Lecture on the Colosseum

Introduction

• The Colosseum: the most famous monument from ancient Rome.
• Image in ruin evokes the decline of Roman civilization.
• Historically, the Colosseum was a place of brutality and death.

Historical Background

• Built on the site of Nero's artificial lake.
• Constructed by the Flavian Emperor Vespasian as a gift to Rome after Nero's unpopular reign.
• Originally called the Flavian amphitheater; "Colosseum" derived from a nearby colossal statue of the Sun God.

Design and Construction

• Constructed with 100,000 blocks of travertine on potentially swampy ground.
• Decorated with columns reflecting Greek architectural orders:
  • Lower story: Tuscan order (Italic variation of Doric)
  • Second story: Ionic order
  • Top two stories: Corinthian order
• Featured Roman architectural innovation: extensive use of arches.
• 80 entry arches, 76 numbered for spectator entry aligned with ticket numbers, 4 axial main entrances without numbers.

Interior Structure

• Complex interior with corridors and stairways leading to seats.
• Seating hierarchy:
  • Lowest seats: Emperor, magistrates, priests.
  • Middle seats: Senators and wealthy businessmen.
  • Upper seats: Common folk (plebeians), foreigners, slaves, and women on temporary wooden seats.
• Total capacity: approximately 50,000 spectators.

Spectacles and Events

• Typical events: animal hunts, executions, gladiatorial combats.
• Mornings: animal hunts with imported exotic animals (tigers, lions, elephants, etc.).
• Midday: public executions of prisoners, often in gruesome ways.
• Afternoons: gladiatorial combats, sometimes reenacting famous battles.

Cultural and Historical Impact

• Later viewed by Christians and pilgrims as a symbol of pagan brutality.
• Became an important pilgrimage site, though few Christians were martyred there.
• Represented a place of death and violence, contrasted with theatricality.

Technical Aspects

• Hidden mechanics: trapdoors and elevators for animals and props.
• Velarium (awning) operated by Marines to provide shade.
• Safety measures: netting for spectators, ditches, and stakes to keep animals at bay.
• Emperor's tunnel for secure access to seats.

Modern Perception

• Our understanding evolved with archaeological and historical knowledge.
• Continues to symbolize Rome’s power, brilliance, and despotism.

Conclusion

• The Colosseum remains a significant architectural and cultural icon, reflecting both the grandeur and the darker aspects of ancient Rome.