THE COLOSSEUM

HISTORY OF THE
it was originally
COLOSSEUM
called the Flavian amphitheatre
after the family of Emperors who built it.
the Colosseum was
named because of
the colossal statue
of Nero that
stood
nearby.
it was built on the
site of a
drained
lake from Neros
private gardens.

The Colosseum represents a

characteristic of the Flavian dynasty

restoring and maintaining support for

the emperor by returning to the
public areas in the heart of Rome
that Nero had used for his own
personal satisfaction.

STAGES OF BUILDING
1.
2.
3.
4.

lake drained by Vespasian (founder

of the Flavian dynasty).
Vespasian built the first two stories
for VIPs and the Imperial family.
Titus built two more stories including
an area where the poor could stand.
Domitian finished it off with wooden
seating for women and (possibly) the
rooms and cells under the arena
floor.

THE EXTERIOR

THE EXTERIOR

the top (fourth) story was

decorated with Corinthian
pilasters, windows and shields.
three tiers of arches were
decorated with:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Corinthian engaged half

-columns.
Ionic,
Doric,
These columns bear no weight
and serve no structural purpose.

the arches on the second and

third levels held statues but
none survive.
each level gets smaller as it
goes higher (7.05m, 6.45m,
then 6.4m)

the top storey had corbels which held masts for the
awning used to shade the audience.
this awning was
called the Velarium
and could be
rolled
out as needed.
ropes supporting
the awning were
attached to masts
and
then winches
which were fixed to
a row of bollards
surrounding the
building.

TAKING THE WEIGHT

FROM ABOVE
The problem of such a large structure being stable and supporting its
own weight was solved by:
1.
elliptical vaulted
corridors could take
a huge weight.
2.
radial barrel
vaults took the
weight from above
and distributed it
along the archways.
3.
further arches and
vaults inside the
structure lightened
the weight.
4.
the 37 degrees
angle of the seating
also lessened the
weight.

The building materials were chosen for their

strength and lightness:
1. upper seating made of wood.
2. concrete for
the interior top
two stories.
3. concrete faced
brick where
the pressure
was greatest.
4. travertine for
the outer wall.
5. only the lower seating areas were made of
marble.

THE AUDITORIUM

the auditorium was divided to allow smooth flow of

spectators to their seats:

the problem of giving 50,000 spectators quick and

orderly access to their seats was solved by:
1.
2.

horizontally into four zones

vertically by stairways and aisles.

giving a ticket with the number of the entrance way on the

ground floor to be used to get them quickly to their seats.
corridors and stairways inside the structure allowing the public
to move easily.

encircling the main interior structure are vaulted

walkways with 80 arched entrances leading out to it on
ground level. 67 are numbered and this ensured the
spectator could easily get to their own seat.

THE PODIUM
the

podium was the lowest level of seating.

on the podium sat the Emperors box which was
entered through a triple archway.
directly opposite the Emperors box sat the Consuls
box.
it was reserved for distinguished spectators like:
Senators,
knights,
Vestal

virgins,
members of the Imperial family.

THE OTHER SEATS

above the podium is the cavea where there

are 36 more rows of seats.
these remaining seats were filled with
men with the least important men
sitting in the top rows.
these seats are spilt into two sections:
1.
2.

the first was 20 rows of marble seats,

the second was about 16 rows.

the sections were divided into wedges

by steps and aisles that lead down
from the internal passages ( vomitoria).
at the top on a wall above a colonnade
were the wooden seats for the women.
the last level was at the very top where
there was standing room for about 5,000
of the poorer classes of Rome.

THE ARENA

the floor was 86m x 54m.

the floor of the Colosseum was elliptical.
the arena floor was covered with sand:

sometimes coloured,
helped to hide/soak up the blood,
easy to clean.

a system of winches and pullies helped to get humans and

animals up and onto the arena floor.
there were huge hinged platforms which could make
scenery 5m high appear and disappear below the floor.
the floor of the arena started 4m below the seating to
protect the audience.

THE GLADIATORS
the

gladiators entered
through one end of the
arena
the dead were dragged
out of the opposite end
called the Porta
Libitinania.
Libitina was the Roman
goddess of the dead.

THE COLOSSEUM
THE END