{"id":9448,"date":"2021-05-28T11:50:08","date_gmt":"2021-05-28T08:50:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mozartcultures.com\/en\/?p=9448"},"modified":"2021-05-29T18:46:26","modified_gmt":"2021-05-29T15:46:26","slug":"the-history-of-the-colosseum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mozartcultures.com\/en\/the-history-of-the-colosseum\/","title":{"rendered":"The History of The Colosseum"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Colosseum<\/em>, as one of the most magnificent structures from ancient history, was built between 70\/72 CE under the heel of Vespasian and was finished under Titus, his son in 80\/81 CE. The Colosseum is the first example of an amphitheatre in the ancient world. Amphitheatre comes from Greek words \u1f00\u03bc\u03c6\u03af<\/em> (amph\u00ed<\/span><\/em>,\u00a0\u201c<\/span>on both sides<\/span>\u201d) <\/span>and \u03b8\u03ad\u1fb1\u03c4\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd<\/em> (<\/span>th\u00e9\u0101tron<\/span><\/em>,\u00a0\u201c<\/span>theatre<\/span>\u201d<\/span>)<\/span>. It is basically two th\u00e9\u0101tron <\/span><\/em>compounded.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The name Colosseum<\/em>, on the other hand, comes from the Latin word colossus\u00a0<\/em>(huge). This name, however, was never used in antiquity but was rather given after the era. It is assumed that this structure was called Amphitheatrum<\/em> Flavium<\/em> (The Flavian Theatre) at the time, but this<\/em> is also not certain.<\/p>\n

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The Colosseum at night. Source: https:\/\/wall.alphacoders.com\/big.php?i=449451<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The structure was placed among the three hills of Rome, namely Mons<\/em> Palatinus <\/em>(Palatine Hill), Mons Esquilinus <\/em>(Esquiline Hill), and Mons<\/em> C\u00e6lius<\/em> (Caelian Hill) to create an illusion as if the structure dominates over the city. Placing the structure in the center of the city was an intentional decision. The long, tiresome civil wars during the republican era had caused Rome to lose its awe. We know that Vespasian wished to revive the city’s glory since he had several coins minted with the inscription of Roma Resurgens <\/em>(The Reviving Rome).<\/p>\n

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A coin with the inscription of Roma Resurgens<\/em> (Courtesy of British Museum)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The columns of the structure are mixed with Greek architecture styles. On the first layer, the columns are in the style of Doric<\/strong> (\u0394\u03c9\u03c1\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc\u03c2), the second, Ionian<\/strong> (\u1f3c\u03c9\u03bd) and the third, Corinthian<\/strong> (\u03ba\u03bf\u03c1\u03b9\u03bd\u03b8\u03b9\u03b1\u03ba\u03cc\u03c2).\u00a0 It has at least 80 entrances, and 76 of them were numbered. Two of the entrances were for the gladiators. Gladiators who lost the fight would be killed and dragged through the western port<\/strong> called Porta<\/em> Libitinensis<\/em> (The Gate of Death) while the victors would exit through the eastern port <\/strong>called Porta<\/em> Triumphalis<\/em> (The Gate of Triumph). Occasionally, gladiators who lost the fight would be pardoned, and these gladiators would use the Porta<\/em> Triumphalis<\/em>. The Porta<\/em> Triumphalis<\/em> was also the gate where the gladiators would enter the arena. Although these ports were referred to as such, it is controversial since the only succeeded written sources today are from the late antiquity, which includes an anonymous work of a biography about Commodus; and a diary by St. Perpetua, a noblewoman, who had written during her captivity and later was executed in the arena due to her faith in Christianity.<\/p>\n

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St. Perpetua beheading in the arena, artist unknown. https:\/\/amedievalwomanscompanion.com\/perpetua\/<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The capacity of the Colosseum could hold circa 50000 spectators -45000 seated and 5000 standing- at maximum. A huge marquee would have been used to prevent the heat or rain.\u00a0<\/em>The arena (Lat. harena,<\/em> meaning sand) was surrounded by a podium,\u00a0<\/em>and the spectators would sit on marble seats. These seats were numbered and separated to distinguish the spectators -the rich citizens, the plebeians, and the noncitizens. Women would sit on the wooden seats, and there was a section for the slaves where they would stand and watch the games. The emperor and his family would sit in the lodge.<\/p>\n

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Inside of the Colosseum. Photo: https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Colosseum#\/media\/File:Colosseum_0771_2013.jpg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Picture from:\u00a0 https:\/\/www.colosseocollection.com\/p167157959\/h1609926C#h1609926c<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A bronze sestertius<\/em> minted c. 80\/81 CE as a commemoration. On the obverse<\/strong>, a depiction of the Colosseum engraved with the details of the podium<\/em> and sections of the seats, and in the middle, a larger dot depicted the emperor himself. On the reverse,<\/strong> Emperor Titus seated on the sella<\/em> curulis,<\/em> holding a scroll and an olive branch as symbols referring to him as the legislator and peace-maker. Around him, a pile of arms refers to the wars he triumphed over the enemies. The inscription on the coin;<\/p>\n

Transliteration:<\/strong><\/p>\n