The Coliseum: Delving Deeper
A note to begin: The old Roman spelling, of course, is Colosseum. I have chosen to use the more modern spelling in this article, of “Coliseum.”
Ask any seasoned European visitor about the famous places he or she has seen, and chances are that the Coliseum will be in the top ten list. When you go to Paris, everyone advocates seeing the Eiffel Tower; when you’re traveling to Greece, missing the Parthenon isn’t an option. For Rome, that “can’t miss it” tourist stop is the ancient Coliseum. Anyone can find tons of information regarding pictures, tour times, special events, and so forth, but how many people *really* know why and when it was built and what its history really is?
If’s, And’s, and But’s Of this Famous Structure
Want to know a little more before visiting? Here are some little-known details of that famous and sometimes misunderstood symbol of Rome. Standing in front of the Coliseum, visitors may take notice that parts of the walls are missing; this is not an ancient feat of engineering. In its glory days it would have been perfectly round. The original, official name for the stadium was the Flavian Amphitheatre (the name “Flavian” made reference to the emperor’s family ties) and two rulers, Domitian and Vespasian, had a hand in its construction and design in the 1st century AD.
What Was its Purpose?
Toward the end of the Roman Empire, proud sources revealed that the Coliseum was capable of holding many thousands of people, who ranged from royalty to the common citizens of Rome. Fairly early in its history (somewhere around the fourth century that it had been standing) natural disasters seriously threatened the Coliseum’s stability. Luckily, it remained in good condition. Earlier, in the 200s, an inferno had threatened the Coliseum; some could argue that this might have left it weak, and it was amazing that it wasn’t destroyed in that earthquake Rome suffered in later centuries.
Rome was famous for excess and power and emperors weren’t afraid to flaunt their wealth; what sort of activities actually went on in the Coliseum? We do know that gladiators were frequent “visitors” here, and many never left the stadium alive. These men underwent savage hardships and years of suffering to be admitted to the Coliseum, and only if they achieved glory were they given some sort of recognition. If not, they lost their lives in the sand and their names were most likely forgotten very quickly. Rome was not known for being particularly merciful.
Other Uses: Some Good and Some Bad
Travelers with any obsession for Rome’s history and culture will cringe to learn that, in more modern times, much of the Coliseum was chipped off to use in other construction sites. One of its happier and more practical uses began when part of the building was initiated as a place of healing where the ill were sent to get well. It saw fighting action again in the 17th century, but this was action of a different kind; angry bulls were set loose in the place where wild lions and other animals once roamed. In the Renaissance era, an Italian family lived inside part of the Coliseum (one has to wonder how they “upgraded” it enough to make this possible).
On and off through the 12th century, the Coliseum was lived in, then abandoned, then lived in again. A building as old as this has certainly seen its share of action. If old buildings could witness events, we can’t even imagine what this place must have seen in the almost 2,000 years since its beginning. There were some people who didn’t believe the stories of hapless Christians meeting their deaths at the Roman Coliseum. Of course it happened in the Empire at various times in history, but whether it happened at the Coliseum in Rome is debated.
What You Can See Today
There are actually tons of rooms underneath the “ground level” part of the Coliseum that tourists most often visit. This is where the beasts of battle would have been kept in close quarters until exuberant Romans cried for them to be released at their human prey. The passages served other purposes as well. It is interesting to see from various detailed descriptions how the Coliseum originally looked and what features were incorporated into the structure. Much of the materials used to build the Coliseum came from Tivoli.
If you wonder how the thousands of people sitting in the “bleachers” didn’t get sunburned, rest assured they didn’t have to worry about that. At one time, a retractable awning could be raised and lowered during games. Tourists visiting in the blazing heat of summer would probably be very grateful for this amenity today! At one time the Coliseum was decorated with decadent marble; much of it is nonexistent today, unfortunately for modern visitors who explore the ruins. Looking up old Rome sketches and photos of models should help complete the picture.
