THE COLOSSEUM
HISTORY OF THE COLOSSEUM
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it was originally called the Flavian amphitheatre after
the family of Emperors who built it.
the ‘Colosseum’ was
named because of
the colossal statue
of Nero that stood
nearby.
it was built on the
site of a drained
lake from Nero’s
private gardens.
The Colosseum represents a characteristic of the
Flavian dynasty
restoring and maintaining support for the
emperor by returning to the public areas in the
heart of Rome that Nero had used for his own
personal satisfaction.
STAGES OF BUILDING
1.
2.
3.
4.
lake drained by Vespasian (founder of the
Flavian dynasty).
Vespasian built the first two stories for
VIP’s and the Imperial family.
Titus built two more stories including an
area where the poor could stand.
Domitian finished it off with wooden
seating for women and (possibly) the
rooms and cells under the arena floor.
THE EXTERIOR
THE EXTERIOR
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the top (fourth) story was decorated
with Corinthian pilasters, windows and
shields.
three tiers of arches were decorated
with:
1.
2.
3.
4.
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Corinthian engaged half -columns.
Ionic,
Doric,
These columns bear no weight and
serve no structural purpose.
the arches on the second and third
levels held statues but none survive.
each level gets smaller as it goes higher
(7.05m, 6.45m, then 6.4m)
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the top storey had corbels which held masts for the awning
used to shade the audience.
this awning was
called the Velarium
and could be rolled
out as needed.
ropes supporting
the awning were
attached to masts
and then winches
which were fixed to
a row of bollards
surrounding the
building.
TAKING THE WEIGHT
FROM ABOVE
The problem of such a large structure being stable and supporting its
own weight was solved by:
1.
elliptical vaulted
corridors could take
a huge weight.
2.
radial barrel
vaults took the
weight from above
and distributed it
along the archways.
3.
further arches and
vaults inside the
structure lightened
the weight.
4.
the 37 degrees
angle of the seating
also lessened the
weight.
The building materials were chosen for their
strength and lightness:
1. upper seating made of wood.
2. concrete for
the interior top
two stories.
3. concrete faced
brick where
the pressure
was greatest.
4. travertine for
the outer wall.
5. only the lower seating areas were made of
marble.
THE AUDITORIUM
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the auditorium was divided to allow smooth flow of
spectators to their seats:
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the problem of giving 50,000 spectators quick and
orderly access to their seats was solved by:
1.
2.
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horizontally into four zones
vertically by stairways and aisles.
giving a ticket with the number of the entrance way on the
ground floor to be used to get them quickly to their seats.
corridors and stairways inside the structure allowing the public
to move easily.
encircling the main interior structure are vaulted
walkways with 80 arched entrances leading out to it on
ground level. 67 are numbered and this ensured the
spectator could easily get to their own seat.
THE PODIUM
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the podium was the lowest level of seating.
on the podium sat the Emperor’s box which was
entered through a triple archway.
directly opposite the Emperors box sat the Consuls
box.
it was reserved for distinguished spectators like:
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Senators,
knights,
Vestal virgins,
members of the Imperial family.
THE OTHER SEATS
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above the podium is the cavea where there
are 36 more rows of seats.
these remaining seats were filled with
men with the least important men
sitting in the top rows.
these seats are spilt into two sections:
1.
2.
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the first was 20 rows of marble seats,
the second was about 16 rows.
the sections were divided into wedges
by steps and aisles that lead down
from the internal passages (vomitoria).
at the top on a wall above a colonnade
were the wooden seats for the women.
the last level was at the very top where
there was standing room for about 5,000
of the poorer classes of Rome.
THE ARENA
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the floor was 86m x 54m.
the floor of the Colosseum was elliptical.
the arena floor was covered with sand:
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sometimes coloured,
helped to hide/soak up the blood,
easy to clean.
a system of winches and pullies helped to get humans and
animals up and onto the arena floor.
there were huge hinged platforms which could make
scenery 5m high appear and disappear below the floor.
the floor of the arena started 4m below the seating to
protect the audience.
THE GLADIATORS
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the gladiators entered
through one end of the
arena
the dead were dragged
out of the opposite end
called the Porta
Libitinania.
Libitina was the Roman
goddess of the dead.
THE COLOSSEUM
THE END