2. The Roman Coliseum
The Colosseum is an amphitheater of the Roman Empire
period, built in the first centuryin the center of the city
of Rome. Originally called the Flavian
Amphitheatre(Amphitheatre Flavium), in honor of the
Flavian dynasty of emperors who built
it, andcalled Colosseum became a large
statue located next to it, the Colossus of Nero, notnow
preserved. For its architectural features, condition and
history, the Colosseum is one of the most famous
monuments of classical antiquity. It was declared a World
Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980 as one of New
Seven Wonders of the World on July 7, 2007.
In ancient times had a capacity for 50,000 spectators,
with eighty rows of bleachers.Those who were close
to the arena were the Emperor and the Senate, and as
they stood were the lower strata of society. Took place at
the Coliseum gladiator fights and public spectacles.
4. History: In classical Rome
In 29 a. C. the Roman consul Statilius Taurus built an
amphitheater in the Campus Martius. This building was the
first large amphitheater of the city, with all necessary
facilities. This building was destroyed in the Great Fire of Rome
in year 64, with the needof a new amphitheater for the Roman
city.
The construction of the Colosseum began under the reign of
Emperor Vespasianbetween 70 and 72 d. C The site
chosen was a flat area between the hills of Celio,Esquiline
and Palatine, through which flowed a stream channeled. The
site where the amphitheater was built years ago had been
devastated by the Great Fire of Rome in 64d. C, And taking
advantage of this circumstance, Nero seized much of the
land to build his residence: the
grandiose Domus Aurea. It ordered the construction of an
artificial lake, the Stagnum Neronis, surrounded by gardens
and porches. The existing AquaClaudia aqueduct was extended
to come to that area, and the giant bronze statue known as the
Colossus of Nero was placed near the entrance to
the Domus Aurea. This statuereceives the name of the
amphitheater coliseum.
5. "Games" and activities of
the Colosseum
The Coliseum hosted shows such as venationes (animal fighting)
or noxii (executions ofprisoners by animals) and the munera: gladiator
fights. It is estimated that these gameswere killed between 500,000 and
1,000,000 people. Also held naumachiae, spectacularnaval battles that
required water to flood the arena. It is likely that they were in the early
years, before the construction of the basement beneath the sand. The
Colosseum had an advanced system of water canals that
allowed rapid filling and emptying the lower floor
6. In the present
The Colosseum is without doubt one of the great tourist attractions of
Rome. It has beenbrought to the screen on multiple
occasions, emphasizing especially the digital reconstruction seen
in Gladiator.
Since 2000, the authorities maintain the building illuminated for 48 hours
at a timesomewhere in the world is commuted or deferred a death
sentence to a convict.
The Colosseum was ousted in the August 7, 2011 by a bomb alert,
which was nonexistent. A phone call had been reported that a can
with wires hanging. According to the mayor of Rome: "I had
some turpentine, a battery and two wires, but no explosive materials"