The Colosseum: The Great Fire Of Rome

In Ancient Rome there were festivals and events that might be named different but are still being held in our modern day. Feralia- February 21st , The Romans would bring offerings to the Roman Gods and the souls of the deceased,and put them in or outside of the tombs. Including wreaths and bread soaked in wine. There they sprinkled grain, salt and violet petals. Once the Romans ignored the festival, because they were to busy at war, it was said that dead ancestors roamed the streets as angry spirits. To mark the mourning’s, marriages were prohibited on this day. Magistrates did not wear their insignia and all temples were closed for business. According to the winter Ovid, on this day an old drunken woman would sit in a circle and with other
The site chosen was a flat area on the floor of a low valley between the Caelian, Esquiline and Palatine Hills, and stream ran in between. By the 2nd century the area was densely inhabited . It was devastated by the Great Fire of Rome , following which Nero seized much of the area to add to his personal domain. The existing aqueduct was extended to supply water to the area.
Although the Colossus was preserved. The lake was filled in and the land reused as the location for the new Amphitheater. Gladiatorial schools and other support buildings were constructed nearby within the former grounds . According to a reconstructed inscription found on the site. This is thought to refer to the amount of treasure seized by the Romans following their victory in the Great Jewish Revolt. The Colosseum can be interpreted as a great triumphal monument built in the Roman tradition of celebrating great victories. Vespasian's idea to build the Colosseum on the site of Nero's lake can also be seen as a sign of returning to the people. In contrast to many other amphitheaters, which were located on the outskirts of the city, the Colosseum was constructed in the city center , placing it both literally and symbolically at the heart of
Ancient documents of the games held by Titus describe it being filled with water for a display of trained swimming horses and bulls. There is also a document of a re-enactment of a famous sea battle between the Greeks and the Corinthians. This has been the subject of some debates among historians,although providing the water would not have been a problem, it is unknown how the arena could have been waterproof, or would there have been enough space in the arena for the warships to move around. It has been said that the reports either have the location wrong, or that the Colosseum originally featured a wide flood able channel down the center of it. Painters, technicians and architects would construct a simulation of a forest with real trees and bushes planted in the arena's floor, and animals would then feel like they are in their habitat. Such scenes might be used simply to display a natural environment for the urban population, or could otherwise be used as the backdrop for hunts or dramas episodes from mythology. They were also used for executions in which the hero of the story – played by a condemned person – was killed by, being mauled by beasts or burned to