C

O
L
O
S
S
E
U
M

Anders Dernback
The Colosseum is an oval amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome,
Italy, just east of the Roman Forum. It is the largest ancient amphitheatre
ever built, and is still the largest standing amphitheatre in the world today,
despite its age. Construction began under the emperor Vespasian (r. 69–79
AD) in 72 and was completed in 80 AD under his successor and heir, Titus (r.
79–81). Further modifications were made during the reign of Domitian (r. 81–
96). The three emperors that were patrons of the work are known as the
Flavian dynasty, and the amphitheatre was named the Flavian Amphitheatre
(Latin: Amphitheatrum Flavium; Italian: Anfiteatro Flavio by later classicists
and archaeologists for its association with their family name (Flavius).
The Colosseum is built of travertine limestone, tuff (volcanic rock), and
brick-faced concrete. It could hold an estimated 50,000 to 80,000
spectators at various points in its history, having an average audience of
some 65,000 it was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles
including animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and
dramas based on Roman mythology, and briefly mock sea battles. The
building ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era. It was
later reused for such purposes as housing, workshops, quarters for a
religious order, a fortress, a quarry, and a Christian shrine.
Although substantially ruined by earthquakes and stone robbers taking
spolia, the Colosseum is still an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome and was
listed as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. It is one of Rome's most
popular tourist attractions and also has links to the Roman Catholic
Church, as each Good Friday the Pope leads a torchlit "Way of the Cross"
procession that starts in the area around the Colosseum.[8] The Colosseum
is depicted on the Italian version of the five-cent euro coin.
Vespasian 17 November AD 9 – 23/24
June 79) was a Roman emperor who
reigned from AD 69 to 79. The fourth
and last emperor who reigned in the
Year of the Four Emperors, he founded
the Flavian dynasty that ruled the
Empire for 27 years. His fiscal reforms
and consolidation of the empire
generated political stability and a vast
Roman building program.
Titus Caesar Vespasianus 30 December 39 –
13 September 81 AD) was Roman emperor
from 79 to 81. A member of the Flavian
dynasty, Titus succeeded his father Vespasian
upon his death.
Before becoming emperor, Titus gained
renown as a military commander, serving
under his father in Judea during the First
Jewish–Roman War. The campaign came to a
brief halt with the death of emperor Nero in
68, launching Vespasian's bid for the imperial
power during the Year of the Four Emperors.
When Vespasian was declared Emperor on 1
July 69, Titus was left in charge of ending the
Jewish rebellion. In 70, he besieged and
captured Jerusalem, and destroyed the city
and the Second Temple. For this achievement
Titus was awarded a triumph; the Arch of Titus
commemorates his victory to this day.
Domitian 24 October 51 – 18
September 96) was a Roman emperor
who reigned from 81 to 96. The son
of Vespasian and the younger
brother of Titus, his two
predecessors on the throne, he was
the last member of the Flavian
dynasty. Described as "a ruthless
but efficient autocrat", his
authoritarian style of ruling put him
at sharp odds with the Senate,
whose powers he drastically
curtailed.
 The Flavian dynasty ruled the Roman Empire
between AD 69 and 96, encompassing the
reigns of Vespasian (69–79), and his two sons
Titus (79–81) and Domitian (81–96). The
Flavians rose to power during the civil war of
69, known as the Year of the Four Emperors.
After Galba and Otho died in quick succession,
Vitellius became emperor in mid 69. His claim to
the throne was quickly challenged by legions
stationed in the Eastern provinces, who
declared their commander Vespasian emperor
in his place. The Second Battle of Bedriacum
tilted the balance decisively in favour of the
Flavian forces, who entered Rome on 20
December. The following day, the Roman
Senate officially declared Vespasian emperor
of the Roman Empire, thus commencing the
Flavian dynasty. Although the dynasty proved
to be short-lived, several significant historic,
economic and military events took place during
their reign.
View of the Roman Forum from the Capitoline Museums in Rome.
The Roman Empire
during the Year
of the Four
Emperors (69 CE).
Blue areas
indicate
provinces loyal
to Vespasian and
Gaius Licinius
Mucianus. Green
areas indicate
provinces loyal
to Vitellius.
 Name

Originally, the building's Latin name was simply the Latin: amphitheatrum,
lit. 'amphitheatre'. Though the modern name Flavian Amphitheatre (Latin:
Amphitheatrum Flavium) is often used, there is no evidence it was used in
Classical Antiquity. This name refers to the patronage of the Flavian
dynasty, during whose reigns the building was constructed, but the
structure is better known as the Colosseum In antiquity, Romans may have
referred to the Colosseum by the unofficial name Amphitheatrum Caesareum
(with Caesareum an adjective pertaining to the title Caesar), but this name
may have been strictly poetic as it was not exclusive to the Colosseum;
Vespasian and Titus, builders of the Colosseum, also constructed a Flavian
Amphitheatre in Puteoli (modern Pozzuoli)
The name Colosseum is
believed to be derived from
a colossal statue of Nero
on the model of the
Colossus of Rhodes. The
giant bronze sculpture of
Nero as a solar deity was
moved to its position beside
the amphitheatre by the
emperor Hadrian (r. 117–
138).The word colosseum
is a neuter Latin noun
formed from the adjective
colosseus, meaning
"gigantic" or "colossean".
By the year 1000 the Latin
name "Colosseum" had
been coined to refer to the
amphitheatre from the
nearby "Colossus Solis".
 History

The site chosen was a flat area on the floor of a low valley between the Caelian,
Esquiline and Palatine Hills, through which a canalised stream ran as well as an
artificial lake/marsh. By the 2nd century BC the area was densely inhabited. It was
devastated by the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD, following which Nero seized much of
the area to add to his personal domain. He built the grandiose Domus Aurea on the
site, in front of which he created an artificial lake surrounded by pavilions, gardens
and porticoes. The existing Aqua Claudia aqueduct was extended to supply water to
the area and the gigantic bronze Colossus of Nero was set up nearby at the
entrance to the Domus Aurea.
 Sestertius of Titus celebrating
the inauguration of the
Colosseum (minted 80 AD).

Although the Colossus was preserved, much of the Domus Aurea was torn
down. The lake was filled in and the land reused as the location for the new
Flavian Amphitheatre. Gladiatorial schools and other support buildings
were constructed nearby within the former grounds of the Domus Aurea.
Vespasian's decision to build the Colosseum on the site of Nero's lake can
be seen as a populist gesture of returning to the people an area of the city
which Nero had appropriated for his own use. In contrast to many other
amphitheatres, which were on the outskirts of a city, the Colosseum was
constructed in the city centre, in effect, placing it both symbolically and
precisely at the heart of Rome.
Rome 1600:s
Construction of the Colosseum began under the rule of Vespasian[3] in
around 70–72 AD (73–75 AD according to some sources). The Colosseum
had been completed up to the third story by the time of Vespasian's death in
79. The top level was finished by his son, Titus, in 80, and the inaugural games
were held in 80 or 81 AD. Dio Cassius recounts that over 9,000 wild animals
were killed during the inaugural games of the amphitheatre. Commemorative
coinage was issued celebrating the inauguration. The building was
remodelled further under Vespasian's younger son, the newly designated
Emperor Domitian, who constructed the hypogeum, a series of tunnels used
to house animals and slaves. He also added a gallery to the top of the
Colosseum to increase its seating capacity.
In 217, the Colosseum was badly damaged by a major fire (caused by lightning,
according to Dio Cassius, which destroyed the wooden upper levels of the
amphitheatre's interior. It was not fully repaired until about 240 and
underwent further repairs in 250 or 252 and again in 320. Honorius banned
the practice of gladiator fights in 399 and again in 404.
Gladiatorial fights are last
mentioned around 435. An
inscription records the
restoration of various parts
of the Colosseum under
Theodosius II and Valentinian
III (reigned 425–455), possibly
to repair damage caused by a
major earthquake in 443;
more work followed in 484
and 508. The arena continued
to be used for contests well
into the 6th century. Animal
hunts continued until at
least 523, when Anicius
Maximus celebrated his
consulship with some
venationes, criticised by King
Theodoric the Great for
their high cost.
 1870 view
emphasizing the
semi-rural environs
of the Colosseum
at the time
 During the 16th and 17th
century, Church officials
sought a productive role
for the Colosseum. Pope
Sixtus V (1585–1590)
planned to turn the
building into a wool
factory to provide
employment for Rome's
prostitutes, though this
proposal fell through with
his premature death. In
1671 Cardinal Altieri
authorized its use for
bullfights; a public outcry
caused the idea to be
hastily abandoned.
 In 1749, Pope Benedict XIV endorsed the
view that the Colosseum was a sacred
site where early Christians had been
martyred. He forbade the use of the
Colosseum as a quarry and consecrated
the building to the Passion of Christ and
installed Stations of the Cross,
declaring it sanctified by the blood of
the Christian martyrs who perished
there (see Significance in Christianity).
However, there is no historical evidence
to support Benedict's claim, nor is there
even any evidence that anyone before the
16th century suggested this might be the
case; the Catholic Encyclopedia
concludes that there are no historical
grounds for the supposition, other than
the reasonably plausible conjecture
that some of the many martyrs may well
have been.
 According to Mussolini:
"Fascist education is moral,
physical, social, and military:
it aims to create a complete
and harmoniously developed
human, a fascist one
according to our views".
Mussolini structured this
process taking in view the
emotional side of childhood:
"Childhood and adolescence
alike ... cannot be fed solely
by concerts, theories, and
abstract teaching.

Later popes initiated various stabilization and restoration projects,

removing the extensive vegetation which had overgrown the structure and
threatened to damage it further. The façade was reinforced with triangular
brick wedges in 1807 and 1827, and the interior was repaired in 1831, 1846
and in the 1930s. The arena substructure was partly excavated in 1810–1814
and 1874 and was fully exposed under Benito Mussolini in the 1930s
The Colosseum is today one of Rome's most popular tourist attractions,
receiving millions of visitors annually. The effects of pollution and
general deterioration over time prompted a major restoration
programme carried out between 1993 and 2000, at a cost of Lire 40
billion ($19.3m / €20.6m at 2000 prices).