The Name.
Colosseum was originally called the 'Flavian Amphitheatre' because it was built by the Flavian Emperors of Rome. It is a huge open amphitheatre in the centre of the city and is considered one of the greatest works of ancient Roman architecture and engineering. The modern name Colosseum is believed to be derived from a "colossal" statue of Nero which stood nearby.
Its construction started in 72 AD under the emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 AD under Titus, with further modifications being made during Domitian's reign (81–96).
Death & Blood
If you have seen the Russel Crowe movie Gladiator you might have an idea regarding its use those days. It was used for gladiatorial fights and other shows like animal hunts, in which animals would hunt and eat prisoners; or in which gladiators would fight against animals. It has been estimated that about 5,00,000 people and over a million wild animals died in the Colosseum games. There were also executions of prisoners, plays, and battle scenes; sometimes it was filled with water to fight sea battles.
The people of Rome could go into the Colosseum without paying any fees.
While the multitude looked on and cheered in savage satisfaction the gladiators paid the ultimate price for the fun of the Emperor, Senators and the Roman crowd.
In the Middle Ages the Pope banned such games and it was no longer used for performances. It was then used as housing, workshops, a Christian shrine, and -sadly - as a supply of building stones for new works . It became a ruin because of earthquakes and from people taking away the stones.
There is a legend that the Roman Emperors threw groups of early Christians converts to hungry lions here, as part of the show because they were afraid of the new faith rapidly growing in their kingdom.
Now Colosseum is preserved very well. The Colosseum then was a symbol of the might of the Roman Empire. Today it is one of world's most popular tourist attractions and has now become the motiff of the fashionable city of modern Rome.
Nero Connection.
Rome burns in the fire willfully caused by Nero ?
Colosseum was built where the palace of Nero once stood; in the centre of Rome. People had been living in this area for over 200 years, but the houses were destroyed in the Great Fire of Rome in 64AD. Nero took much of the land for his own use.
We are all familaiar with Nero's വീണ വായന. But I am not certain about it's historical truth. In fact I have once seen a documentary, in History Channel, I suppose, where Nero is not a villain that he almost always is represented to be.
Any way he built a grand palace, which had a lake, gardens, paths covered with a roof , and
large pavilions to sit in. There was also a huge bronze statue of Nero, the Colossus of Nero, at the front of the Palace. In 68 AD, Nero lost control of the government. The Senate made him a criminal, and he killed himself soon after.
The building of the Colosseum began under the rule of the Emperor Vespasian in around 70–72AD. To celebrate the end of Nero's rule, the Emperor Vesapasian built the Colosseum on the site of Nero's lake. This was seen as giving back the land to the people of Rome. The Roman's often built monuments to celebrate important events, and the Colosseum is a part of that tradition.
Most of the palace was torn down. The lake was filled in and the land used for the Colosseum. Schools for gladiators and other buildings were put up in the old gardens of the palace. Thus Colosseum was built in the city centre; in effect, placing it in the real and symbolic heart of Rome even to this day.
Damages Natural and Man-made.
The last record of gladiator fights is about AD 435, while animal hunts continued until at least AD 523, when the Pope banned all games.
The Colosseum had been completed up to the third story by the time of Vespasian's death in 79. The top level was finished and the building opened by his son, Titus, in AD 80. Dio Cassius the historian, said that over 9,000 wild animals were killed during the opening games.
The building was changed by Vespasian's younger son, Emperor Domitian, who added the hypogeum, underground tunnels used to hold the animals and slaves used in the games. He also added a fourth level at the top of the Colosseum to add more seats.
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hypogeum - an under ground tunnel system below the amphitheater's wood floor
to keep animals and gladiators until fight.
In 217, the Colosseum was badly damaged by fire, the fire was started by lightning. The fire destroyed the wooden upper levels inside the amphitheatre. It was damaged by an earthquake in 443.
During the great earthquake in 1349, the outer south side fell down. Most of the fallen stones were used to build palaces, churches, hospitals and other buildings in old Rome. In the middle of the 1300's, a religious group moved into the north part, and were still there in the 1800's. The inside of the Colosseum was used to supply building stones. The marble facade was burned to make quicklime. The bronze clamps which held the stonework together were ripped off the walls leaving marks that can still be seen today.
Fortunately it stands even today as a joy for awe struck visitor.
Part 2 - an unforgettable experience
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