Colosseum

Colosseum- The Finest Example of Roman Architecture
The Colosseum has stood as the finest example of Roman architecture for 1927 years, and still is. Originally called the “Flavian Amphitheater”, the Colosseum is a giant amphitheater built in the heart of Rome for public purposes. Construction of the Colosseum began between AD 70-72, and took 9 years to build. It was officially declared for public use in AD 80 by, a Roman emperor Titus (79-81) who conquered Jerusalem. Under the direction of Vespasian, who found the Flavian Dynasty –hence Colosseum’s original name- construction was underway for Colosseum. After Colosseum was opened, another Roman emperor named Domitian fully completed the Colosseum, adding the uppermost story.

Although earlier Roman theaters were built by a hillside or mountain range to provide extra support, Colosseum is a freestanding structure that is made up stone and concrete. In diameter, it is 620ft. by 512ft. or 190m. by 195m. The Colosseum had a huge crowd capacity, so architects had to make sure that there was an adequate amount of exits for audiences. Therefore, 80 entrances were built; the spectators use 76 of which, and 4 of which are used by emperors. A seating arrangement is also enforced for the different levels of society. The poorest sat on top, middle-class people sat in the center, while emperors and senators sat in the front rows.

On the Colosseum’s opening day, a ceremony of dedication was held that included 100 days of games. Since then, the amphitheater was home to thousands of hand-to-hand combats between gladiators, and contests among man and animals. In addition to that, the arena was also flooded with water for a sea battle with ships; these events attracted millions of audiences. Colosseum has held many games during its period of fame, and even until today, no games can compare to the ones held at Colosseum.

For the reason that the Colosseum was worth a lot after it opened, vandalism and thefts were common. Marble seats were stolen, and the wall of the structure was chipped off. In medieval times, earthquakes and lighting strikes were also common, so the Colosseum was affected by numerous amounts of earthquakes and lighting strikes. There was a restoration project held in the 1996’s. The costs of all the restoration projects are estimated to be at 40 billion ILT (Italy Lire; no longer used). Present Colosseum has a ruined interior, consequently, only small events are held in the theater. Large events will be held outside the theater, with the Colosseum as a backdrop for the stage. Some of the musicians that have performed at the Colosseum include Ray Charles, Paul McCartney, and Elton John. In 2000, the Colosseum staged a performance to an audience of 700 for the first time in 1, 500 years.

The Colosseum is an iconic symbol of modern day Italy and Roman architecture. A famous Italian poet once wrote- “As long as the Colossus stands, so shall Rome; when the Colossus falls, so shall fall; when Rome falls, so does the World”. An icon for Imperial Rome, the Colosseum is tied very closely to the Roman Catholic Church, and is the venue for Good Friday ceremonies. The Colosseum is depicted on the Italian adaptation of the Euro 5-cent coin. A trademark of the Colosseum is the number of arches in its design. In the outer wall of the Colosseum, there are 240 arched doorways. The Colosseum still stands and signifies a symbol of creativity strength, talent, and determination that Romans have.

//The Colosseum at dusk//
 * Images**

//The inside of the legendary Roman Amphitheater//


 * Bibliography**

__Images__ Colosseum at Dusk: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Colosseum_in_Rome%2C_Italy_-_April_2007.jpg Inside of Colosseum: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kolosseumbannen.jpg

__Information__ "Colosseum." __Encyclopædia Britannica__. 2007. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition. 14 Nov. 2007 <[|http://britannicaschool.eb.com/eb/article-9024848>.] Wilkinson, Tracy. "Rome's Falling Arches." __SIRS__. 14 Nov. 2007. [|]. Baker, Rosalie F. "The Magnificent Colosseum." __SIRS__. 14 Nov. 2007. [|.]

By: Elizabeth