It wasn't until the 18th century that the Catholic Church and many priests decided that the site of the Colosseum should be preserved.

© scrisman

The beautiful stone and marble from which the Colosseum was made attracted the attention of many people. After the earthquake of 847, Roman priests and aristocrats began to collect the beautiful marble that adorned the facade of the Colosseum and use it to build churches and houses. Also, for the construction of various city buildings, rubble stone and crushed stone were used in city buildings.

It is worth noting that the Colosseum was used as a source of building materials for buildings such as the Palazzo Venezia and the Lateran Basilica. Also, the marble of the Colosseum was used for the construction of St. Peter's Basilica - the largest building in the Vatican, and the largest historical Christian church in the world.

13. A priest wanted to turn the Colosseum into a cloth factory.

The underground part of the Colosseum eventually filled with mud, and for several centuries the Romans grew vegetables and stored them inside the building, while blacksmiths and merchants occupied the upper tiers.

Pope Sixtus V, who helped rebuild Rome in the late 16th century, tried to convert the Colosseum into a cloth factory, with living quarters on the upper tiers and a workplace in the arena. But in 1590 he died, and the project was not carried out.

Rome's most popular attraction

14. The Colosseum is the most visited attraction in Rome

© DanFLCreativo

Along with the Vatican and its holy places, the Colosseum is the second most visited attraction in Italy and the most visited monument in Rome. Every year it is visited by 6 million tourists.

15. The Colosseum will finally be updated

To begin with, it is planned to spend 20 million euros on the arrangement of the arena. Billionaire Diego Della Valle also plans to invest $33 million to restore the Colosseum, which began in 2013 and includes restoration of the arches, marble cleaning, restoration of brick walls, replacement of metal railings, and the construction of a new visitor center and cafe.

© MarkGartland/Getty Images

The Italian Ministry of Culture plans to restore the Colosseum to what it was in the 19th century. Besides, in the arena they want to make a scenebased on images of the Colosseum from the 1800s, which will cover the underground tunnels that are currently open.

The Colosseum is one of the main symbols of Rome. grand building ancient world amazes contemporaries with its scale, historical significance and well-preserved form. Even today, being in the Colosseum itself, it is easy to imagine the events of the past, once unfolding in the arena of this colossal amphitheater.

The name of the structure "colosseus" is translated from Latin as "huge". Of course, in the 1st century AD, it was a really huge creation of architecture, because the height of other buildings basically did not exceed 10 meters.

Not surprisingly, since July 7, 2007, the Colosseum has been one of the seven New Wonders of the World.

History of the Colosseum

The construction of the Colosseum or the Flavian Amphitheater (Amphitheatrum Flavium) was started in 72 AD and took a total of about 8 years. It is noteworthy that two emperors of the Flavian dynasty took part in its construction, after which the stadium got its original name.

Emperor Vespasian (Titus Flavius ​​Vespasianus), under whom the first stone of the stadium was laid, ruled the Roman Empire from 69 AD. He financed the restoration of many structures, including the Capitol. And in 72, the emperor decided to implement a more grandiose project and build the world's largest amphitheater.

The place for the future building was not chosen by chance. The Colosseum was supposed to overshadow the Golden House (Domus Aurea) of Emperor Nero (Nero Claudius Caesar), previously located at the aisle to the Forums, and thus symbolize the power of the new ruler.

According to historians, at least 100,000 slaves and prisoners of war, who were captured after the war with the Jews, were engaged in construction work.

Photo: Viacheslav Lopatin / Shutterstock.com

When Emperor Vespasian died in 80 AD, the construction of the Colosseum fell on the reign of his son, Emperor Titus (Titus Flavius ​​Vespasianus). The completion of the work was marked by a festive ceremony and illuminated by the name of the family - the Flavian Amphitheatre.

origin of name

It is believed that the Colosseum received its second name from the huge statue of the cruel emperor Nero, located in front of him, and bearing the name "Colossus".

However, this opinion is not true. Colosseus was named so precisely because of its enormous size.

Location

The magnificent building of the ancient era, testifying to the power of Ancient Rome, is located between three hills:

• Palatine (Palatino),
• Kylie (Celio),
• Esquiline (Esquilino).

It is located in the eastern part of the Roman Forum (Roman Forum).

Games

As you know, after the construction of the amphitheater came to an end, large-scale games were organized with the participation of gladiators and wild animals, lasting for 100 days.

For many years, this great building has served as the main entertainment venue for the townspeople, hosting countless gladiator fights, naval battles, executions, animal battles, reenactment historical wars, as well as performances based on ancient myths.

In the early centuries, stadium performances were an essential part of Roman life. And its name - the Flavian Amphitheater - until the 8th century reminded the townspeople of the famous founding emperor.

The Colosseum was even chosen by the townspeople as a place to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of Rome, which took place in 248.

The famous phrase "Panem et circenses" ("bread and circuses") was the motto of this large-scale stadium. Everything that people needed, besides food, happened here: bloody battles and mortal battles.

However, not everyone was satisfied with such cruelty in the arena. For the first time, the monk Telemachus spoke out against the bloody performances in 404 AD, when during the competition he jumped from the podium and demanded the cancellation of the fight. In response to this, the audience stoned him to death.

A little more time passed, and already in 523, when Ancient Rome finally converted to Christianity, Emperor Honorius Augustus (Flavius ​​Honorius Augustus) banned gladiator fights. However, the battles of the animals continued. After that, the Colosseum was no longer as popular as before.

Destruction and restoration

Since the Colosseum was very popular among the locals in those days, Emperor Titus and his brother Domitian (Titus Flavius ​​Domitianus), as well as the emperors who came to replace them, improved the stadium from time to time.

The great ancient building was twice in history subjected to great destruction.

For the first time, significant damage was caused to the Colosseum by a fire that occurred at the end of the 1st century during the reign of Emperor Macrinus. At the same time, the stadium was restored already during the reign of Emperor Alexander Severus (Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexandrus) at the beginning of the 2nd century.

The second significant destruction was caused to the amphitheater in the 5th century during the invasion of the barbarians, after which the largest building of the ancient era long time was not used and fell into oblivion.

Middle Ages

At the end of the 6th century, the Colosseum was used as a memorial site for early Christians who were doomed to a hard death. Thus, a sanctuary was arranged in the interior of the stadium, and the arena was made a cemetery. In the arches and niches of the building were workshops and trading shops.

Starting in the 12th century, the Colosseum changed hands as a bastion for many famous Roman families until the amphitheater was again returned to the state power of Rome.

In 1200, the Colosseum was given to the noble family Frangipani (Frangipane). And in the 14th century, the stadium was badly damaged by powerful earthquake. As a result of this, the outer side from the south almost completely collapsed.

Gradually, such an ancient building began to collapse more and more, and some popes and famous Romans did not hesitate to use its elements to decorate their own palaces in the 15th century.

In the XV and XVI centuries Pope Paul II took material from the Colosseum for the construction of his Venetian palace, Paul III - for the construction of the Palazzo Farnese, and Cardinal Riario - for the chancellery palace. Many architects sought to break the bronze partitions out of the structure.

In the 16th century, Pope Sixtus V wanted to open a wool processing plant in the stadium. From the beginning of the 17th century, bullfights were organized in the Colosseum - an entertainment that replaced gladiator fights.

The Colosseum began to pay attention again, but already from the side of the church, during the time of Pope Benedict XIV in the middle of the 18th century, who, by his decree, ordered the Colosseum to be turned into a Catholic church. It's hard to imagine the Colosseum as a church, given all the cruelty and bloodshed that took place in its arena, isn't it? But it was in honor of the thousand victims of the Colosseum that he made this decision.

After Pope Benedict XIV, other popes continued the tradition of reviving ancient architectural monuments.

Restoration

During the 19th century, construction work was carried out to excavate the arena of the stadium and restore the facade. The Colosseum received its current appearance during the reign of Mussolini (Benito Mussolini).

And only in the 20th century the Colosseum was completely restored. The work lasted for 9 years - exactly the same as it took for its construction. The revived amphitheater was reopened as a historical landmark on July 19, 2000.

In 2007, the New Open World Corporation held a competition in which people around the world participated in voting to select the New Seven Wonders of the World. And the first place among the historical monuments was taken by the Colosseum.

modern times

Perhaps the longest line of tourists line up at the entrance to the Colosseum. The line stretches all the way to the Arch of Constantine. At the same time, the desire of tourists from all over the world to see this ancient monument does not depend on the season.

Photo: Pani Garmyder / Shutterstock.com

In addition to the main tourist site, the ancient Colosseum, restored and reopened in 2000, today also acts as an arena for various spectacular public events and colorful shows.

Of course, the interior of the stadium is now partially destroyed, but about 1,500 seats for spectators are still in use.

Such world performers as Billy Joel, Elton John (Sir Elton John), Paul McCartney (Sir Paul McCartney), Ray Charles (Ray Charles) performed on the stage of the Colosseum in 2002.

The stadium is often used in literature, film, music and computer games. Movies: Roman Holiday» (Roman Holiday) and «Gladiator» (Gladiator). Computer games: Age of Empires, Assassins's Creed, Civilization.

Architecture of the Colosseum

The capacity of the Colosseum was designed for 50 thousand spectators. Having the shape of an ellipse, the diameter of its oval is 188 m and 156 m, and the height is 50 m. This building was indeed the largest in the history of the ancient world.

Photo: Nicola Forenza / Shutterstock.com

According to scientists, the current Colosseum is only a third of the former amphitheater. And 50,000 spectators could accommodate at the beginning of our era in this amphitheater completely freely, while another 18,000 visitors were standing.

Construction material

Facing the facade was carried out with travertine, like many buildings of ancient Rome. The main concentric and radial walls of the structure are made from this natural limestone.

Travertine was mined near Tivoli, which is located 35 km from Rome. The prisoners were engaged in the primary processing and delivery of the stone, and the final processing was already carried out by Roman masters. Of course, the quality of processing this building material with improvised materials in the 1st century AD still surprises.

The blocks were connected using special iron brackets. The total amount of metal spent on these staples is about 300 tons.

Unfortunately, in the Middle Ages, many iron structures were pulled out by local craftsmen, so today you can see large holes in their place. The construction of the Colosseum was badly damaged because of this, but nevertheless, the greatest structure of all time still retains its shape.

In addition to travertine, brick, concrete and volcanic tuff were also used to build the amphitheatre. So, brick and concrete were used for internal floors and partitions, and tuff - for the construction of the upper tiers.

Design

Structurally, the Colosseum consists of 240 large arches arranged in three tiers along the circumference of an ellipse. The walls of the structure are made of concrete and terracotta bricks. The total amount of terracotta stone that was required for the amphitheater is about 1 million pieces.

The frame of the Colosseum consists of 80 intersecting walls that extend in all directions from the arena, as well as 7 concentric walls built around the circumference of the arena. Spectator rows were located directly above these walls. The concentric walls on the outer side consist of four tiers, and in the first three tiers there are arches 7 meters high each.

Entrances to the Colosseum

Another innovation used in the construction of the amphitheater is the uniform arrangement of a large number of entrances along the perimeter of the structure. This approach is also used in modern time in the construction of sports complexes. It was due to this that the audience could pass and leave the Colosseum in just 10 minutes.

In addition to 76 entrances for ordinary citizens, there were 4 more entrances for noble people. Of these 76 moves, 14 were also for riders. Entrances for citizens were marked with a serial number. The central exit from the north was intended specifically for the emperor and his entourage.

To visit the amphitheater in ancient Rome, you had to buy a ticket (tabel) with the number of the row and seat. Spectators walked to their seats through the vomitorium, which were located under the stands. They could also quickly leave the Colosseum in the event of an evacuation.

The system of stairs and corridors was well thought out, so that it excluded the crush and the possibility of meeting a representative of one class with another.

Colosseum inside

Inside the ancient structure were vaulted galleries where the audience could rest. Artisans also traded here. It seems that all the arches are the same, but in reality they are located under different angle and the shadows fall on them also in different ways.

Photo: Farbregas Hareluya / Shutterstock.com

arches

It was possible to enter the amphitheater through the arches located on the first tier, and then climb the stairs to the next tiers. Spectators were seated around the arena along the perimeter of the ellipse.

Tiers

The first tier of the Colosseum has 76 spans designed to enter the stadium. The Roman numbering above them has been well preserved to this day.

In addition to the large number of arches, a distinctive feature of the Colosseum is the numerous pillars of different styles. They served not only to protect against the destruction of the structure, but also lightened the weight of the entire structure.

The heaviest lower tier contains half-columns of the Doric order, on the concrete second tier - columns of the Ionic style, on the third tier there are Corinthian columns with richly decorated capitals.

Some sources also say that the arches on the second and third tiers were complemented by statues made of white marble. Although there is no confirmation of this version, it is possible that such decoration was in the design of the building.

Velarius (canopy of canvas)

On the fourth tier of the Colosseum, which was built a little later, there are rectangular holes for stone supports, on which a special awning was attached. This awning was stretched on 240 wooden masts and was intended to protect spectators from the sun and rain.

The canopy was managed by sailors specially trained for this. The total number of sailors for pulling the awning was several thousand people.

Seats for spectators

Seats for spectators in the amphitheater were arranged in a hierarchy. Closest to the arena sat the emperor and his entourage, above - representatives of the city authorities. Even higher were the stands of the Roman warriors - maenianum primum, and further - the stands for wealthy citizens (maenianum secundum).

Then followed the places for ordinary people. after which ordinary Roman townspeople were seated. However, the lowest classes were located even higher, in the last rows.

Separate places were reserved for boys with teachers, foreign guests, soldiers on leave.

Arena

Since the arena was elliptical in shape, this did not allow gladiators or animals to escape death or blows by hiding in a corner. Boards on the floor were easily removed before naval battles.

In the basement under the arena there were chambers for slaves, as well as cages for animals. There were also offices there.

The arena had two entrances. The first - "Gate of Triumph" (Porta Triumphalis), was intended for the entry of gladiators and animals into the arena. Those gladiators who won the battle returned through the same gate. And those who lost were carried away through the “Gate of Libitina” (Porta Libitinaria), which received the name in honor of the goddess of death.

Hypogeum

Under the arena was a deep underground room (hypogeum). In modern times, this room can be well considered. It includes a two-level system of cages and tunnels. Gladiators and animals were kept here.

The stage was equipped complex system turns and various devices for special effects, many of which have not survived to this day.

To raise the gladiators and animals to the arena, a special elevator system was used, consisting of 80 vertical lifts. A hydraulic system was even discovered there, which made it possible to quickly lower and raise the arena.

The hypogeum connected a network of underground tunnels with any points of the amphitheater, and there were also many passages outside the Colosseum. Gladiators and animals were brought in from nearby barracks. In addition, there was a special passage in the dungeon for the needs of the emperor and the vestals.

Close to the Colosseum

Near the stadium there was a school of gladiators - Ludus Magnus ("Large training ground"), as well as a school of Ludus Matutinus, in which war training in battle with animals took place.

How to get to the Colosseum

You can get to the imposing Colosseum, located near the Forum and the Arch of Constantine, as follows:

• on metro line B, getting off at the Colosseo station of the same name;
• by tram number 3;
• buses No. 75, 81, 673, 175, 204.

Address of the Colosseum: Piazza del Colosseo.

Opening hours

The amphitheater is open to the public daily. Colosseum opening hours:

• from January 2 to February 15 - from 8.30 to 16.30;
• from February 16 to March 15 - from 8.30 to 17.00;
• from March 16 to the last Saturday of March - from 8.30 to 17.30;
• from the last Sunday of March to August 31 - from 8.30 to 19.15;
• from September 1 to September 30 - from 8.30 to 19.00;
• from the last Sunday of October to December 31 - from 8.30 to 16.30;
• from October 1 to the last Sunday of October - from 8.30 to 18.30.

The Colosseum is closed on January 1st and December 25th. Ticket offices close one hour before closing. The last visit is also one hour before closing.

Ticket price

As of 2020, you can see the famous sights with a single ticket - Colosseum-Forum-Palatine, which costs 16 Euros. The ticket is valid for 24 hours and includes one entry to the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine.

In addition, from January 1, 2020, you can purchase a Full Experience Ticket worth 22 Euros. It is valid for 2 days and allows you to visit all three attractions, as well as enter the arena and go down to the Colosseum dungeon.

For early bookings online, a fee of 2 Euros is added.

Admission for children under 18 is free.

Attention, the entrance to the Colosseum is free on the first Sunday of each month from October to March!

At the Colosseum you can take a tour on one of the main European languages which takes place every half hour. In addition, audio guides are available, including in Russian.

The official website says that up to 3,000 people can be in the amphitheater at the same time for security reasons. Therefore, there may be delays at the entrance even for those who have booked a visit in advance.

Ticket prices and opening hours may change - check the information on the official website www.coopculture.it/en/.

How to buy tickets to the Colosseum without a queue

If you decide to buy a ticket at the entrance to the Colosseum, then you will have to arrive very early or spend several hours in line. In order not to stand in a huge queue for several hours, you can buy a single ticket at the following ticket offices:

• near the Palatine Hill - on San Gregorio Street (Via di San Gregorio), house 30;
• on Santa Maria Nova Square (Piazza Santa Maria Nova), house 53 (only 200 m from the Colosseum);
• next to the Roman Forum.

There are almost no queues, so you will save time. Another option is to buy a ticket on the official website in advance with a fixed visiting time.

Excursions in Rome

If you're looking for something a little more interesting than the traditional city tour on a map, then try this new format of sightseeing. In modern times, unusual excursions from local residents are becoming increasingly popular! After all, who better than a local resident knows the history and the most interesting places in Rome?

You can view all excursions and choose the most intriguing one on the website.

Why is the Colosseum so named? How has it changed over the centuries? And, most importantly, what secrets does the number one attraction of Italy keep?

"Attention, construction work is underway"

In order to build, the Romans took a little more than five years: from 75 to 80 AD. The Colosseum was and remains one of the most grandiose buildings: more than 100,000 cubic meters travertine (calcareous tufa). The result was "colossal" (colossal): the amphitheater, 189 meters long, 156 meters wide and 48 meters high, was able to accommodate 50 to 70 thousand spectators on a total internal area of ​​​​24,000 square meters.

Arena. There were only 80 entrances to the amphitheater, the arena where the battles were fought had an elliptical shape, with axes about 80 and 50 meters long and was probably covered with wooden beams.

One day at the Colosseum

The daily routine in the amphitheater was predetermined and strict. On the evening before the upcoming battle, the "editor", that is, the one who organized the games, offered the gladiators a dinner, which was open to the public: this was done so that the crowd could take a closer look at the participants in the fights. The next morning, the fighters opened the day with a "parade" in the amphitheater, in rich armor and fully armed. Then fights began between animals or between animals and people.

Death Lunch

Lunch hours in the Colosseum were reserved for the executions of those sentenced to death: people were burned at the stake, crucified, or given to wild beasts to eat. All this took place in the format of a live show.

The highlight of the program

The most anticipated was the afternoon show, duels between gladiators: Munera. According to a common interpretation, the gladiators entered the field in a column, stood in front of the emperor and shouted: "Ave caesar, morituri te salutant." In fact, Caesar was greeted very rarely.

Mystery of the name

In the beginning it was called the Flavian Amphitheater (Anfiteatro Flavio), because it was built by the emperors Vespasian and Titus from the Flavian dynasty. The name "Coliseum" did not appear until the Middle Ages: the most popular theory is that the name "Colosseo" was given to the amphitheater because it was built next to the "Colossus" of Nero, a statue that was a few meters from the amphitheater. Others say that the name comes from its location because the amphitheater was built on the hill where the temple of Isis (Collis Isei) once stood.

About the origin of the name "Colosseum" goes and interesting legend: once on the site of the Colosseum there was a pagan temple where they worshiped the devil. And at the end of each ceremony, the priests asked the followers: COLIS EUM? (Do you love him? I mean the devil).

Sun protection and seat reservations

In especially hot sunny days The colosseum was covered with a curtain of about 80 triangular pieces of canvas, which were stretched through 320 support cables. The reason is easy to understand: the veil protected from sunburn spectators during daytime shows.

Seats in the Colosseum were strictly reserved. On the upper rows there were wooden benches intended for the population, while the places for privileged guests were finished with marble. Everyone could take part in the show, the entrance was free, but it was not allowed to change the places assigned to each of the visitors. The senators of Rome sat in the front row with the vestals, behind them were the warriors (equites), in the attics places were reserved for slaves and foreigners.

The first elevator in history and scenery for the "performance"

One of the earliest examples of working elevator systems was the one in operation at the Colosseum. The arena and the basement were actually connected by elevators.

The basement consisted of alternating corridors. Some contained sets of scenery for battles, which, thanks to a system of cables, were raised to the arena, others contained animals and gladiators preparing for battle.

The scenery was installed in the arena in advance. Gladiators and animals climbed into the arena immediately at the start of the battle on the first prototype of the elevator. Thanks to these systems of lifting from the underground space, the show took on a more exciting character: warriors and wild animals appeared in the arena as if from nowhere.

The Colosseum gave life to many of Rome's historical sights

The marble façade and some of the interior of the Colosseum were also used to build various civil buildings in Rome, such as, for example, the Palazzo Barberini. Having been in a state of neglect for a long time, the amphitheater was actually used by the Romans as a source of building materials. This continued until the 18th century, when suddenly there was a love for the ancient ruins of Rome. It is assumed that only one third of what was in the original design remained from the Colosseum.

In the thirteenth century, even the palazzo of the Roman family Frangipane was built inside the amphitheater, and later other civil houses.

The Colosseum was also damaged by numerous earthquakes. So, in 851, an earthquake triggered the collapse of two rows of arches on the south side, and the amphitheater took on a familiar asymmetric aspect.

Colosseum and pool

Inside the amphitheater, at one time, water fights, "Naumachie" were held: these were shows in which gladiators (or convicts) reenacted famous naval battles from Roman imperial history.

The pool also hosted a peaceful water show in which women participated.

According to Martin Krepper, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Edinburgh, the water flowed through a series of internal wells and pipes under the stands. It took about 7 hours to fill the entire arena.

Scary and terrible

During the time of gladiator fights, the Colosseum acquired an ominous reputation, so much so that it was considered one of the seven gates of hell (still, tens of thousands of people died in the arena). They say that devilish rites were even held in the Colosseum, for which the blood of those who died in the arena was used. In the Middle Ages, then, gangs of bandits used the arena to bury their victims. And in the 16th century, wizards and sorcerers aspired here, who, for witchcraft, used grass with magical powers that grew among the blood and ruins.

Jungle Colosseum

For decades, botanists have been studying plants that have grown spontaneously inside the Colosseum. We are talking about more than 350 various types plants rooted among the ruins - some of them of absolutely exotic origin and their growth is supported by the unique microclimate of the amphitheater.

Coliseum and Hollywood

The Colosseum has been the setting for many films, but the film that made it even more famous around the world, Gladiator, was not filmed inside the amphitheatre. A series of unanswered questions prompted director Ridley Scott to shoot the gladiator fight scenes at the Roman amphitheater El Jem in Tunisia and the sham Colosseum, specially built for filming in Malta. It took only 19 weeks to build the amphitheater, but the structure was made of wood and only partially: most of it was recreated on a computer in post-production.