The Colosseum is a unique architectural monument of ancient Rome. The Colosseum - the eternal symbol of Rome

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 there is too much in history ancient Rome does not fit together, so as not to think 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 in such a supposedly very ancient building CONCRETE used? 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.

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.

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 and also 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.

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 invention of the ancient world is used in the construction of modern stadiums, which can simultaneously admit streams of spectators through different aisles 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.

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.

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 the social hierarchy. The first tier was intended for city authorities, noble citizens, and 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. Particular types 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.

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 the great arena as a whole remained disfigured.

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, in the middle of the arena of the Colosseum was placed large sizes cross, and install several altars 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.

If you look closely at the brickwork interior walls Colosseum, it is striking 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 nineteenth-century cement. 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 Brick wall truly collapsed, its exposed “remains of ancient vaults” 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.

For example, the Church of St. Irene in Istanbul-Constantinople. Countless traces of real alterations are perfectly represented there. Moreover, top part The walls look much newer than the lower one, 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.

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 that 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”

“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...

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 were used for its construction natural stone, while 45 thousand - 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.

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 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 - Gladiator fights and baiting of animals, only a small part of the entertainment that attracted the 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, it became state religion Roman Empire. However, animal persecution continued to delight the Romans until the death of Theodoric the Great. The Middle Ages marked the 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.

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.

Outer side 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, serving as a 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.

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. In one building a huge layer of the history of one of the 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.

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 it says Encyclopedic Dictionary: “The popes who reigned after Benedict XIV, in particular Pius VII and Leo XII, strengthened the walls that were threatening to collapse with buttresses (read between the lines: they built the walls), and Pius IX repaired a number of internal passages in the amphitheater (read between the lines: built the interior) . 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”.

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 pumps? Waterproof walls with traces of water filling? All this is missing in the Colosseum.

Now let's look at the history of the Roman Colosseum in historical sources, and what do they tell us about this ancient amphitheater, and even Flavian. 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 the two most shining 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.

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.

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.

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. It is also believed 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.

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?

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.

On the day that the Colosseum in Rome was officially opened (this event occurred in 80 AD), more than two thousand gladiators died in the arena and about five thousand animals were killed. And according to the most conservative estimates, in the entire history of this unique architectural monument, more than half a million people and at least a million predators died here.

When you look at this landmark, it simply takes your breath away: it is so huge that its size cannot but amaze. Therefore, you understand: the Flavian Amphitheater is truly a new wonder of the world.

This grandiose attraction is located in the capital of Italy, Rome, between the Palatnisky, Tsilievsky and Esquiline hills (you can find out exactly where the Colosseum is by checking the city map). The Colosseum was built not far from the Golden Palace of Nero, instead of the lake in which swans once swam.

Appearance

The history of the Colosseum in Rome, the real temple of death, begins in the year sixty-eight, when one of the most cruel rulers of the ancient world, Nero, committed suicide, as a result of which the Civil War, which lasted about two years, as a result of which Titus Flavius ​​Vespasian became emperor.

Once in power, the new ruler immediately decided to rebuild the center of Rome, destroying everything that could remind people of his predecessor.

This was almost achieved: only the palace of the former ruler remained, the area of ​​which, together with the park located next to it, occupied about 120 hectares - and the issue with it had to be resolved somehow. It was done quite in an original way: Vespasian decided to place various institutions in the building itself, and ordered the pond located near the palace to be filled up, and in its place to build a unique attraction - an amphitheater of unprecedented size.

Although the people received his idea with a bang, the memory of Nero still could not be eradicated: despite the fact that the new arena was officially called the Flavius ​​Amphitheater, the people called it the Colosseum (from the Latin word huge, colossal) - in honor of the huge 35- a three-meter bronze statue, which during Nero’s life was in the vestibule of the Golden Palace, and then was installed not far from the built temple of death.

Construction

It did not take much time to build the Colosseum - construction work took about nine years. More than 100 thousand slaves were involved, who were specially brought to Rome from Judea (on the map this country is located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea). Professional builders, architects, engineers, sculptures were invited - in a word, everyone who could be needed to make the building look as pompous and majestic as possible.

Despite the fact that the construction of the future temple of death progressed quite quickly, it turned out that the Colosseum in Rome was erected under three rulers: Vespasian did not live to see completion for only a year construction work, so the construction was completed by his son, Emperor Titus. When he died, Vespasian's second son, who ascended the throne after the death of his brother, Domitian, added another tier to this attraction, intended for poor people, slaves and women (mostly it was standing room).

Despite the high speed of work, this miracle of the ancient world turned out to be of such high quality and good quality that it was not only actively used for its intended purpose for more than five hundred years, but was also able to survive well to this day (if people had not stolen stones to build other buildings, most likely it would look much better now).

Appearance

Despite the fact that ancient historians claimed that about 70 thousand spectators could simultaneously be in the amphitheater, modern research has shown that the Roman Colosseum could accommodate no more than 50 thousand people. (which is also a lot, especially for those times). The architectural monument originally had three floors, the height of the walls was about 50 m, and the foundation of the building was 13 m.

The Temple of Death was built in the shape of an ellipse, and in its center there was an arena of the same shape, surrounded on all sides by stands, the length of the outer ellipse exceeded 520 m, the length of the arena was 86 m, and the width was 54 m.

The walls of the temple were built from stone or marble blocks of limestone tuff, which were brought from Tivoli (this city on the map is located 24 km northwest of Rome). Brick and tuff were also used in the construction of internal walls. The marble and stone blocks were connected by heavy steel cables.

During the construction of the Colosseum in Italy, for the first time, a solution was used that is used in the construction of sports arenas even today: eighty entrances/exits were provided through which spectators could completely fill the building in a quarter of an hour and leave within five minutes. Four entrances were intended for representatives of the highest aristocracy, and the rest of the spectators entered the Roman Colosseum from under the arches of the lower tier, each of which was marked in Latin numerals(there were 76 of them in total and a staircase led from each), after which they went up the steps.

Spectator rows with stone benches were located around the arena. The lowest row was intended for the emperor, members of his family and the Vestals - their places were located on the north and south sides of the arena (there were best places). Senators also had the right to be here. A high parapet separated the elite row from the arena, thus guaranteeing complete safety for the spectators.

Above the imperial row there were three floors, each of which was intended for spectators of a certain category:

1. The first tier had 20 rows and was intended for city authorities, as well as persons from the equestrian class;
2. The second floor consisted of 16 rows - only those who had Roman citizenship had the right to be here. It was separated from the third tier by a high wall;
3. The last floor was built for people of the lower class, and so that they could better see what was happening in the arena, it was on a steeper surface;
4. Above the third floor there was a portico, on the roof of which there were sailors: during bad weather, they pulled a huge awning over the building, which was supposed to protect spectators from the elements.

Amphitheater life

In addition to gladiator fights and animal baiting, naval battles also took place here. To do this, the servants removed from the arena wood flooring, under which were located rooms for gladiators with a total area of ​​​​about six acres. During naval battles, these rooms were filled with water using a special system (interestingly, even galleys took part in these battles).

For four hundred years, this temple of death was a kind of entertainment center for the Romans and guests of the city, where they could watch bloody gladiator fights, baiting of animals and battles on the water from early morning until dark. This continued until the year 405, when Emperor Honorius ordered the ban on gladiator fights as inconsistent with Christian teaching.

The ban did not affect baiting of animals - and the cruel performances lasted for about another century (until the death of Theodoric the Great in 526, king of the Ostrogoths, who managed to conquer the entire Apennine Peninsula). After this, difficult times came for the Colosseum.

Crash

The collapse of the Roman Empire and numerous barbarian raids gradually led to the destruction of the Colosseum, which was aggravated by the powerful earthquake that shook Italy in the middle of the 14th century (the southern side of this landmark was especially badly damaged).

After this, they treated one of the most significant architectural monuments of the ancient world simply in a barbaric manner, since they began to use its stones for the construction of other buildings - first they took the stones that had already fallen off, and then they began to deliberately break them out. The landmark was destroyed not only by ordinary people, but also by priests: Pope Paul II, Cardinal Riario and others took stones from here to build their palaces. Moreover, Clement IX even turned the former amphitheater into a plant for the extraction of saltpeter.

Second life of the amphitheater

And only in the middle of the 18th century. this miracle of the ancient world got a chance to be revived: Pope Benedict XIV, in memory of the tortured Christians who found their death here, decided to install a huge cross in the arena, and around it a number of altars that would remind of the torment and death of Jesus Christ, thus , the former death arena was turned into a real temple. Modern scientists claim that, according to recent research, the idea that Christians were executed here is untrue and is a myth.

A century later, the cross and altars were removed, but they did not stop caring about the safety of one of the greatest architectural monuments of Italy: they strengthened the walls that were threatening to fall, repaired several internal stairs.

Nowadays, restoration work continues and every year the unique architectural monument tells people more and more about its former greatness. And therefore, having found it on the map, people from all corners of the world come to this landmark of the ancient world to look at the wonder of the world, which has become a symbol of Italy, about which local residents say that as long as the Colosseum stands, Rome will stand.

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 Golden House of Nero, or rather its artificial lake, located in the city of Rome, was chosen as the site for construction. The construction of the building took only 8 years.

Colosseum is Latin for colossal. It is not surprising that this name has supplanted among the people official version amphitheater 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 performed 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, the most different materials: marble - seats, travertine - ring walls, concrete and tuff - radial walls, brick - 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 in our time 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.

Coliseum- An ancient Roman amphitheater located in Rome. It is the largest of all existing amphitheaters and a perfectly preserved monument of ancient Roman architecture. Most likely, the Colosseum is the first association that many people have when mentioning the capital of Italy. That is, this antique monument can be considered a symbol of the city, just as the Eiffel Tower is considered a symbol of Paris, and Big Ben is a symbol of London.

Coliseum was built in 8 years, from 72 to 80 BC. It was originally called the Flavian Amphitheater, and received the name Colosseum from the 8th century, probably due to its size.

By its structure Coliseum is a classic ancient Roman amphitheater. This is an ellipse, in the middle of which there is an arena of the same shape. Tiers of seats for spectators were erected around the arena. The main difference between the Colosseum and other similar buildings is its shape. Its length is 187 meters, width – 155. The size of the arena is 85 by 55 meters, and the height of the outer walls of the Colosseum is about 50 meters.

TOolyseum served as the center for all Roman entertainment spectacles. Games, gladiator fights, animal baiting, and sea battles were held there.

Message about the Colosseum

But in 405, fighting was banned and the Colosseum fell into disrepair. It suffered from the invasion of barbarians, then served as a fortress passing from hand to hand, and after which it gradually began to be dismantled for building materials. It was only in the 18th century that Benedict XIV took the Colosseum under his protection, and the popes who followed Benedict carried out a number of restoration works.

Now the Italian authorities are taking care of the Colosseum. Partially, with the help of debris, Coliseum restored and excavated the arena, under which basements were discovered. But, unfortunately, the condition of the Colosseum is far from ideal - rainwater, the vibrations of a modern metropolis and pollution threaten this monument of ancient architecture with complete destruction.

But, despite the partial destruction and loss of its former beauty, Coliseum still makes a huge impression and attracts annual great amount tourists. The Colosseum can be called one of the world's most famous attractions, the main symbol of Rome.

MHC 10th grade

“The Baroque Age in Architecture” - Bust of Louis XIV at Versailles. Apollo and Daphne. Architectural creations. Cathedral of the Smolny Monastery. Marvelous pattern. St. Andrew's Church. Masterpieces of the Italian Baroque. Baroque. Trinity Church in Nikitniki. Fountain of Triton. Piazza San Pietro. Dome of the temple at Castel Gandolfo. Baroque architecture. Winter Palace. Character traits. Francesco Bromonni. Fountain of the Four Rivers.

“Architectural monuments of Ancient Rus'” - Holy Gates. For many years Rus' was a wooden country. Church of the Annunciation in Arkazhi. Architectural styles Rus' 12-13 centuries. Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral in Pereslavl-Zalessky. Elias Church. Saint Sophie Cathedral. Church of St. George in Staraya Ladoga. Church of the Intercession on the Nerl. Dmitrievsky Cathedral. Fine jewelry. Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir. Church of Boris and Gleb. Church of the Savior on Nereditsa. Pyatnitskaya Church.

“Architecture of Mesopotamia” - The walls of the palaces were decorated with slabs with convex images of people. Figuratively speaking, European culture rose from the waves. The achievements of the inhabitants of Mesopotamia in the construction business are amazing. Great importance was attached to the construction of the palace. Ziggurats were built in 3-4 ledges, or even more. Architecture of Mesopotamia. An integral part of the temple was a ziggurat. A huge achievement of Mesopotamian architects was the invention of the arch.

“Realism of the 19th century” - Charles Daubigny. Landscapes by Dupre with cloudy skies and varied motifs. Jules Bastien-Lepage. Theodore Rousseau. Julien Dupre. The most interesting of Courbet's works. Gustave Courbet. "Constable's Land" was the Dedam Valley in Suffolk. John Constable. Critical realism. Jules Breton. Realism in the fine arts of the 19th century. Rousseau introduced the concept of “intimate landscape”. "Winners." Leon Lhermitte. History of realism.

“Temples of Ancient Rus'” - The temple was built from hewn white stone by Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky. Single-domed four-pillar temple of the cross-domed system. Number of domes on the temple. List world heritage UNESCO. XI – XII centuries in Rus' - period feudal fragmentation. Arch ( arched window) – a curved covering of an opening in the wall. The walls of the temple are decorated with traditional white stone carvings. Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (Tithe Church).

"Early Renaissance Painting" - Trinity Fresco, c. 1427

The Colosseum is the symbol of Rome

Church of Santa Maria Novella, Florence. Fra Filippo Lippi 1406-1469. Masaccio Guidi 1401-1428. Coronation of Mary. The focus of Florentine artists was on man. Italian painter of the Early Renaissance, representative of the Florentine school. Andrea Mantegna 1431-1506. Florence. Art began to play a role universal method knowledge of the surrounding world.

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5klass.net > MHC 10th grade > Features of the architecture of Ancient Rome > Slide 14

Abstract on the topic:

Coliseum

Plan:

Introduction
• 1Colosseum in Ancient Rome
• 2The Colosseum in the Middle Ages and Modern Times
• 3Colosseum in the XX-XXI centuries
• 4Architecture of the Colosseum
• 5Use of the image of the Colosseum

Notes

Introduction

Coliseum(from lat. colosseus- huge, colossal) or Flavian Amphitheater- an amphitheater, one of the largest arenas, an architectural monument of Ancient Rome. Construction was carried out over 8 years, in the years 72-80 new era as a collective construction of the emperors of the Flavian dynasty.

It is located in Rome, in the hollow between the Esquiline, Palatine and Caelian hills, in the place where there was a pond that belonged to the Golden House of Nero.

1. Colosseum in Ancient Rome

The construction of the amphitheater was begun by Emperor Vespasian after his victories in Judea. Suetonius reports this:

Construction was completed in 80 by the latter's son, Emperor Titus. The opening of the Colosseum was marked by games; Suetonius writes about this:

Initially, the Colosseum was called, after the family name of the mentioned emperors, the Flavian Amphitheater (lat. Amphitheatrum Flavium), current name (lat. Colosseum, á Colosaeus, Italian.Colloseo) was established for him subsequently, starting from the 8th century, and stemmed either from the colossality of its size, or from the fact that nearby there 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) (presumably before the construction under the arena basements under Titus's brother and heir to the throne, Emperor Domitian). In addition, re-enactments were staged in the arena of the Colosseum, during which girls and women were raped by bulls, donkeys and other domestic animals and wild animals). 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.

2. 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 it as a source of obtaining 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 from it material for the construction of the so-called Venetian palace, Cardinal Riario - the Palace of the Chancellery (Cancelleria), Paul III - the Palazzo Farnese. However Substantial part 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 did not begin until the middle of the 18th 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. Nowadays it is one of the monuments of Rome.

3. The Colosseum in the XX-XXI centuries

More from great attention The Colosseum is protected 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 push into the arena groups of people and animals, trees and other decorations, and perhaps to fill it with water and lift ships up when the naumachia was presented. Despite all the hardships experienced by the Colosseum over the centuries, its ruins, devoid of their former external and interior decoration, still make a strong impression with their austere majesty and give a fairly clear idea of ​​what its location and architecture were like.

Infiltration of rainwater, atmospheric pollution (mainly from car exhaust) and vibration from heavy city traffic have brought the Colosseum into critical condition. In many places, the architectural monument requires strengthening. To preserve the amphitheater from further destruction, an agreement was reached between the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and the Roman bank. The first stage of the project includes the restoration and treatment of the arcades with a waterproof compound and the reconstruction of the wooden floor of the arena where gladiators once fought. The newspaper La Repubblica in 1991 referred to a planned investment of 40 billion lire and called the agreement "the largest alliance between the public and private sectors ever concluded in Italy for the conservation of works of art."

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 that were announced on July 7, 2007, it was recognized as one of the 7 New Wonders of the World.

4. Architecture 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 about 50 thousand spectators. The Flavian Amphitheater was built on a concrete foundation 13 meters thick.

The walls of the Colosseum were built from large pieces or blocks of travertine stone or travertine marble, which were quarried in the nearby city of Tivoli. The blocks were connected to each other by steel ties with a total weight of approximately 300 tons; Local tuff and brick were also used for the internal parts.

Order arcades with order superposition, typical of Roman architecture, were used.

Architectural and logistics solution used in the Colosseum and called vomitoria(from lat. vomere"to spew"), is still used in the construction of stadiums: many entrances are located evenly along the entire perimeter of the building. Thanks to this, the public could fill the Colosseum in 15 minutes and leave in 5. The Colosseum had 80 entrances, of which 4 were intended for the highest nobility and led to the lower row.

The Colosseum in Rome: majestic and unique

The simpler 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 ( Latin gradus). The lower row, or podium (lat. podium), was assigned exclusively to the emperor, his family, senators and vestals, and the emperor had a special, elevated seat (lat. 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 places for the general public, forming three tiers (Latin maeniana), corresponding to the tiers of the building's facade. 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.

On its roof, during performances, sailors of the imperial fleet were placed, sent to stretch a huge awning over the amphitheater (lat. velarium) 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 through which such masts passed, their lower ends resting against 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 that contained passage corridors (lat. itinera), cameras for various purposes and stairs leading to the upper tiers.

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. " While the Colosseum stands"- said the pilgrims in the 8th century-" Rome will also stand, if the Colosseum disappears, Rome will disappear and with it the whole world».

5. Using the image of the Colosseum

The Colosseum, as one of the most majestic buildings, often acts as a symbol of Rome in the same way that the Eiffel Tower is a symbol of Paris, Big Ben is a symbol of London, the Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin is a symbol of Moscow, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is a symbol of Pisa, and the Charles Bridge - the symbol of Prague. When diagramming a map of Europe, Rome is often marked with a diagrammatic representation of the Colosseum.

The Colosseum was originally immortalized in the list of wonders of the world compiled by the Roman poet Martial in the 1st century.

Other examples of using the image include:

• The fight between Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris in Return of the Dragon was filmed at the Colosseum.
• The burning Colosseum is depicted on the screensaver of the Nero program. The reason lies in the consonance of the phrase “Nero burning Rome” (eng. Nero Burning Rome) and program name (English) Nero Burning ROM).
• Song of the rock group Aria "Colosseum".
• Colosseum in Age games of Empires, Civilization III, Civilization IV, Generals - Mastery of War, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
• The Colosseum in the movie Gladiator (2000)
• The Colosseum in the film "Teleport" (2008)
• The Colosseum was destroyed by powerful lightning strikes in the film Earth's Core: Throw Into the Underworld (2003)
• The Colosseum is destroyed after 2000 years without people in the series "Life After People"

But films about gladiators are never filmed in the Colosseum; it is not well preserved for filming. Therefore, the role of the Colosseum in films is most often played by the Amphitheater of Mark Antony Gordian in Tisdra (El Jem, Tunisia) - the second largest in the world after the Colosseum and much better preserved.

Notes

1. Luminous. The lives of the twelve Caesars: Vespasian, IX, 1 - www.ancientrome.ru/antlitr/svetoni/vita-caesarum/vesp-f.htm
2. Suetonius. The lives of the twelve Caesars: Titus, VII, 3 - www.ancientrome.ru/antlitr/svetoni/vita-caesarum/tit-f.htm
3. Translation from English by S.G. Zagorskaya, M.A. Kalinina, D.A. Kolosova 70 architectural wonders Ancient world: How were they created? = The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World. The Great Monuments and How They Were Built. - M: Astrel Publishing House, 2004. - 304 p. - ISBN 5-271-10388-9

Colosseum from the southeast

Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheater)

Colosseum on an ancient Roman coin from 80

Colosseum View from the Farnesian Gardens

Colosseum from inside

Colosseum: interior reconstruction

Sectional view of the Colosseum

The Colosseum is the most recognizable landmark of Rome. Its outlines are often depicted on postcards, but only those who visit the capital of Italy will be able to see other angles and even wander inside. For almost two millennia, this amphitheater has been attracting spectators and tourists to its walls. The name "Colosseum" in Latin means "huge", "colossal". This is how it seemed to the ancient Romans, but even today its greatness is difficult to underestimate. In addition to its considerable size, the historical and cultural significance of the Colosseum is impressive.

Historical facts

Emperor Vespasian (9-79 AD), founder of the Flavian dynasty, was distinguished by his great love of architecture. During his reign, many ancient temples were restored and new majestic structures were built. In 72, he decided to perpetuate his dynasty and instructed the builders to build the largest amphitheater that existed at that time.

Construction was very widespread near the border of the Forum. In order to complete the work as quickly as possible, she was involved huge army workers. It housed about 100,000 people, most of whom were prisoners or slaves. In just 8 years, the Roman Colosseum in Italy was completed and fully satisfied the emperor's expectations.

For several centuries, the amphitheater remained the most important structure for the Romans. It was a constant reminder of the creator; until the middle of the 8th century, people called it not the Colosseum, but the Flavian Amphitheater. The arena regularly hosted impromptu performances and fights between gladiators and wild animals. Later, executions of the first Christians began in the arena. Such fame led to the desolation of the Colosseum. Emperor Constantine I banned entertainment events on stage with bloody history. For several centuries it fell into disrepair and was used only as a memorial place where the first Christian martyrs were killed.

Until the beginning of the 18th century, no one paid attention to technical condition Colosseum. It gradually collapsed, the ceilings rotted, and residents dismantled individual stones to build their own houses. Part of the building disappeared from the face of the earth forever. Only in the 19th century did ministers catholic church decided to begin restoration of the Colosseum in order to preserve at least the external outlines ancient monument stories for posterity.

It took several decades, as well as knowledge in the fields of history, architecture and art, for the amphitheater to acquire the appearance that tourists see now.

How does the Colosseum work?

Scientists suggest that the modern Colosseum is only a third of the one that graced Rome several centuries ago. During numerous performances, 50,000 spectators could sit in the stands and there were still 18,000 standing places left.

To make the structure lighter, and therefore reduce the load on the foundation, 240 huge arched openings were built in the walls, which were located in 3 tiers. The inside of the arches is made of oval brick coated with concrete, and the outside is finished with travertine. The length of the walls is 524 m, width 156 m and height 57 m. Terracotta bricks were first used during the construction of the Colosseum. The entire structure required almost a million bricks.

Later, another continuous tier was built above the stands. There are still holes in its walls for the sticks that supported the awning. This made it more convenient to protect yourself from the scorching sun or rain. There are also details whose purpose has not yet been figured out. Thus, small pillars on the pavement could serve as barriers for the crowd or as the basis for another awning.

Along the walls were located interior spaces Colosseum. The vaulted galleries could house traders and places for spectators to rest. Although there are a lot of arches in the tiers, each of them is unique. The angle to the sun and the interior design differ.

The first tier contained 76 passages for citizens. Each of them has its own Roman numbering. Many arches made it possible to speed up the movement of spectators and reduce crowding in the aisles. Even a large crowd was completely seated or out of the Colosseum in just 5-10 minutes.

The supports deserve special attention, each of which differs in design style. They gave the amphitheater additional lightness. The columns of the first tier look the heaviest; these are Doric stone sculptures. The second tier features Ionic concrete columns, while the third tier features lightweight Corinthian piers with leaf moldings. It is assumed that sculptures were installed under the arches of the upper tiers, but the remains of at least one of them have not yet been discovered.

The arena itself has oval shape, which deprived the combatants of the opportunity to hide in the corner from a sharp spear or blade. The floor was made of planks, which made it possible to quickly replace the covering or add water for a naval battle. Cages for prisoners and predators appeared much later. An underground turning system and other communications were installed under the stage. The wooden floors have not survived to this day, but the destruction opened up the opportunity to study the underground plan well.

For many years, tourists could only view the Colosseum at night, but over time, scientists became eager to increase its popularity. After long reconstructions, comprehensive excursion tours were developed for everyone who wanted to get to know the ancient structure better.

The grandeur of the Roman Colosseum

It was here that the phrase “Bread and Circuses” was shouted from the stands. For centuries, spectators have rejoiced in bloody performances, deciding the fate of animals or people. The Colosseum's repertoire included a rich program of massacres and duels. The first protesters against cruel performances appeared at the beginning of the 5th century, but the majority continued to enjoy cruel performances. On one occasion, spectators even stoned the monk Telemachus in response to his protests against bloodshed.

Since 521, fighting and fights with animals were stopped. The popularity of the Colosseum remained in the past, but the great building continued to remain a symbol of the Roman Empire. They said that as long as the Colosseum stands, Rome will stand.

Tourist information

A few years ago you could get to the Colosseum at any time of the day. This freed the hands of some attackers and made it difficult to control the safety of the monument. Since then, security has been increased and the following operating mode has been established:

• 9:00-19:00 (from April to October);
• 9:00-16:00 (from November to March).

In the evenings, excellent illumination turns on around the Colosseum, so wandering around the amphitheater is interesting even at dusk.

To get inside the Colosseum you need to pay 12 euros. Discounts are available for children, students and pensioners. There is a long queue for tickets in the morning, so it is advisable to buy them in advance at special ticket offices or on the official website: www.the-colosseum.net.

How to get there

To see the Colosseum, you need to come to the Colosseum Square in Rome. You can make the journey by metro, tram No. 3 or bus routes No. 60, 85, 175, 271, 850. The stop has the same name as the attraction itself.