Preview

Roman Coliseum

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2180 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Roman Coliseum
Located in the center of Rome, just east of the Roman Forum stands one of the greatest architectural structures ever built by man. In 64 AD, under Emperor Nero, the Great Fire of Rome devastated the empire. Nero decided to take the land for himself and build the Domus Aurea along with a synthetic lake, gardens, and pavilions. A series of vast aqueducts was constructed there in order to supply water to the land. Afterwards, he placed a bronze statue of himself, Colossus of Nero. When Emperor Vespasian came into power, he preserved the Colossus, but he would turn the Domus Aurea was to be demolished and become the sight of the Flavian Amphitheatre. This new theatre was to be a triumphal monument, enjoying success. Vespasian, unlike Nero, wanted to give the land to the public to use, so the Amphitheatre was to be built in the middle of the city and no where else, displaying the importance the emperor stressed about the land being available to the public. Emperor Vespasian began the construction of the Flavian Amphitheatre, later to become known as the Roman Coliseum. The name of the architect of this vast structure is unknown. The Coliseum, built out of concrete and stone is the largest amphitheater ever built in the Roman Empire and considered one of the greatest compositions of Roman architecture and engineering. The story goes that a half a million Christians died violent deaths just to entertain the people of the Roman Empire. Over one million animals died in the Coliseum as well. The men fought the animals as well as each other, along with other various events in an ancient Roman tradition known today as the Coliseum Games. Today the Coliseum is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world with an estimated 3.9 million visitors each year. The architectural layout of the Coliseum changed the way monuments and other buildings were designed and constructed as well as paved the way for modern architecture to be defined by the way the Romans designed


Cited: 1. “Colosseum: Deconstructed.” 2012. The History Channel website. Dec 12 2012, 5:57 http://www.history.comhttp://www.history.com/videos/coliseum-deconstructed. 2. "Colosseum." Modern. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012. 3. "Roman Colosseum - Rome, Italy - Great Buildings Architecture." GreatBuildings. Artifice Inc., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012 4. "The Games." Roman Empire.net. N.p., 15 Oct. 2008. Web. 10 Dec. 2012. 5. The History of Rome - Engineering the Roman Empire. Dir. Christopher Cassel. Perf. Michael Carroll. History Channel, 2005. DVD. The History of Rome - Engineering the Roman Empire. Youtube, 27 Mar. 2012. Web. 10 Dec. 12.
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    How Did Veespasian Build The Roman Coliseum
    • 147 Words
    • 1 Page

    How Did Veespasian Build The Roman Coliseum

    The Colosseum is one of the most famous surviving Roman buildings. As many as fifty-thousand Romans packed its stands to watch the fights that took place in the arena. The many entrances allowed a large crowd to come and go quickly.…

    • 147 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Effect Of Flavian Amphitheater On Julius Caesar
    • 4705 Words
    • 19 Pages

    Effect Of Flavian Amphitheater On Julius Caesar

    79. His son Titus added the third and fourth stories and had it dedicated in A.D. 80 with magnificent games which lasted one hundred days. This structure was truly colossal with dimensions of 189m (640RF) long, 156m (528RF) wide and 48m (163RF) high, with an outer perimeter of 545m (1,835RF), required 100,000 tonnes of Travertine and 300 tonnes of iron clamps to hold the blocks together (Claridge p276) and was to become an icon of the power of the Flavian dynasty and the empire. It will forever be associated with the legacy of Vespasian even though he never lived to see this colossal structure completed. The extent exceptional nature of this gift bestowed by Vespasian was commomorated in the coins minted by Titus to celebrate the opening of the games in A.D. 80 (p.21, Wiedemann ). However this structure provided an ironic sting in the tail for Vespasian after his own death. It was built by Vespasian partly with the intention of erradicating Nero Rome's ‘sites of memory' he notably failed. By the Middle Ages the structure had adopted the name ‘Colosseum' This according…

    • 4705 Words
    • 19 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Architectural History: The Roman Coliseum
    • 409 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Architectural History: The Roman Coliseum

    The Roman Coliseum is an amazing piece of architectural history and has played a significant role in history as well. Construction began in 72 AD under the rule of the Emperor Vespasian. It was completed in 80 AD in the very center of Rome. It is located east of the Roman forum, was built to hold 50,000 people, and has eighty entrances. It could easily hold a football field. There are many rooms and tunnels below the Coliseum. Some of them housed animals and gladiators, and some rooms also contained many pulleys and hand pulled elevators. The Coliseum had four floors and eighty arch ways for the people to enter. The Coliseum was covered with a massive awning, which was attached by poles at the top of the Coliseum that was known as “Velarium”.…

    • 409 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Juxtaposition: Roman Public Entertainment
    • 1810 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Juxtaposition: Roman Public Entertainment

    Before amphitheaters were built, gladiator combats were held at cemeteries. “Indeed, it was the custom to kill captives at the graves of powerful men; because this, in later days, seemed cruel, it was decided to have gladiators fight before the grave, gladiators who were called “Bustiari” for the tombs (busti).” (Servius, On the Aenied 10.519) However, over time, shows were not held exclusively in a funerary context, which moved these combats to the Forum Roman, a rectangular area bounded by basilicas for seating. However, “as a performance space, the forum has certain limitations, including a diminished seating capacity, even if sponsors erected temporary bleachers, the presence of monumental public buildings restricted the height and capacity of these structures… the difficulty of guaranteeing spectator safety also restricted the use of wild animals to small numbers of relatively docile and diminutive types for Forum shows.” (Futrell, 55-56) Therefore, new permanent amphitheaters were in need. These new structures needed to have thousands of seats, support for the seating, and isolated areas to keep gladiators and animals before…

    • 1810 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    roman empire
    • 1165 Words
    • 5 Pages

    roman empire

    Marcus Cocceius Nerva, was a roman emperor who ruled from 96 to 98 A.D. He was born on November 8th in the year 30 A.D in Navia, Umbria. He was descended from a family of senatorial origins, having history with the previous emperors. Nerva’s great grandfather was consul during the year 36 B.C, and Governor of Asia in the same year. Nerva’s mother was the great granddaughter of Tiberius, therefore he had connections to the Julio- Claudian line.…

    • 1165 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Roman Gladiators Research Paper
    • 362 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Roman Gladiators Research Paper

    The Coliseum was built between 70-80 AD in the centre of Rome, it was started by the Emperor Vespasian in the 70 and completed under the reign of titus in the 80 it was then improved by Domitian between 80 and 82. It was made from stones and concrete with the height 157 ft and the perimeter…

    • 362 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Why Is Pantheon Important
    • 1081 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Why Is Pantheon Important

    Ancient World Civilizations – Ancient and Modern Architecture Assignment: The Pantheon Porch in Rome and the Wentworth Hall Entrance…

    • 1081 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Art 101
    • 558 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Art 101

    Second, the Roman architecture was more definite in the materialistic ways than the Greeks, where they built things on a larger scale, they used a variety of building materials, and they did not pay much attention to the little details. The better form of the Roman architecture is the Coliseums or the Amphitheater which was developed by the Romans. The Coliseum was important as a starting of entertainment for the whole city. The Roman helped support the structure of this Coliseum because it is a combination of the Roman brought in concrete, the exterior which was covered by a stone facing of a form of limestone that was used along with tufa. I found out that the Coliseum was designed with a combination of all three of the architectural orders Doric, second Iconic, and Corinthian. Even though the columns had no structural function but they were seen as a form of decoration.…

    • 558 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Research Paper On The Colosseum
    • 515 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Research Paper On The Colosseum

    The Colosseum is a stone amphitheater, and it was the first building of its type (Sporre). It was constructed during the Flavian dynasty under emperor Vespasian in 70 A.D., and it was completed 10 years later during the reign of Vespasian’s son, Titus. The Colosseum was originally called the Flavian Amphitheater because it was built by the Flavian dynasty. However, the name was changed because the Colosseum was built next to the Colossus of Nero. The Colossus of Nero was an enormous statue, and it was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The statue was torn down, but the name stuck around. Lastly, Venerable Bede famous epigram that states, “ as long as the Colossus stands, so shall Rome; when the Colossus falls, Rome shall fall;…

    • 515 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Roman Architectural Accomplishments
    • 549 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Roman Architectural Accomplishments

    Rome also built such many triumphal arches that can be seen throughout Italy (ancient.eu, nd). The most impressive one that we all known is the Pantheon, a huge achievement in architectural design that can be made possible by these wonderful Roman inventions. In normal life, arches were used everywhere in road and passageway construction. Also, large insulae was only made possible when concrete was found, and it, in turn, put the first block on modern apartment models (bbc.com,…

    • 549 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Final
    • 1687 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Final

    In the top image Quest field is in the foreground and Safeco stadium in the background. The image below this shows the Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheater Fig. 7-36). The Roman Colosseum was made out of concrete, marble, stone, and brick, and is shaped like an oval when looked at from above. It stands 16 stories tall and was created in 70-80 CE and in many ways was a monument for the people to partake in past time activities and enjoy their lives out side of the day to day struggle. Engineering wise the Colosseum used many of the techniques that the Romans are famous for. It require concrete, arches, a complex system of barrel-vaulted corridors, and a vast infrastructural skeleton to with hold the weight and space required for 50,000 spectators. In many ways the Colosseum was an escape from the harsh realities of life. It gave people time to relax and enjoy themselves. Considering the time period and the recent fall of Nero this idea is especially true. In a way the construction and utilization of the Colosseum represents the desires of control by the Romans. The hunts and gladiatorial battles reflect the Roman desire for conquest and victory. The hunts represent control of the environment, the ability to be the best over all other animals. The size of the Colosseum is also directly linked to the prosperity and growth of Rome. Fifty thousand spectators strong is no small feat, and thus reflects the awesome ability of the Roman culture to overcome anything that they put their minds and…

    • 1687 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Battle Royal In American History
    • 618 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Battle Royal In American History

    The Forum Romanum was said to be built directly in the center of Rome. The audience who attended these brutal battles had to stand on their feet or find a place to sit to enjoy the games. During a later point of time seats were placed around the forum. Emperor Gaius of Rome, otherwise known as Caligula kicked off the first legit battle royal involving a battle between gladiators. Emperor Gaius ordered that ten gladiators be matched in the arena at once and fight until there was only one man left remaining.…

    • 618 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Analysis Of The Colosseum
    • 1129 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Analysis Of The Colosseum

    Augustus, the first emperor of Rome once stated, “I found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble.” Rome may have continued to be like any other city throughout the Roman Empire without the influence of Augustus, but now it is prominently known as a goldmine for historical research. One of the most distinguished architectures of this great empire is the Colosseum, which today is recognized as being one of the world’s largest amphitheaters ever constructed. The region of origin of this massive stone edifice rested in Ancient Rome and currently resides in the Province of Rome in Italy. Due to its commission in A.D. 70-72 by Emperor Vespasian of the Flavian dynasty and its formal opening in A.D. 80 by Vespian’s son, Titus, it is also…

    • 1129 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Colosseum In Ancient Rome
    • 687 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Colosseum In Ancient Rome

    Unlike earlier amphitheatres that were semi-circular and built into hillsides, the Flavian amphitheatre is an ellipsoid and still stands free. The name Colosseum, as known conventionally, came from the massive bronze statue of Nero (Colossus Neronis) that stood next to it in the Region IV Templum Pacis, East of the Roman Forum.The Amphitheatre at Pompeii and the Circus Maximus served as Rome’s entertainment venues prior to the construction of the Colosseum.…

    • 687 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Ancient Athens
    • 484 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Ancient Athens

    - poorer Athenian families lived and worked together and spend more time as a family unit than wealthier Athenian families…

    • 484 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More

Related Topics