DAY 10--ROME-THE COLOSSEUM/MISC. ROME

THE COLOSSEUM--

The Colosseum is probably the most famous landmark in Rome.  Built in the 1st century AD, this great arena could seat over 50,000 spectators and was the largest Roman amphitheater in the world.

The Colosseum hosted gladiatorial combats, mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles and dramas based on Classical mythology.  The inaugural festival lasted 100 days, during which time over 5,000 wild beasts were killed in the arena.  

The plaque with a cross over the modern entrance records the contributions of various popes and reflects the Christian tradition of early martyrdoms.

Exterior of the Colosseum showing its three layers. 

 The exterior of the Roman Colosseum is made entirely of travertine, stretching over 1700 feet around and four stories high. The arches of the second and third stories were originally filled with statues.  Barbarians destroyed parts of the Colosseum (see the holes) in order to take the valuable bronze clamps that held the stones together. After that, Romans freely helped themselves to the great arena's stones in order to build their houses.

There were 80 entrances, with the principal one reserved for the emperor and his entourage.

Picture showing aerial view of the elliptical Colosseum.

The admission to the Colosseum was free but everyone had to have a ticket.  Each ticket was marked with a seat number, a tier number and a sector number, which indicated the correct entrance gate.  

(See the faint Roman numerals above the arch--XXVIII)

Interior of the arena--

The seating area was divided into three tiers; the lowest for knights; the middle for wealthy citizens and the top for the general population.

The central arena, was covered with a great wooden floor, which was spread with a layer of sand to absorb blood.  The floor is now exposed down to its underground passages.  There were also rooms with mechanical devices and cages containing wild animals.  The cages could be hoisted, enabling the animals to appear in the middle of the arena.  A modern wooden walkway at the end shows what the entire arena would have looked like.

The cross is where the emperor and his entourage sat.  Emperors used the Colosseum to entertain the public with free games.  Those games were a symbol of prestige and power, and they were a way for an emperor to increase his popularity.

Games were held for a whole day or even several days in a row.  They ended with fights to the death between animals and gladiators or between gladiators.  

These fighters were usually slaves, prisoners of war or condemned criminals.  

The Colosseum was covered with an enormous awning, which protected the spectators from the sun.  It was attached to large poles on top of the Colosseum and anchored to the ground by large ropes.  A team of some 1,000 men was used to install the awning.

The arena was surrounded by a 16 foot-high wall to protect spectators from attacks by wild beasts.

Doug standing by remnant of the top of a Corinthian style Roman column that would have stood on the third level of the outside of the Colosseum--and by modern graffiti.

Looking down from the Colloseum and viewing

the mass of tourists. 

The Roman Forum--

The Forum was the political, religious and commercial center of the city.  Rome's most important temples and halls of justice were here.  This was the place for religious processions, political demonstrations, elections, important speeches, and parades by conquering generals.  As Rome's empire expanded, these few acres of land became the center of the civilized world.

The Arch of Titus--

commemorated the Roman victory over Israel in 70 A.D.

The Arch of Constantine on the left and Palantine Hill on the right.   

The hill has a strong link to Roman mythology.  It is believed that on Palantine Hill, the twins Romulus and Remus were found in a cave by a she-wolf who raised them.  Ultimately, this is where Romulus decided to build the city.  Therefore, it was on this hill that the Roman Empire began.  

In 312 AD, Constantine (whose mother and sister were Christians) became emperor of Rome in 312 AD and legalized Christianity.   A short time before 312 AD you could be killed for being a Christian, and a short time later you could be killed for not being one.

Laura took this picture below of an illegal "souvenir salesman" running away from the police.  I think he was selling watches?!  They sell those watches to the tourists all over the world, especially China!!!!!!!!

Doug in front of entrance to Palantine Hill

When Doug and I visited Rome two years ago we walked all around the hill that is jam-packed with Roman history.  The ruins of the Imperial Palace located here was home to Roman emperors for three centuries.

The back of the 150,000 Square-foot Imperial Palace on Palantine Hill built by Emperor Domitian in about 81 AD.

The Imperial Palace looks down on Circus Maximus.  If the gladiator show at the Colosseum was sold out, you could always get a seat at the Circus Maximus.  The stadium seated 250,000 people! In an early version of today's demolition derby, Ben-Hur and his fellow charioteers once raced recklessly around this oblong course. There were 12 races per day, 240 days a year.  Horses raced here for more than a thousand years, with the track dating from 300 BC.  The Romans must have had a lot of time on their hands.

MISC. ROME--

Temples of Hercules--

This small temple--with a colonnade of 20 Corinthian-style columns arranged in a circle around the inner chamber--is remarkably well preserved for what is considered the oldest marble temple in Rome.  Inside the temple was a statue of the god Hercules.

Trajan's Column--

Erected to immortalize the emperor's achievements, the column is carved with more than 2000 figures.  If the column was unwound, it would stretch over two football fields.

There are a lot of Pinocchio puppet souvenirs in Italy, since the author of the story was born and grew up in Florence, Italy.   Isn't this the greatest picture of Laura with a large Pinocchio that was sitting in a store entrance along one of the streets we walked.

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There are so many incredible things to see in Rome, and we took many pictures, however I'm just posting the most important sites.   Our next post is our visit to Trevi Fountain and The Pantheon in Rome.