Flavian Amphitheater (Amphitheatrum Flavium) or Colosseum (Colosseum)- the largest of the ancient Roman amphitheaters and one of the most remarkable structures in the world. It is located in Rome, in the hollow between the Esquilline, Palatine and Caelian hills, in the place where there once was a pond that belonged to the “Golden House” of Nero.

The construction of the amphitheater was begun by Emperor Vespasian after his victories in Judea. Suetonius reports about this: “He also undertook new constructions: ... an amphitheater in the middle of the city, conceived, as he learned, by Augustus.” Construction was completed in 80 by the latter's son, Emperor Titus. The opening of the Colosseum was marked by games; Suetonius writes on this occasion: “At the consecration of the amphitheater and the baths hastily built nearby, he (Titus) showed a gladiator fight, amazingly rich and magnificent; He also arranged a naval battle in the same place, and then there he brought out the gladiators and released five thousand different wild animals in one day.”

Initially, the Colosseum was called, after the family name of the mentioned emperors, the Flavian Amphitheater (Amphitheatrum Flavium), the current name (Colosseum, Colosaeus, it. Coliseo) was subsequently adopted for it, starting in the 8th century, and came either from the enormity of its size, or from the fact that near him stood a gigantic statue erected by Nero in honor of himself.

For a long time, the Colosseum was for the residents of Rome and visitors the main place for entertainment spectacles, such as gladiator fights, animal persecution, naval battles(naumachia). Contrary to popular belief that Christians were executed in the Colosseum, recent research indicates that this was a myth created by Catholic Church in subsequent years. Under Emperor Macrinus, it was badly damaged by fire, but was restored by order of Alexander Severus. In 248, Emperor Philip still celebrated the millennium of Rome's existence there with great spectacle. Honorius in 405 banned gladiatorial battles as being inconsistent with the spirit of Christianity, which became the dominant religion of the Roman Empire after Constantine the Great; however, animal persecution continued to occur in the Colosseum until the death of Theodoric the Great. After this, sad times came for the Flavian Amphitheater.

The Colosseum in the Middle Ages and Modern Times

The barbarian invasions left the Flavian Amphitheater desolate and marked the beginning of its destruction. From the 11th century until 1132, it served as a fortress for noble Roman families who competed with each other for influence and power over their fellow citizens, especially for the families of Frangipani and Annibaldi. The latter, however, were forced to cede the Colosseum to Emperor Henry VII, who donated it to the Roman Senate and people. Back in 1332, the local aristocracy organized bullfights here, but from that time on the systematic destruction of the Colosseum began. They began to look at him as a source of production building material, and not only the stones that had fallen off, but also the stones deliberately broken out of it began to be used for new structures. Thus, in the 15th and 16th centuries, Pope Paul II took material from it to build the so-called Venetian palace, Cardinal Riario - the Palace of the Chancellery (Cancelleria), Paul III - the Pallazo Farnese. However, a significant part of the amphitheater survived, although the building as a whole remained disfigured. Sixtus V intended to use it to set up a cloth factory, and Clement IX actually turned the Colosseum into a plant for the extraction of saltpeter.

The best attitude of the popes towards the majestic monument of ancient architecture began not before mid-18th century century, and the first to take it under his protection was Benedict XIV (1740-58). He dedicated it to the Passion of Christ as a place stained with the blood of many Christian martyrs, and ordered a huge cross to be erected in the middle of its arena, and a number of altars to be erected around it in memory of the torture, the procession to Calvary and the death of the Savior on the cross. This cross and altars were removed from the Colosseum only in 1874. The popes who followed Benedict XIV, especially Pius VII and Leo XII, continued to take care of the safety of the surviving parts of the building and reinforced the parts of the walls that were in danger of falling with buttresses, and Pius IX corrected some of the internal stairs in it.

The Colosseum in the XX-XXI centuries

The Colosseum is protected with even greater care by the current Italian government, by order of which, under the leadership of learned archaeologists, many of the lying ruins of the structure, where it turned out to be possible, were inserted into their original places, and curious excavations were carried out in the arena, which led to the discovery of basement rooms that once served to move groups of people and animals, trees and other decorations into the arena, or to fill it with water and lift ships up when naumachia were presented. Despite all the hardships experienced by the Colosseum over the centuries, its ruins, devoid of their former external and internal decoration, still make a strong impression with their austere majesty and give a fairly clear idea of ​​what its location and architecture were.

Nowadays the Colosseum has become a symbol of Rome and one of the most popular tourist sites. In the 21st century, the Colosseum was among the contenders for the title of one of the Seven New Wonders of the World, and according to the voting results, which were announced on July 7, 2007, it was recognized as one of the 7 New Wonders of the World.

Construction of the Colosseum

Like other Roman amphitheatres, the Flavian Amphitheater is elliptical in plan, the middle of which is occupied by an arena (also elliptical in shape) and surrounding concentric rings of seats for spectators. The Colosseum differs from all buildings of this kind in its size. This is the most grandiose ancient amphitheater: the length of its outer ellipse is 524 m, the major axis is 187.77 m, the minor axis is 155.64 m, the length of the arena is 85.75 m, its width is 53.62 m; the height of its walls is from 48 to 50 meters. With such dimensions it could accommodate up to 87,000 spectators.

The Flavian Amphitheater is built from large pieces of Travertine stone, which were once connected with iron ties; For the internal parts, local tuff and brick were also used. The holes now visible in various places walls, the essence of the nest of the mentioned connections, disappeared in the Middle Ages - an era in which iron was highly valued and was sought everywhere. From the outside, the building had three tiers of arches. Between the arches there are semi-columns, in the lower tier - Tuscan, in the middle - Ionic and in the upper - Corinthian order. Images of the Colosseum on surviving ancient coins indicate that there was a statue in the arches of the middle and upper tiers. Above the upper arcade tier rises a fourth higher floor, representing a solid wall, divided into compartments by Corinthian pilasters and having a quadrangular window in the middle of each compartment. At the ends of the major and minor axes of the ellipse there were four main entrances in the form of three-arched gates. Two of these gates (at the ends of the minor axis, from the side of the Equiline and Caelian hills) were assigned to the emperor; the rest served for ceremonial processions before the start of performances, for the entry of animals and for the import of necessary machines.

Spectators entered the amphitheater from under the arches of the lower floor, marked with numbers from I to LXXVI, and climbed to their seats along the stairs, of which there were also 76. These seats were located around the entire arena in the form of rows of stone benches, rising one above the other (gradus ). The lower row, or podium, was assigned exclusively to the emperor, his family, senators and vestals, and the emperor had a special, elevated seat (pulvinar). The podium was separated from the arena by a parapet, high enough to protect spectators from attacks by animals released onto it. Next came the general public areas, forming three tiers (maeniana), corresponding to the tiers of the building's façade. In the first tier, which contained 20 rows of benches (now completely destroyed), sat city officials and persons belonging to the equestrian class; the second tier, consisting of 16 rows of benches, was intended for people with the rights of Roman citizenship. The wall separating the second tier from the third was quite high, but the benches of the third tier were located on a steeper sloping surface; this device was intended to give visitors to the third tier the opportunity to better see the arena and everything that happens in it. The spectators on the third tier belonged to the lower classes. Above this tier there was a portico that encircled the entire circumference of the building and adjoined one side to its outer wall. Sailors sat on its roof during performances. imperial fleet, sent to stretch a huge awning (velarium) over the amphitheater to protect spectators from the scorching rays of the sun or from bad weather. This awning was attached with ropes to masts placed along the upper edge of the wall. In many places on the outer cornice, holes are still visible to this day through which such masts passed, resting their lower ends on the stones protruding from the wall, like brackets that have survived to this day where the fourth floor still remains. The seats for spectators were supported from below by a powerful vaulted structure, which included passage corridors (itinera), chambers for various purposes and stairs leading to the upper tiers.

Under the arena, at the foundation of the inner wall, there were cages for animals, and closer to the middle of the arena, as mentioned above, many walls, pillars and vaults were discovered that supported the arena or served for the instant appearance from under it of people, animals, cars and scenery. Although the newest excavations have extended to more than half of the arena's entire space, the exact purpose of many of these walls and pillars is not yet clear.

The Colosseum has lost two-thirds of its original mass; nevertheless, it is still unprecedentedly enormous: one architect in the 18th century took the trouble to approximately calculate the amount of building material contained in the Colosseum, and determined its cost, at the prices of that time, at 1½ million crowns (about 8 million francs). Therefore, from ancient times the Colosseum was considered a symbol of the greatness of Rome. “As long as the Colosseum stands,” said the pilgrims in the 8th century, “Rome will stand; if the Colosseum disappears, Rome will disappear and with it the whole world.”


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Who doesn't know business card Rome, but when, by whom and for what was the Colosseum built in Rome - Italy? The history of the Roman Colosseum or how it turned from the Flavian Amphitheater into the Colosseum. But too much in the history of ancient Rome does not fit together without thinking about this new wonder of the world and its origin.

One close look at the Colosseum is enough to discover that it was immediately built as an “ancient ruin.” But examples of its rather late construction are clearly visible. It is known that “The Colosseum is built of stone, concrete and brick.” Isn't it strange that CONCRETE was used in such a supposedly very ancient structure? Historians may argue that concrete was invented by the “ancient” Romans more than 2 thousand years ago. But why then was it not widely used in medieval construction?

Rather, all supposedly “ancient” concrete buildings are of much more recent origin than historians think.

First, let's remember the official version:

Photo 1.

The Colosseum (Colloseo) was built during the reign of the emperors of Ancient Rome Titus Vespassian and his son Titus from the Flavian dynasty. Therefore, the Colosseum is also called the Flavian Amphitheater. Construction began in the 72nd century AD. e. under Vespassian, and ended in 80 under Titus. Vespassian wanted to perpetuate the memory of his dynasty and strengthen the greatness of Rome, adding to this the triumph of Titus after the suppression of the Jewish revolt.

The Colosseum was built by more than 100,000 prisoners and captives. Building stones were mined in quarries near Tivoli (now a suburb of Rome with beautiful palaces, gardens and fountains). The main building materials of all Roman buildings are travertine and marble. Red brick and concrete were used as know-how in the construction of the Colosseum. The stones were hewn and held together with steel staples to strengthen the stone blocks.

The amphitheaters of antiquity were marvels of architecture and engineering, which modern specialists continue to admire. The Colosseum Amphitheater, like other such buildings, has the shape of an ellipse, the outer length of which is 524 m. The height of the walls is 50 m. Along the major axis, the length of the stadium is 188 m, along the minor axis – 156 m. The length of the arena is 85.5 m, its width is 53.5 m. The width of the foundation is 13 m. To build such a grandiose structure, and even on the site of a dried-up lake, Flavian engineers set a number of important tasks.

Photo 2.

First, the lake had to be drained. For this purpose, a system of hydraulic drains, slopes and gutters was invented, which can still be seen today once inside the Colosseum. Drains and gutters were also used to divert storm waters that flowed into the sewer system of the ancient city.

Secondly, it was necessary to make the megastructure so strong that it would not collapse under its own weight. For this purpose, the structure was made arched. Pay attention to the image of the Colosseum - there are arches of the lower tier, above them there are arches of the middle, upper, etc. It was an ingenious solution, capable of supporting colossal weight, as well as giving the structure an appearance of lightness. Here it is necessary to mention one more advantage of arched structures. Their preparation did not require super-skilled labor. Workers were mainly involved in creating standardized arches.

Thirdly, there was the question of building materials. We have already mentioned here travertine, red brick, marble, and the use of concrete as a durable bonding mortar.

Photo 3.

Surprisingly, the ancient architects calculated even the most favorable angle of inclination at which seats for the public should be placed. This angle is 30'. On the highest seats, the recline angle is already 35’. There were a number of other engineering and construction issues that were successfully resolved during the construction of the ancient arena.

The Flavian Amphitheater in its heyday had 64 entrances and exits, which made it possible to let the public in and out in a matter of time. This is an invention ancient world used in the construction of modern stadiums, which can simultaneously admit streams of spectators through different passages into different sections without creating a crowd. In addition, there was a well-thought-out system of corridors and steps, and people could climb the tiers to their seats very quickly. And now you can see the numbers engraved above the entrances.

Photo 4.

The arena at the Colosseum was covered with boards. The floor level could be adjusted using engineering structures. If necessary, the boards were removed and it became possible to organize even naval battles and battles with animals. Chariot races were not held at the Colosseum; for this purpose, the Circus Maximus was built in Rome. There were technical rooms under the arena. They could contain animals, equipment, etc.

Around the arena, behind the outer walls, in the basements, the gladiators waited to enter the arena; cages with animals were placed there, and there were rooms for the wounded and dead. All rooms were connected by a system of elevators raised on cables and chains. There are 38 elevators in the Colosseum.

The outside of the Flavian Theater was lined with marble. The entrances to the amphitheater were decorated with marble statues of gods, heroes and noble citizens. Fences were put up to hold back the onslaught of crowds trying to get inside.

Currently, inside this miracle of the ancient world, only the grandiose scale of the structure testifies to its former greatness and amazing adaptations.

Photo 5.

The arena was surrounded by rows of seats for the public, arranged in three tiers. A special place (podium) was reserved for the emperor, members of his family, vestals (virgin priestesses) and senators.

Citizens of Rome and guests were seated on three tiers of seats, strictly according to social hierarchy. The first tier was intended for city authorities, noble citizens, horsemen (a type of class in Ancient Rome). On the second tier there were seats for Roman citizens. The third tier was intended for the poor. Titus completed another fourth tier. Gravediggers, actors and former gladiators were prohibited from being among the spectators.

During the performances, merchants scurried between the spectators, offering their goods and food. A special type of souvenirs were details of gladiator costumes and figurines depicting the most prominent gladiators. Like the Forum, the Colosseum served as the center of social life and a place of communication for citizens.

Photo 6.

The beginning of the destruction of the Colosseum was provoked by the invasion of barbarians in 408-410 AD, when the arena fell into disrepair and without proper maintenance. From the beginning of the 11th century until 1132, the amphitheater was used by the noble families of Rome as a fortress in the fight among themselves, the Frangipani and Annibaldi families were especially famous. Who were forced to cede the Colosseum to the English Emperor Henry VII, who handed it over to the Roman Senate.

As a result of a powerful earthquake in 1349, the Colosseum was severely damaged, and its southern part collapsed. After this event, the ancient arena began to be used for the extraction of building material, but not only its collapsed part, stones were also broken out of the surviving walls. Thus, from the stones of the Colosseum in the 15th and 16th centuries the Venetian palace, the Palace of the Chancellery (Cancelleria), and the Palazzo Farnese were built. Despite all the destruction, most of the Colosseum survived, although overall the great arena remained disfigured.

Photo 7.

The attitude of the church towards the old monument of ancient architecture has improved since the mid-18th century, when Pope Benedict XIV was elected. The new pope dedicated the ancient arena to the Passion of Christ - the place where the blood of Christian martyrs was shed. By order of the pope, a large cross was placed in the middle of the Colosseum arena, and several altars were installed around it. In 1874, church paraphernalia was removed from the Colosseum. After the departure of Benedict XIV, church hierarchs continued to monitor the safety of the Colosseum.

The modern Colosseum, as an architectural monument, is protected, and its ruins, if possible, were installed in their original places. Despite all the trials that befell the ancient arena over thousands of years, the ruins of the Colosseum, devoid of expensive decoration, still make a strong impression today and provide an opportunity to imagine the former grandeur of the arena.

Today the Colosseum is a symbol of Rome, as well as a famous tourist attraction.

Photo 8.

And now the conspiracy theory itself:

If you look closely at the brickwork of the interior walls of the Colosseum, you will notice that the edges of the bricks are upholstered, very orderly, and the upholstery was done before the masonry, and not over the centuries, as they tried to depict, and the bricks are fastened together with a composition very reminiscent of cement XIX century. All the brickwork appears to be approximately the same and is constructed from uniform bricks. It seems that during the construction of the Colosseum, the appearance of supposedly centuries-old deterioration of the structure was immediately faked.

This can be seen even better in places where the brick wall allegedly “collapsed.” These masonry sites are undoubtedly unreal, built in today’s “collapsed” form. If the brick wall had truly collapsed, then its exposed “remains of ancient vaults” would look unnatural on the smooth brickwork of the Colosseum. All these “alterations” were built immediately during the initial construction, so they were confused to show the antiquity of the structure. Real alterations of the vaults are inevitable in ancient houses buried in the ground; they look completely different.

Photo 9.

For example, the Church of St. Irene in Istanbul-Constantinople. Countless traces of real alterations are perfectly represented there. Moreover, the upper part of the walls looks much newer than the lower part, in which more remodeling is visible. But in the Colosseum the walls are strangely identical: what is above is what is below.

In real ancient structures, the bottom of the structure is usually located underground or in a pit if archaeological work is being carried out. The Church of St. Irene goes underground to a depth of 4 meters. And we are talking about a medieval building. And around the Colosseum there is no noticeable subsidence into the ground. It turns out that for two thousand years, the arena was immersed in some kind of vacuum and the rules of nature, which apply to all other places on the planet, and are, by the way, the main dating milestone in archeology, had no power over it.

Photo 10.

But what can we say if, under the guise of reconstruction, absolutely openly, in full view of tourists, with the help of portable scaffolding, the completion of the Colosseum is taking place in our time.

The Vatican does not hide the history of the building much. In the Vatican Palace you can see a fresco depicting the newly designed ruins of the Colosseum! An angel with a compass and a construction angle is drawn next to it. He helps build the Colosseum. But to whom? Is it really possible for a pagan emperor, which would be inappropriate for an angel? Not at all. The name of the builder, as well as the year of construction, are directly indicated on the fresco. Next to the image is written: “THE SEVENTH YEAR OF POPE Pius VII” (<

Since Pope Pius VII reigned from 1800-1823, we are talking about 1807! The same year is repeated once again in the inscription under the fresco:

AMPHITHEATRUM FLAVIUMA, PIO VII CONTRA, RUINAM EXCELSO FULCIMENTO SOLIDATUE ET PLURIFARIAM SUBSTRUCTIONE MUNITUM ANNO MDCCCVII.

Translation: FLAVIAN AMPHITHEATATER BY Pius VII, THE RUINS REST EXTREMELY ON A STRENGTH AND, IN ADDITION, ON VARIED FOUNDATIONS, BUILDED IN THE YEAR 1807.

Photo 11.

So, the construction of the Colosseum as an “ancient” ruin begins in 1807. True, 1807, according to the fresco, is only the beginning with the creation of the project, after which the construction of the ruins was to begin. Perhaps you are interested in knowing the year this scam ended? Oddly enough, this can be read on a marble tablet that hangs above the entrance to the amphitheater. Which shows the year of the so-called reconstruction of the Colosseum as 1852, the seventh year of the reign of Pius IX (1846-1878). This is the real date of completion of the Colosseum - 1852, a century and a half ago.

After its construction, the Colosseum was heavily advertised. And on July 7, 2007, it even made it onto the list of the so-called “new seven wonders of the world,” taking second place there after the Great Wall of China.

But if the Colosseum was erected in the 19th century, then on what basis was it attributed to the Emperor Flavius ​​Vespasian, who allegedly lived in the 1st century? Let us turn to the generally accepted traditional history.

Photo 12.

“The Colosseum is the largest ancient Roman amphitheater and one of the wonders of the world. Located in Rome on the site of a pond. The construction was started by the emperor Flavius ​​Vespasian, and his son finished it in 80 AD. Emperor Titus Flavius... Initially, the Colosseum was called, after the name of the Flavian emperors, the Flavian Amphitheater, its current name (in Latin Colosseum, in Italian Coliseo) was assigned to it later... This place was a place of fun and spectacle for the citizens of Rome... The barbarian invasions marked the beginning of the destruction of the amphitheater. In the 11th-12th centuries, the amphitheater was used as a citadel by the Roman families of Annibaldi and Frangipani. Then the Flavian amphitheater passed to Henry VII, who presented it as a gift to the Roman people. Back in 1332, a bullfight was held here. But most likely, in 1332, bullfights took place not in the current Colosseum, but in that city amphitheater of Italian Rome, which was later converted into the Castel Sant'Angelo, but from then on its regular defeat began...


Maarten van Heemskerck, Self-Portrait of the Painter with the Colosseum in the Background

The word “amphitheater” itself combines two Greek words meaning “double theater” or “theater on both sides” and very accurately conveys the architectural features of this type of ancient Roman architecture. As for the name “Colosseum”, according to one version it comes from the Latin “colosseum”, which means “colossal”, and according to another it is associated with the nearby gigantic statue of Nero, which was called “Colossus”. Both versions have equal rights to existence , fortunately they agree on one thing - they emphasize the cyclopean dimensions of the Colosseum. It is not without reason that more than 100 thousand cubic meters of natural stone were used for its construction, while 45 thousand were used for the external wall. It is not surprising that a special road was built to transport marble. As for the name "Flavian Amphitheater", it is due to the fact that the Colosseum became a collective structure of representatives of this imperial dynasty - Vespasian, Titus and Domitian built it for 8 years, from 72 to 80 AD.

Photo 13.

Construction was started by Vespasian after his military victories in Judea, and the construction was completed by his son Titus, according to the famous historian Suetonius - “At the consecration of the amphitheater and the baths hastily built nearby, he (Titus - author’s note) showed a gladiator fight, amazingly rich and lush; He also arranged a naval battle in the same place, and then there he brought out the gladiators and released five thousand different wild animals in one day.” This beginning of the history of the Colosseum to some extent determined its future fate - for a long time it was the main place for specific entertainment spectacles that are so familiar to us from modern cinema and fiction - gladiatorial fights and baiting of animals, only a small part of the fun that attracted Romans to the arena. The reign of Emperor Macrinus was marked by a severe fire for the Colosseum, but by order of Alexander Severus it was restored, and in 248, under Emperor Philip, the celebration of the thousand-year existence of Rome was held there with great solemnity.

According to surviving eyewitness accounts, 60 lions, 32 elephants, 40 wild horses and dozens of other animals such as moose, zebras, tigers, giraffes and hippos were killed during the “celebrations”. In addition, it was not limited to animals and enthusiastic spectators were able to watch the fights of a total of 2,000 gladiators. Centuries passed, and the Colosseum still retained the status of the main cultural center of Ancient Rome, and the nature of the performances for the townspeople practically did not change - only in 405, Emperor Honorius imposed a ban on gladiatorial fights, since this was contrary to the spirit of Christianity, which, since the time of Constantine Great, became the state religion of the Roman Empire. However, animal persecution continued to delight the Romans until the death of Theodoric the Great. The Middle Ages was the time of decline of the Colosseum - in the 11th-12th centuries, it served as a fortress for the noble families of Rome competing with each other; Frangipani and Annibaldi were especially successful in this field, who eventually were forced to cede the Colosseum to Emperor Henry VII. The latter donated the famous arena to the Roman Senate and people, thanks to which, until the first third of the 14th century, various games were still held in the Colosseum, including bullfights.

Photo 14.

Paradoxically, the reason for the further decline of the Colosseum was its splendor. The fact is that the walls of the Colosseum were made of large blocks of travertine marble, which was mined in the city of Tivoli. The marble blocks were fastened with steel staples; fortunately, they were carefully ground together and did not require mortar for better adhesion. The materials used, as well as the construction technology itself, led not only to the fact that the Colosseum was able to exist for many centuries, but also to the fact that for the Romans of the 15th-16th centuries. it has become a source of valuable materials, which can also be easily disassembled into separate parts. The marble of the Colosseum contributed to the construction of the Venetian Palace, the Palace of Chancellery and the Palazzo Farnese.

Only in the 18th century did the popes change their utilitarian approach to the Colosseum, so Benedict XIV took it under his protection, turning it into a kind of Christian sanctuary - a huge cross was installed in the middle of the arena, which was framed by altars in memory of the torture, the procession to Calvary and the death of the Savior on the cross. This complex was dismantled at the end of the 19th century.

The outer side of the Colosseum consisted of three tiers of arches, between which there were semi-columns, in the lower tier - Tuscan, in the middle - Ionic, and in the upper - Corinthian style. The surviving images of the Colosseum from the time of its glory allow us to conclude that the spans of the arches of the middle and upper tiers were decorated with statues. A fourth floor was built above the upper tier, which was a solid wall, which was cut into compartments by Corinthian pilasters and had a quadrangular window in the middle of each compartment. The cornice of this floor had special holes for installing wooden beams that served as support for the awning stretched over the arena. At the ends of the major and minor axes of the ellipse there were four main entrances, which were three-arched gates, two of which were intended for the emperor, and the rest were used both for ceremonial processions before the start of performances, and for transporting animals and necessary machines to the Colosseum.

Photo 15.

Spectators were located in the stands according to their social status:
- the bottom row, or podium (lat. podium) was intended for the emperor, his family and the highest nobility of Roman society.

Note that the emperor's place rose above the rest.
- further, in three tiers, there were places for the public. The first tier belonged to the city authorities and persons from the equestrian class. The second tier was reserved for citizens of Rome. The third tier was occupied by the lower classes.

Under the arena there was a complex labyrinth for the movement of gladiators and the maintenance of predatory animals that were used for performances.

In general, the structure of the Colosseum alone, even without taking into account its scale, would be enough to rightfully call this structure one of the “wonders of the world.” It organically combines the symbolism of the power of Rome, the architectural complexity that speaks of high technological culture and the pagan riot of the pre-Christian past of the empire. One building embodies a huge layer of the history of one of the most ancient states, the cradle of European history. The Colosseum is a true heritage of world culture, one of those few threads that makes visible the connection between times and eras.

Photo 16.

Let's return to the probable story. So, in the XV and XVI centuries. Pope Paul II used material from the amphitheater when building the Venetian palace, Cardinal Riario - when building the Palace of the Chancery, Pope Paul III - the Farneze Palace. The Colosseum has nothing to do with it - just the stone and brick of the old city of the 14th century. was used for papal buildings, after which the old part of Italian Rome turned into ruins. However, most of the amphitheater was preserved; Sixtus V wanted to use it and built a cloth factory, and Pope Clement IX used the amphitheater building as a saltpeter factory. In the 18th century the popes came to their senses or decided that they could earn more from pilgrims than from saltpeter. Benedict IV (1740-1758) ordered the installation of a grandiose cross in the arena, and around it a number of altars in memory of the death of the Savior on the cross, who removed the cross and altars from the Colosseum only in 1874. Probably, they too much contradicted the imaginary antiquity of the Colosseum, giving it openly Christian appearance, that’s why they were removed.

So, under Clement IX (1592-1605), a cloth factory operated on the site of the Colosseum, and before that there was probably just a pond there. There was most likely no trace of anything like this in those days. Probably the first person who came up with the idea of ​​erecting some kind of grandiose structure was Pope Benedict XIV (1740-1758). But he clearly intended to erect not an “ancient amphitheater”, but a monument to Christian martyrs. However, his successors took things in a different direction. It was under them that the actual construction of the modern Colosseum began, portrayed as an allegedly “easy restoration of the ancient amphitheater.”

This is what the Encyclopedic Dictionary reports: “The popes who ruled after Benedict XIV, in particular Pius VII and Leo XII, strengthened the walls that were threatening to collapse with buttresses (we read between the lines: they built walls), and Pius IX repaired a number of internal passages in the amphitheater (we read between the lines : built the inside). The Colosseum is protected with considerable care by the modern Italian government. By his order, under the leadership of learned archaeologists, basement rooms were excavated in the arena, which were once used to bring people and animals and decorations into the arena, or by damming the arena to organize “naumachia”.

Photo 17.

Particularly absurd is the idea of ​​historians about “naumachia” - naval battles presented in the water-filled arena of the Colosseum. At the same time, no intelligible explanations are given - how exactly and with the help of what mechanisms water could fill the Colosseum arena? Where are the drain and fill pipes? Water pumping devices? Waterproof walls with traces of water filling? This is all missing in the Colosseum.

Now let's look at the history of the Roman Colosseum in historical sources, and what they tell us about this ancient amphitheater, and even the Flavians. After all, they were supposed to tell about such a remarkable structure as the Colosseum. But it so happened that not a single chronicle mentions anything about the Colosseum. Here are two of the most striking examples.

The facial chronicle is a detailed account of world and Russian history, usually dating back to the 16th century. The second and third volumes describe in detail the history of ancient Rome. Moreover, which is fortunate, especially much space is devoted to the reign of Emperor Flavius ​​Vespasian, who, according to historians, founded the Colosseum amphitheater. In general, the Facial Chronicle is a very detailed chronicle and contains more than sixteen thousand beautiful color drawings, made especially for the kings. Therefore, even if there is no mention of the Colosseum - neither in the text nor in the drawings - then we have to conclude that in Moscow in the 16th-17th centuries. they knew nothing about the Colosseum. Surprisingly, there really are no such references.

Photo 18.

But maybe the Facial Vault is silent about the Colosseum simply because it does not concern the buildings erected by the first Flavius ​​in Rome at all? No, that's not true. The Facial Vault tells in sufficient detail how Vespasian, having returned to Rome from the Jewish War, immediately began the construction of huge and amazing buildings. But the Colosseum is not mentioned among them. And in general, nothing is said about the theater. We only talk about temples, treasuries, libraries. Here's an excerpt:

“Vespasian thought about how to create an altar to an idol and soon erected something that surpassed all human imagination. And he put all the valuable garments there, and everything wonderful and inaccessible was collected there and laid out in plain sight. For all this, people all over the world travel and work, just to see it with their own eyes. He hung the Jewish curtains there, as if proud of them, and all the gold-embroidered vestments, and ordered the books with the laws to be kept in the chamber.”

The facial vault tells the story of Vespasian's remarkable buildings in Rome, built after the end of the Jewish War. But the Colosseum is not mentioned among them.

Photo 19.

The Lutheran Chronograph of 1680, a world chronicle in which all Roman incidents are described in detail, does not report anything about the Colosseum. It, just like the Facial Vault, reports only on the construction by Vespasian of a certain “temple of peace” at the end of the Jewish War: “The year of Christ 77, the temple of peace is being built, and the decorations of the temple of Jerusalem are placed in it, and these are the golden vessels of the Jews. The law and the scarlet veils were preserved in the chambers by the command of Vespesian.”

This is where the description of Vespasian's buildings ends. The Lutheran Chronograph is completely silent about the Colosseum - and in general, about any amphitheater built by Vespasian in Rome. Moreover, in the detailed index of names and titles given at the end of the Chronograph, the name “Colosseum” is not present. There are no similar names either. How is it that the Colosseum is not mentioned in the Lutheran chronograph, as well as in the Facial Vault. Although it was written in 1680 and, it would seem, its author should have known about such an outstanding structure as the Colosseum. And call it exactly “Colosseum”. After all, this name, as historians tell us, has been assigned to the Colosseum since the 8th century. Why is the author of the second half of the 17th century. doesn't know him yet? It turns out that in the seventeenth century. Europe really didn’t know anything about the Colosseum yet.

Photo 20.

Let us now turn to the “ancient” writers. What do they know about the greatest amphitheater of ancient Rome, the grandiose Colosseum? It is believed that Suetonius, Eutropius and other “ancient” authors wrote about the Colosseum. An opinion is also expressed that the Colosseum was allegedly sung by an “ancient” poet of the 1st century AD. Martial. And he even tried to classify it as one of the seven wonders of the world, amazingly anticipating the decision of contemporary historians (in 2007) to classify the Colosseum among the “seven new wonders of the world.”

But were the “ancient” writers really talking about the Colosseum in Italy, and not about some other amphitheater? But then, maybe the real Colosseum is not in Italy, but in some other place? And one more important question. When, by whom and where were the supposedly “ancient” works that are generally known today and talking about the Colosseum discovered? Isn't it in the Vatican? And after it was decided to build the Roman Colosseum, and it was necessary to create a history for it, to find “primary sources” that “confirm” its existence in the past?

Let's take the book of Suetonius as an example (the others say approximately the same thing). Suetonius reports on the construction in Rome by Emperor Vespasian, upon his return from the Jewish War, of several structures at once: the Temple of Peace, another temple, a certain nameless amphitheater in the middle of the city. Suetonius writes: “... Vespasian also undertook new construction projects: the Temple of Peace... the Temple of Claudius... an amphitheater in the center of the city...”. Modern commentators believe that Suetonius is talking about the Colosseum here. But Suetonius by no means calls the amphitheater the Colosseum and, in general, does not report any details about it. He writes simply about the “amphitheatre.” Why does it have to be the Colosseum? There is no evidence of this.

Photo 21.

Eutropius, in his Brief History from the Founding of the City, attributes the construction of the amphitheater to Emperor Titus Vespasian, son of Emperor Vespasian. But he also does not provide any data that allows us to identify the Amphitheater of Titus specifically with the Colosseum. It is only sparingly reported that Titus Vespasian “erected an amphitheater in Rome, during the consecration of which 5 thousand animals were killed in the arena.”

Another “ancient” historian, Sextus Aurelius Victor writes in the “History of Rome” that under Emperor Flavius ​​Vespasian, the restoration of the Capitol was begun and completed in Rome... the Temple of Peace, the monuments of Claudius, the Forum, and a huge amphitheater was created. But even here there are no details that would allow us to identify this amphitheater specifically with the Colosseum. It is not said what size the amphitheater was, how it was built, or where in the city it was located. And again the question arises: why is this the Colosseum? Maybe Aurelius Victor had a completely different amphitheater in mind?

Photo 22.

As for the “Book of Spectacles” by the Roman poet Martial, where he is believed to have glorified the Colosseum, there is also nothing in it that would clearly point specifically to the Colosseum. And this book itself may turn out to be a fake, since, as has long been noted, it is suspiciously different from the rest of Martial’s works. “From Martial a collection of 14 books of epigrams has reached us, not counting in this number a special book of poems, also called epigrams, but relating exclusively to the games of the amphitheater under Titus Flavius ​​and Domitian.” And even if Martial’s “Book of Spectacles” is original, where is the evidence that it refers to the Colosseum? There is no such evidence.
It may well be that Martial and Roman historians are not talking about the Colosseum in Italy, but about another amphitheater. Moreover, the ruins of a huge Roman amphitheater that fits these descriptions really exist. But this is by no means the Italian Colosseum. Unlike the Colosseum in Italy, this different Colosseum is not advertised at all by historians. They have surrounded him with deathly silence and are trying to pretend that he does not exist.

Nowadays, the Colosseum is under special protection of the Italian government; work is underway to collect chaotically scattered marble fragments and install them in places supposedly intended for this. Archaeological excavations and restoration work going hand in hand have made it possible to make a number of remarkable discoveries. However, these days, the defenders of this unique monument are faced with new problems - from numerous tourists, many of whom are not averse to taking something “as a souvenir” with them, to the negative impact on the stone of the Colosseum from atmospheric pollution, vibration caused by city traffic and other factors technogenic nature.

Despite its complex history and difficult existence today, the Colosseum, albeit in the form of ruins, has retained such a majestic appearance that, according to voting results, in 2007 it was recognized as one of the 7 New Wonders of the World.

The Colosseum opens to the public at 8.30 and closes an hour before sunset, at 16.30 - 18.30, depending on the time of year.

How to get to the Colosseum and what you can see nearby.

By metro: line B (blue line) to Colloseo station, buses 60, 75, 85, 87, 271, 571, 175, 186, 810, 850 routes, tram number 3, and taxi.

Next to the Colosseum stands the beautifully preserved triumphal arch of Constantine (Arch of Constantine), erected to commemorate his victory over Maxentius in 315 AD.

Photo 24.

Why does the Colosseum have this name? How has it changed over the centuries? And, most importantly, what secrets does Italy's number one attraction keep?

"Attention, construction work is underway"

In order to build, the Romans took a little more than five years: from 75 to 80 AD. The Colosseum was and remains one of the most grandiose buildings: more than 100,000 cubic meters of travertine (lime tuff) were used for the construction of the outer walls alone. The result was "colossale" (colossal): the amphitheater, 189 meters long, 156 meters wide and 48 meters high, was able to accommodate between 50 and 70 thousand spectators on a total internal area of ​​24,000 square meters.

Arena. There were only 80 entrances to the amphitheater, the arena where the battles took place was elliptical in shape, with axes about 80 and 50 meters long, and was probably covered with wooden beams.

One day at the Colosseum

The daily routine in the amphitheater was predetermined and strict. On the evening before the upcoming battle, the "editor", that is, the one who organized the games, offered the gladiators a dinner, which was open to the public: this was done so that the crowd could take a closer look at the participants in the fights. The next morning, the soldiers opened the day with a “parade” in the amphitheater, richly armored and fully armed. Then fights began between animals or between animals and people.

Deadly Lunch

Lunch hours at the Colosseum were reserved for executions of those sentenced to death: people were burned at the stake, crucified or given to wild animals. All this took place in the format of a live show.

The highlight of the program

The most anticipated show was the afternoon show - duels between gladiators: Munera. According to a common interpretation, the gladiators entered the field in a column, stood in front of the emperor and shouted: “Ave caesar, morituri te salutant.” In fact, Caesar was greeted very rarely.

The mystery of the name

In the beginning it was called the Flavian Amphitheater (Anfiteatro Flavio) because it was built by the emperors Vespasian and Titus of the Flavian dynasty. The name "Colosseum" appeared only in the Middle Ages: the most popular theory is that the amphitheater received the name "Colosseo" due to the fact that it was built next to Nero's "Colossus", a statue that was located a few meters from the amphitheater. Others say that the name comes from its location, because the amphitheater was built on a hill where the Temple of Isis (Collis Isei) once stood.

There is also an interesting legend about the origin of the name “Colosseum”: once upon a time on the site of the Colosseum there was a pagan temple where the devil was worshiped. And at the end of each ceremony the priests asked the followers: COLIS EUM? (Do you love him? I mean, the devil).

Sun protection and seat reservations

On particularly hot sunny days, the Colosseum was covered with a curtain of about 80 triangular pieces of canvas, which were stretched through 320 support cables. The reason is easy to understand: the curtain protected spectators from sunburn during daytime shows.

Seats in the Colosseum were strictly reserved. The upper rows contained wooden benches intended for the public, while the seats for privileged guests were decorated in marble. Anyone could take part in the show, entry was free, but changing the seats assigned to each of the visitors was not allowed. The senators of Rome sat in the front row along with the Vestals, behind them were the soldiers (equites), and in the attics places were reserved for slaves and foreigners.

The first elevator in history and the scenery for the "play"

One of the first examples of working elevator systems was the system operating at the Colosseum. The arena and basement areas were actually connected by elevators.

The basements consisted of alternating corridors. Some contained sets of scenery for battles, which, thanks to a system of cables, were raised into the arena, others contained animals and gladiators preparing for battle.

The scenery was installed in the arena in advance. Gladiators and animals ascended to the arena immediately at the start of the battle on the first prototype of the elevator. Thanks to these systems of rise from underground space, the show took on a more exciting character: warriors and wild animals appeared in the arena as if from nowhere.

The Colosseum gave life to many of Rome's historical landmarks

The marble facade and some of the interior of the Colosseum were used to build various civil buildings in Rome, such as the Palazzo Barberini. After being neglected for a long time, the amphitheater was actually used by the Romans as a source of building materials. This continued until the 18th century, when a sudden love for the ancient ruins of Rome arose. It is estimated that only one-third of what was left of the Colosseum was what it was when it was originally constructed.

In the thirteenth century, a palazzo of the Roman Frangipane family was even built inside the amphitheater, and later other civil houses.

The Colosseum was also damaged by numerous earthquakes. Thus, in 851, an earthquake provoked the collapse of two rows of arches on the south side and the amphitheater took on the asymmetrical aspect familiar to us.

Colosseum and swimming pool

Inside the amphitheater, at one time there were also water fights, “Naumachie”: these were shows in which gladiators (or convicts) reenacted famous naval battles from Roman imperial history.

The pool also hosted a peaceful water show in which women participated.

According to Martin Krepper, professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Edinburgh, the water flowed through a series of internal wells and pipes under the stands. It took about 7 hours to fill the entire arena.

Scary and terrible

During the times of gladiatorial fights, the Colosseum acquired an ominous reputation, such that it was considered one of the seven gates of hell (tens of thousands of people died in the arena). They say that the Colosseum even hosted devilish rites, for which the blood of those killed in the arena was used. In the Middle Ages, then, gangs of bandits used the arena to bury victims. And in the 16th century, wizards and sorcerers flocked here, who used grass with magical powers that grew among the blood and ruins for witchcraft.

Jungle Colosseum

For several decades, botanists have been studying plants that grew spontaneously inside the Colosseum. We are talking about more than 350 different species of plants that have taken root among the ruins - some of them are of absolutely exotic origin and their growth is supported by the unique microclimate of the amphitheater.

Coliseum and Hollywood

The Colosseum has been the location for many films, but the film that brought it even greater worldwide fame, Gladiator, was not filmed inside the amphitheater. A series of unresolved issues prompted director Ridley Scott to film the gladiatorial fight scenes at the Roman amphitheater El Jem in Tunisia and a fake Colosseum specially built for filming in Malta. It took just 19 weeks to build the amphitheater, but the structure was made of wood and only partially: most of it was recreated on the computer in post-production.

The Colosseum (from the Latin colosseus - huge), or the Flavian amphitheater, is one of the most symbolic architectural structures of mankind. This is something of a prototype of the modern Western entertainment industry: giant stadiums, built in the spirit of the latest engineering technologies, still have at their core the timeless design of the Colosseum. Millions of references, quotes and allusions in popular culture, cinema and literature confirm the power and enduring significance of this grandiose monument. Now the Colosseum is a symbol of Rome and the most visited tourist site of ancient culture.

History of the Colosseum

Construction of the Colosseum began under Emperor Vespasian in 72. To build this colossal structure, a pond belonging to the luxurious palace complex of Vespasian's predecessor, the despotic ruler of Rome, Emperor Nero, was dried up.

The fire of 64, which occurred in Rome under mysterious circumstances during the reign of Nero, destroyed many entertainment buildings and amphitheaters. Traditionally, in the Roman Empire, theater, public battles and spectacles were a powerful way to control the population and strengthen the authority of the current government. Nero ordered the construction of a huge palace for himself in the center of the damaged city.

Vespasian, returning to Rome after the successful suppression of the Jews, to strengthen his cult, ordered the construction of a grandiose amphitheater in the center of the city for the entertainment of the people. This was a reasonable decision from a political point of view: the lands taken by Nero for the construction of an exorbitantly luxurious residence went to the people - thus, the memory of the despot paled before the glory of the new emperor.

In 1980, construction was completed. On the opening day, spectators were presented with a large-scale naval battle - naumachia. Millions of liters of water were pumped into the newly built Colosseum using a complex and extensive hydraulic system.

For a long time, the amphitheater served as the main place of entertainment for the Romans; gladiator fights, animal persecution, and naval battles took place here. Scenes of hunting wild animals were very popular. Only here could the Romans see exotic animals brought from the environs of the empire and other countries.

After the establishment of Christianity as the state religion, most of the amusements familiar to the Romans were banned, but in practice they did not immediately disappear from the stages of the amphitheater.

At the Colosseum, everything was done to ensure that the spectators left the spectacle extremely satisfied. For example, during performances, the audience was sprayed with refreshing aromatic compounds. A special device, the design of which was restored by scientists only recently, sprayed incense over a large area.

The barbarian invasions marked the beginning of the systematic destruction of the Colosseum. And in the middle of the 14th century, a powerful earthquake caused the collapse of the main Roman amphitheater. From then on, the building began to be considered as a source of building material: the stones of the amphitheater were selected and chipped off on purpose, after which they were used in the construction of new structures.

The attitude towards the monument changed only in modern times. In the middle of the 18th century, the Colosseum was taken under the protection of the Catholic Church. Pope Benedict XIV declared it the place where many Christian saints were martyred and made it a reminder of the suffering of Christ.

Architecture and landmarks

The Colosseum is an ellipse in plan. The oval shape was traditional for Roman amphitheatres; it fit well into any area and was convenient for dynamic performances.

The oval structure of the amphitheater also contains a social idea. The circle is a democratic shape: everyone is an equal distance from the center. The oval made it possible to distribute the audience according to their social status: more distinguished people were seated closer to the stage. The emperor and his retinue were also clearly visible to visitors from all rows.

With its entire appearance, the amphitheater glorified the greatness of Rome. In the arched openings there were 160 gilded statues of deities of ancient mythology that have not survived to this day. On the wall of the upper floor there were huge shields, emphasizing the military superiority of Rome. Even the columns used in the arch system were associated with temples, which were losing their popularity at this time.

The logistics solution used in the construction of the Colosseum proved so effective that it is used in the construction of large stadiums to this day. 80 entrances are distributed evenly along the entire perimeter of the structure. This makes it possible to fill a huge amphitheater with a capacity of several thousand people in 8 minutes and completely empty it in 5 minutes.

Each spectator received a token with a route, which indicated which doors he should enter, which passage he should climb, and which place he should take. The routes followed the shortest route. This system also made it possible to divide spectators by class. The bottom row of the theater was reserved for the nobility, and each subsequent tier was reserved for people of lower status.

A secret tunnel led to the emperor's bed. The inside was very richly decorated with colorful frescoes. This tunnel has not been completely excavated by archaeologists, so it is still unknown where this underground passage began.

Continuing the excavations is hampered by the fact that the corridor passes under a busy highway in modern Rome.

Under the arena there were rooms and cages in which slaves and wild animals were kept. During the performance, they climbed up using a complex technical device. These mechanisms, used in such cruel entertainment, amaze with their engineering precision and perfection. They were driven by the physical strength of slaves.

Another interesting fact is that under the ground of the Colosseum there were even burial places of the bodies of killed gladiators.
For clarity, a fragment of the arena was built at the height level at which it was historically located.

Museum

There is a museum inside the Colosseum. Thousands of tourists visit it every day to take photos of rare exhibits. A small exhibition contains preserved bas-reliefs and mosaics that decorated the amphitheater. It also stores models of the building and mechanisms used in the performances. The museum presents a collection of finds: objects that were left by the Romans, as well as the remains of war animals.

Among the items forgotten by viewers, most of all were dishes and disposable cutlery. Just as modern movie theatergoers buy popcorn before the show, ancient showgoers enjoyed snacking during the shows.

The Colosseum today

Currently, the Colosseum is protected and studied by the world scientific community. New historical artifacts are being discovered that shed light on the history of the amphitheater's construction.

Each stone of this grandiose monument is a UNESCO site and is carefully guarded 24 hours a day.

Efforts are being made to restore the building, which suffers from pollution and heavy traffic. Vibrations created by busy traffic on the road have a destructive effect on the condition of the monument.

The government of Rome is well aware of the symbolic and iconic role of the Colosseum in the mass consciousness of humanity. For centuries associated with cruelty and death, the Colosseum is gradually changing its image through the efforts of the Roman authorities. Thus, since 2000, it has been customary to change the color of the amphitheater’s night lighting every time the death penalty is abolished in the world or any death sentence is not carried into effect.

The Colosseum is still considered a monument to the history of Christianity; every Good Friday a procession of the cross takes place here, uniting hundreds of thousands of Christian believers.

Location on the map, opening hours and cost

Address: Piazza del Colosseo, 1. 00184 Roma, Italy.
Official site: www.the-colosseum.net

The Colosseum is open from 8:30 am to sunset. Visiting times should be checked on the official website; they vary depending on the time of year.

Ticket price - 12 euros. You can also use it to get to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. The ticket is valid for 2 days. For citizens under 18 years of age, admission is free. Free entry is available on City Day.

The cost of a tour of the amphitheater, lasting 45 minutes - 5 euros. Additionally, you can purchase a ticket for a tour of the underground passages, it costs 9 euros, duration of the excursion - 1 hour 20 minutes.

If you plan to visit a large number of museums in a short period of time, it is most profitable to purchase a general Roma Pass card. It allows you to visit 2 museums for free, and provides a discount on visiting the rest. The card is valid for 3 days.

How to get there?

The easiest way to get to the Colosseum Metro, reaching Colosseo station.

In contact with

It is difficult to find a person who has not heard anything about him in our time. This is one of the most grandiose buildings in the entire era of human existence, a universally recognizable symbol of the Roman Empire. We are talking about the famous Colosseum amphitheater in Italy (Rome).

Amphitheater Colosseum in Rome: history and interesting facts

The Colosseum in Rome was built in 80 AD under the Roman Emperor Titus of the Flavian family. The building itself was called the Flavian Amphitheater. The site chosen for construction was the Golden House of Nero, or rather its artificial lake, located in the city of Rome. The construction of the building took only 8 years.

Colosseum is Latin for colossal. It is not surprising that it was this name that replaced the official version of the amphitheater among the people. And although by this time it was already difficult to surprise the ancient Roman architects with the construction of huge amphitheaters, the Colosseum in Rome surpassed all its competitors by an order of magnitude and quickly became associated as a new wonder of the world.

The size of the building is impressive. The oval-shaped arena occupies an area of ​​86 by 54 meters, the entire building has an axial diameter of 156 and 188 meters, and the wall height is 48 meters. 80 entrances and 50 thousand seats confirmed the enormity of the Flavian amphitheater.

The architect of the building was Quintius Aterius. Slave labor was used to build such a huge structure. Construction went on both day and night.

The building was erected on a 13-meter concrete foundation, which was made in a drained lake. The reliability of the structure was ensured by a frame made up of 80 radial walls and 7 ring walls.

What is the Colosseum made of? During the construction of the Colosseum in Italy, a variety of materials were used: marble for seats, travertine for circular walls, concrete and tuff for radial walls, brick for arches. Marble cladding was made separately.

In its original form, the Colosseum amphitheater had 3 floors. On the first there was the emperor's box and marble seats for the Senate. On the second floor, marble benches were installed, intended for citizens of Ancient Rome. On the third floor there were places for all other spectators, made in the form of wooden benches and just standing places. In the 2nd century the last fourth floor was completed.

On bad days (heat or rain), the arena of the Roman Colosseum could be closed with an awning stretched over the masts. It is worth noting the floor of the arena itself. It was made of wood, usually covered with a layer of sand, and was... movable. For naval battles, the arena could be filled with water from a suitable aqueduct.

The main purpose of the Colosseum in Rome was to host gladiator fights. The amphitheater arena could accommodate up to 3 thousand fighters. What stands out in history is the celebration of the opening of the Colosseum, which lasted for 100 days. In addition to gladiator fights, hunting scenes were also staged here, with special decorations pulled out from the wooden floor. Another date in the history of the Flavian Amphitheater is the celebration of the millennium of Rome in 249. Thousands of gladiators and animals also died here. The bloody massacres came to an end only in 405.

With the fall of the great Roman Empire, the building of the Colosseum amphitheater in Italy began to decline and began to collapse. In the Middle Ages, the Colosseum was referred to as a castle. During the Renaissance, local residents began to dismantle the amphitheater for the construction of local structures. Even later, homeless people found shelter here.

The end to the overgrowth and destruction of the Colosseum amphitheater was put in the 18th century by Pope Benedict XIV. On his initiative, a cross was erected here in memory of the shed blood, and church events began to be held. And nowadays, on Good Friday, the Way of the Cross takes place here, uniting thousands of Christian believers.

And although the Colosseum in Rome is half destroyed these days, it still makes a huge impression and proudly holds the title of symbol of Rome.