Roman Colosseum Newsletter

The Roman Colosseum A massive stone amphitheater located just East of the Roman Forum is a Colosseum that was commissioned around 70-72 A.D. by Emperor Vespasian of the Flavian dynasty. It was a gift to the Roman people. The Emperor wanted to restore Rome to its former glory period prior to the turmoil of the recent civil war. Construction of the Colosseum began in 72 A.D. and was located on the site that was once the lake and gardens of the Emperor Nero's Golden House. The lake was drained and a concrete foundation six meters deep was put down as a precaution against potential earthquakes. The Colosseum's original name was Amphiteatrum Flavium (Flavian Amphitheater). It opened for business in 80 A.D. in the reign of Titus, Vespasian's eldest son, with a 100 day gladiator spectacular. The Colosseum was finally completed in the reign of the other son, Domitian. The finished building was like nothing Romans had ever seen. It was the biggest building of its kind. Its features: Four stories Height of 150 feet Width of 620 Feet x 513 feet A roofed awning Capacity for 50,000 people 32 animal pens 80 entrances 36 trap doors Underground two-level Colosseum Architecture Measuring some 620 by 513 feet, the Colosseum was the largest amphitheater in the Roman world. It was a freestanding structure that spanned 6 acres of land. The distinctive exterior had three stories of arched entrances - a total of around 80-supported by semi-cicular columns. Each story contained columns of a diferent style. At the bottom were columns of the relatively simple Doric order, followed by Ionic and topped with the ornate Corinthian order. Inside the Colosseum had seating for more than 50,000 spectators, who were most likely arranged by social rankings. Judging by the space of the seating, the spectators were packed into the Colosseum like sardines! The top story had awning to protect the audience from the hot Roman sun as they watched the festivities. The area beneath the Colosseum was called the hypogeum (meaning underground). The hypogeum consisted of two-level subterranean network of tunnels and 32 animal pens. These were used to house animals ( such as lions tigers, hyenas, hippos, rhinos, crocodiles, ostriches, antelopes, bears, zebras and horses) stage props and slaves who had to work there. It had 80 vertical shafts which provided instant access to the arena for animals and scenery. The vertical shafts contained lifts operated by ropes and pulleys which led directly to the arena. This provided instant access for fast changes to scenery, animals and occasionally convicts and gladiators. There was 36 trap doors in the arena allowing for elaborate efects. The hypogeum had to have been a horrible place to be. The atmosphere and smell beneath the Colosseum was a dreary sight. The noise would have echoed from the screaming crowds, the roars of the animals and shouts of terror and agony from the hideous executions and tortures in the arena. Little natural light reached the lower levels so lamps would to be burnt continuously. The heat must have been unbearable. And the smell of the animal excrement and stench of blood and death would fill every part of the hypogeum. 1. What do you think about the enormity of the Colosseum that was built almost 2000 years ago? 2. Can you imagine what it would be like attending an activity held at the Colosseum? 3. What kind of activities do you think the Romans had in the Colosseum? Events at the Colosseum Events at the Colosseum had to be planned in infinite details. Costumes, armor, weapons and scenery all had to be in place. Tickets to the Colosseum had been distributed in advance of the games. The popularity of the Emperors and their political careers depended on the success of the games. The more spectacular the games meant the more popular the sponsors were. Each festivity had an order of events: 1. The opening parade 2. The entry of the Vestal Virgins and the most important priests, politicians, soldiers and senators of Rome 3. The entry of the Emperor 4. The religious ceremonies and sacrifices 5. The games would begin and the entry of the gladiators would take place in late afternoon. The shows in the Roman arenas were designed to entertain. However, blood sports and death were the real purpose of the spectacular shows and an entire profession arose to meet the massive entertainment requirements. For example, in one year they could have at least 93 games. Some spectacles often lasted from dawn till nightfall. Each festivity had more than one type of activity. Comic or fantasy duel often began the day's combat events, these were usually fought between women, dwarfs or the disabled using wooden weapons. Next came the animal hunts with the 'professional beast killers'. The animals had no chance in these contests and were most often killed at a distance using spears or arrors. There were dangerous animals such as lions, tigers, bears, elephants, leopards, hippos and bulls but there were also events with defenseless animals such as deer, ostriches, girafes and even whales! Hundreds and somethimes thousands of animals were butchered in a single's day's event. What do you think of the animal hunting in the Colosseum? Do you think it was actually hunting using hunting skills, or just plain torture and cruelty? Events at the Colosseum Under some of the Emperors, dramas were held in the Colosseum but with a bloodthirsty realism such as using real condemned prisoners for executions. A real man portraying Hercules was burned on a funeral pyre and in the role of Laureolus, a prisoner was actually crucified. The Colosseum was also the scene of many executions during the lunch-time lull (when the spectators went for lunch). Particularly killing of Christian martyrs. Seen as an unacceptable challenge to the authority of Pegan Rome and the divinity of the Emperor, Christians were thrown to lions, shot down with arrows, roasted alive and killed in a myriad of cruelly inventive ways. The final act was the gladiator fights. The gladiators themselves were usually slaves, criminals, or prisoners of war. Occasionally, the gladiators were able to fight for their freedom. Criminals who were sentenced to death were sometimes thrown into the arena unarmed to serve their sentence. Some people, including women, actually volunteered to be gladiators. They were willing to risk death for the possibility of fame and glory. Many gladiators went to special schools that trained them how to fight. After the entry of the gladiators at the colosseum they would have soluted the Emperor shouting the ritual chorus of "Ave imperato morituri te salutant!", which meant "We who are about to die, salute you!" Gladiators were expected to fight to the death, or at least demonstrate that they were willing to die. The gladiators who fought in the Colosseum and other Roman arenas had sworn a legal agreement by which they handed themselves over as slaves to their master and trainer, agreeing to submit to beatings, burning, and death by the sword if they did not perform as required. 1. Why do you think the Roman community enjoyed such brutality for entertainment? 2. Why would a person sign up to be a gladiator when it could result in death? Death from fighting or death from not performing up to satisfactory requirements. Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down Gladiators at the Colosseum who acknowledged defeat could request the fight to be stopped. The gladiator would signal his request by raising his finger, or his hand and arm. The Emperor took the crowd's response into consideration in deciding whether to let the loser live or order the victor to kill him. This was referred to as the 'police verso' meaning "With thumb turned." It is not clear which way the thumb was turned to signify life or death although it is commonly believed that the thumbs up signalled life and thumbs down signalled death. Romans loved chariot races, which were held on special racetracks called cicuses. The most famous one was in the Roman Colosseum. In chariot races, two- or four- horse chariots ran seven laps totaling anywhere from three to five miles. Roman games also included other equestrian events. Some races resembled today's thoroughbred horse racing. In one race, riders began the competition on horseback but later dismounted and ran on foot to the finish. List of Other Events Experienced archers and experts with spears. Various trained animal acts (such as those seen in circuses). Speciality acts featuring dwarves and clownish acts. Acrobats and gymnasts. High wire acts and balancing acts. Music and dancers. Wild animal fights. Beasts fought other beasts and men. Wrestling. Vicious boxing acts. Battle re-enactment. Lewd acts towards women. Sea battles. Gladiator battles with sight restricted gladiators, gladiators with a lance, a sword, lassos, shields, nets, spears, curved swords and short swords. Female gladiators were featured as speciality acts. 1. Why do you think the Romans had such a fascination with brutality and death? 2. Why would some free men give up their rights as citizens to become gladiators? 3. Why would a woman want to be a gladiator? Flooded Colosseum Naval Battles The Colosseum was more than just gladiatorial games, there were public executions and mythological plays. Romans would often re-enact famous military victories, with free admission and food for all visitors. Perhaps the most spectacular events at the Colosseum were the mock naval battles in the flooded arena. The staged sea battles were called naumachiae. The first battle in the Colosseum was held in 80 A.D.

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