The Colosseum in Ancient Roman Times

Probably the most impressive building created during the Roman Empire, the Colosseum is the largest structure of the area and was created around 80 CE. Currently in ruins, this structure is a beautiful sight and a popular tourist attraction. But what was the Colosseum like in Roman days?

The structure’s construction began in 72 CE at the order of Emperor Vespasian, founder of the Flavian Dynasty. It was not completed until after his death. The building was actually called the Flavian Ampitheater during the Roman period, and didn’t get the nickname of Colosseum until later (after the huge statue of Emperor Nero located nearby).

The building is elliptical in shape and measures a hundred eighty-eight meters by a hundred fifty-six meters, and is more than forty-eight meters tall. Current estimates suggest that as many as fifty-five thousand people could sit in the Colosseum at once to watch the games. Eighty entrances were built to accommodate the flow of spectators.

While the structure is ruined now, it once had multiple interior levels – four above ground stories containing seating. The lowest story had the best seats, and was reserved for the well off and well regarded, while the upper story was for the poor and for women. These levels were made from wood, and burned more than once.

Below the ground in the Colosseum was a series of rooms containing machinery, and cages housing wild animals. The mechanical devices allowed hoisting of the cages, so that animals appeared in the middle of the arena for hunts and gladatorial battles.

Spectators in the Colosseum were protected from the sun by a huge awning attached to poles on the top of the structure, and anchored with large ropes. This took an enormous team of workers to install – an estimated one thousand.

Games were often free to the public and subsidized by Emperors who wished to increase their popularity with the people. They acted as a symbol of the Emperor’s power, and were held for up to several days in a row, featuring displays of exotic beasts and humorous theater, followed by fights to the death involving gladiators or animals. Fighters were often criminals and slaves, but free men, professional gladiators and even Emperors fought in the arena.

The inaugural games to open the Colosseum were an enormous spectacle. Held by Vespasian’s successor, Emperor Titus, they involved the slaughter of around nine thousand wild animals. The games operated for hundreds of years, and the closing of the structure caused significant economic troubles, as a number of businesses had grown up in support of the games.

Currently, the Colosseum lies partially ruined. In 847, an earthquake destroyed the southern side of the building, and quarrying of the structure for its stone occurred over many centuries, further depleting it. Restorations in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries have stabilized the structure, however.

If you’ll be visiting Rome, make sure you take the time to visit the Colosseum – it’s a truly amazing sight. Or consider looking for Rome apartments in the area. You’ll be close to everything and enjoy all the comforts of home as well as a beautiful atmosphere.

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