The Colosseum- Roman Amphitheatre Flashcards
Sponsors and funding
-Vespasian became Roman Emperor 69AD
-> his Flavian dynasty (sons : Titus and Domitian)- launched a vast building program to restore Rome (ravaged by fire, plague, civil war..)
-in 70AD Vespasian ordered construction of amphitheatre, funded with spoils from Roman siege of Jerusalem during first Jewish-Roman war
-labour was a carried out by 100.000 Jewish slaves from Judea captured in this siege + professional builders, engineers, artists, painters, decorators.
It’s location
-East of forum Romanum: centre of city, between Caelian, Esquiline and Palatine hills.
-Area densely inhabited, destroyed by fire in 64CE Nero seized area to build Domus Area.
-Vespasian demolished this area to build amphitheatre: populist decision
-Vespasian started 72CE, competed by Titus in 80CE, further modified by Dominic’s (81-96 CE)
Size and capacity
-average 65.000 spectators
-elliptical shape- to facilitate visibility
-186m long, 156m wide
-height outer wall, 48m
-perimeter 545m
-arena 87m long, 55m wide, 5m wall
What events took place
-gladiatorial contests- munera
-animal hunts- venatio
-executions
-re-enactments of famous battles
-dramas from Roman mythology
-mock sea battles- naumachiae
-tickets issued as pottery shards
-groups excluded: gravediggers, actors, former gladiators
It’s naming
-originally called amphitheatrum
-Flavian amphitheatre
-Colosseum: colossal statue of Nero, modelled on Colossus of Rhodes
It’s exterior
-3 storeys with arches surmounted by podium with attic
-arches framed by Doric, Ionic, Corinthian order columns
-arches framed statues: divinities and mythological figures
-80 ground level numbered entrances
-northern entrance for Emperor, east/west/south entrances from elite
-wood, limestone, tuff, tiles, cement, mortar
It’s interior
-retractable awning-velarium covering 2/3 arena: protect from sun and provide breeze for spectators
-tiered seating
-podium- first tier for senatorial class (allowed own chairs)
-maenianum primum: non senators, noble class or equestrians
-maenianum secundum immum: ordinary wealthy Roman citizens
-maenianum secundum summum: ordinary poor Roman citizens
-maenianum secundum in legneis: slaves, women
-special boxes for Emperor in north and Vestal Virgins in south, tunnels for secure access
-each set numbered (gradus-row, cuneus- section)
Arena
-wooden floor covered by sand
-link to aqueduct for flooding
Hypogeum
-built by Domitian
-two-level subterranean network of tunnels and cages for gladiators and animals, scenery pieces
-larger platforms provide access to elephants
-elevators, hydraulic mechanisms
-rooms without windows or air circulation , making slaves work harder- animals kept there and lifted to arena with winches
The buildings nearby
-circus maximus
-Ludus Magnus, gladiators’ barracks and training arena, linked to hypogeum with tunnel
-Ludus Matutinus, animal fighters trained
-Armamentarium, armory
-Summum Choragium, machinery
-Sanitarium, treat wounded gladiators
-Spoliarium, dead gladiators stripped of armor disposed of
