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Language Arts
Tuesday, February 12, 2002
"In the ancient world the elliptical-shaped Colosseum, which took ten years to build, was the largest structure of its type. It stood 160 feet high with four stories of windows, arches, and columns." (http://www.kent.wednet.edu/curriculum/soc_studies/rome/Colosseum.html) The Colosseum was one of many Roman buildings that were much larger than the past buildings because of the Romans use of columns and arches. The Colosseum was built in Vespasian's reign and was made of many different things. It also had a complex layout and provided lots of entertainment for the Romans.
Vespasian, the founder of the Colosseum, was a Roman emperor for 10 years (69-79 A.D.). His full name was Titus Flavius Sabinus Vespasian. He was born in 6 A.D. in Sabine Reate (close to Rome) and died in 79 A.D. During the middle of the 1st century A.D., he commanded the army in Germany and in Britain that conquered the Isle of Wight. Additionally, in 66 A.D. he campaigned against the Jews in Judea. Next, when he was chosen emperor of Rome in 69 A.D., he left the war in Judea to his son Titus and returned to Rome. There he restored the public finances and the government. After the capture and destruction of Judea by his son, the world was at peace for nine years. Other important events that happened during Vespasian's reign were the stopping of the revolt (69-70 A.D.) by the Germanic Batavians; the development of a more extensive educational system; the quest in Britain by the Roman general Gneaus Agricola; and finally the construction of the Colosseum!
The Colosseum was made up of many different things. It was originally constructed of wood and then of stone in 223 A.D. There was originally marble, stucco, and metal decorations but they're now gone. Large blocks of tavertine (calcium carbonate frequently used as building blocks) boned with metal constructed the outer wall and the skeleton of the inside up to the second story.
The Colosseum's layout was very complicated. Each of the three outer floors were made up of 80 arches. Spectators enter through 76 of the ground entrances. There was originally a wooden floor that was used to cover the chambers were the gladiators and animals were held before performance. The Colosseum supposedly seated 87,000 people, but modern scholars believe that it only seated about 50,000 people. Slightly more than one-third of the outer arcades remain standing today. The inner skeleton which supported the seating area is substantially intact. The Colosseum is elliptical, measuring 513 feet wide and 620 feet long. Its outer side measures 157 feet high, is three-storied arcade surmounted by a fourth story pierced with window like openings. The openings of the surviving arches are framed with nonfunctional engaged columns and entablatures of the Tuscan, Ionic, and Corinthian orders. The fourth story is currently decorated with pilasters and entablatures. In the beginning of the Colosseum, statues filled the spaces of the arches and metal shields were attached to the spaces between the windows on the fourth floor. Behind the each of the outer arcades, two corridors circled the Colosseum, and beyond these were two other smaller concentric corridors. The elliptical arena inside the Colosseum, measuring 280 feet long and 175 feet wide, was a pit surrounded by a high wall, intended to protect spectators from wild animals often used in combats held in the arena.
The Colosseum was used for few things but used often. It was originally used for mock naval battles. The Romans stopped using it for mock naval battles once they found out that it was damaging to the foundation as well as the flooring. During the opening ceremonies of the Colosseum in 80 A.D., spectacles were held for 100 days in which hundreds of animals and 2,000 gladiators were killed. Combats between gladiators were banished in 404 A.D., and the last recorded fight between animals was held in 523 A.D.
All in all, the Colosseum was of great use to the Romans. It was built by Vespasian and made up of many different things. The Colosseum had a very complicated layout. It was used for many years and provided lots of entertainment.
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http://www.kent.wednet.edu/curriculum/soc_studies/rome/Colosseum.html
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/romans/architecture/colosseum.htm
http://harpy.uccs.edu/roman/html/colosseumslides.html
http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?z=1&pg=2&ti=1741500198