Coliseum. Italy, Rome

Coliseum

Italy, Rome

Structures Ruins Archaeological sites

The most famous landmark of Italy is the well-preserved Roman amphitheater - the Colosseum, which is considered the largest such building outside Italy (one of the five largest buildings in the Roman Empire). Amphitheater is a Roman invention. It consisted of an elliptical arena, surrounded by lined tiers of rows of sitting stands, on which, a large audience, without putting themselves at risk, could watch spectacular bloody spectacles. Here the gladiators fought and brought out exotic wild animals to flaunt them in the deadly battle before the eyes of a bewitched crowd. It was designed for 23,000 people. The construction of the massive and majestic Coliseum began by the emperor Vespasian of the Flavian clan in 72 AD It was opened eight years later with a program of games and performances lasting 100 days. The gladiatorial battles here ceased in the 6th century. The Colosseum subsequently served the Romans as a quarry, from marble slabs and other materials of which Renaissance churches and palaces were built. The Colosseum began to turn into ruins of the VIII century (gladiatorial battles had not been held here for about 4 centuries), when one cardinal, the pope’s nephew, used the stone of the Colosseum to build his own palace. Fortunately, Paul III limited the activities of his nephew on the analysis of the monument of Antiquity to building materials for 12 hours. Renaissance popes were less merciful to the Coliseum. Only in the XVIII century they began to protect and preserve it. The modern authorities of Italy carry out large-scale restoration work in the amphitheater, dreaming of turning it into a theatrical stage over time. Thanks to such a rich technical equipment and a clear organization of the placement of spectators, the Colosseum gained the glory of architectural co-organization, which was much ahead of its era. The constructive principles of its construction are still striking.