Colosseum - Dates, Facts & Location - History Channel

Measuring some 620 by 513 feet (190 by 155 meters), the Colosseum was the largest amphitheater in the Roman world. Unlike many earlier ... 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ContentsOriginsoftheColosseumBuildingofthe Colosseum TheColosseum:AGrandAmphitheaterTheColosseumOvertheCenturiesLocatedjusteastoftheRomanForum,themassivestoneamphitheaterknownastheColosseumwascommissionedaroundA.D.70-72byEmperorVespasianoftheFlaviandynastyasagifttotheRomanpeople.InA.D.80,Vespasian’ssonTitusopenedtheColosseum—officiallyknownastheFlavianAmphitheater—with100daysofgames,includinggladiatorialcombatsandwildanimalfights.Afterfourcenturiesofactiveuse,themagnificentarenafellintoneglect,andupuntilthe18thcenturyitwasusedasasourceofbuildingmaterials.Thoughtwo-thirdsoftheoriginalColosseumhasbeendestroyedovertime,theamphitheaterremainsapopulartouristdestination,aswellasaniconicsymbolofRomeanditslong,tumultuoushistory.ThenewseriesColosseumpremieresJuly17at9/8con TheHISTORYChannel.Watchapreviewnow. OriginsoftheColosseumEvenafterthedecadentRomanemperorNerotookhisownlifeinA.D.68,hismisruleandexcessesfueledaseriesofcivilwars.NofewerthanfouremperorstookthethroneinthetumultuousyearafterNero’sdeath;thefourth,Vespasian,wouldenduprulingfor10years(A.D.69-79).TheFlavianemperors,asVespasianandhissonsTitus(79-81)andDomitian(81-96)wereknown,attemptedtotonedowntheexcessesoftheRomancourt,restoreSenateauthorityandpromotepublicwelfare. Around70-72,VespasianreturnedtotheRomanpeoplethelushlandnearthecenterofthecity,whereNerohadbuiltanenormouspalaceforhimselfafteragreatfirerippedthroughRomeinA.D.64.OnthesiteofthatGoldenPalace,hedecreed,wouldbebuiltanewamphitheaterwherethepubliccouldenjoygladiatorialcombatsandotherformsofentertainment.Didyouknow?ArchaeologistsbelievethattheColosseumcontainedbothdrinkingfountainsandlatrines.Buildingofthe Colosseum Afternearlyadecadeofconstruction—arelativelyquicktimeperiodforaprojectofsuchagrandscale—TitusofficiallydedicatedtheColosseuminA.D.80withafestivalincluding100daysofgames.Awell-lovedruler,Titushadearnedhispeople’sdevotionwithhishandlingofrecoveryeffortsaftertheinfamouseruptionofVesuviusinA.D.79,whichdestroyedthetownsofHerculaneumandPompeii.ThefinalstagesofconstructionoftheColosseumwerecompletedunderthereignofTitus’brotherandsuccessor,Domitian.READMORE: 11RomanEmperorsWhoHelpedMoldtheAncientWorldScrolltoContinueRecommendedforyouTheSurprisingReligiousDiversityofAmerica's13Colonies1970YoungLordsoccupyLincolnHospitalintheBronxWhatWasLifeLikeinAncientBabylon?TheColosseum:AGrandAmphitheaterMeasuringsome620by513feet(190by155meters),theColosseumwasthelargestamphitheaterintheRomanworld.Unlikemanyearlieramphitheaters,whichhadbeendugintohillsidestoprovideadequatesupport,theColosseumwasafreestandingstructuremadeofstoneandconcrete.Thedistinctiveexteriorhadthreestoriesofarchedentrances—atotalofaround80—supportedbysemi-circularcolumns.Eachstorycontainedcolumnsofadifferentorder(orstyle):AtthebottomwerecolumnsoftherelativelysimpleDoricorder,followedbyIonicandtoppedbytheornateCorinthianorder.LocatedjustnearthemainentrancetotheColosseumwastheArchofConstantine,builtinA.D.315inhonorofConstantineI’svictoryoverMaxentiusatPonsMilvius.Inside,theColosseumhadseatingformorethan50,000spectators,whomayhavebeenarrangedaccordingtosocialrankingbutweremostlikelypackedintothespacelikesardinesinacan(judgingbyevidencefromtheseatingatotherRomanamphitheaters).AwningswereunfurledfromthetopstoryinordertoprotecttheaudiencefromthehotRomansunastheywatchedgladiatorialcombats,hunts,wildanimalfightsandpossiblyevenlargercombatssuchasmocknavalengagements(forwhichthearenawassaidtobefloodedwithwater)putonatgreatexpense.ThevastmajorityofthecombatantswhofoughtinfrontofColosseumaudiencesinAncientRomeweremen(thoughthereweresomefemalegladiators).Gladiatorsweregenerallyenslavedpeoples,condemnedcriminalsorprisonersofwar.READMORE:5FamousAncientRomanGladiatorsTheColosseumOvertheCenturiesTheColosseumsawsomefourcenturiesofactiveuse,untilthestrugglesoftheWesternRomanEmpireandthegradualchangeinpublictastesputanendtogladiatorialcombatsandotherlargepublicentertainmentsbythe6thcenturyA.D.Evenbythattime,thearenahadsuffereddamagedduetonaturalphenomenasuchaslightningandearthquakes. Inthecenturiestocome,theColosseumwasabandonedcompletely,andusedasaquarryfornumerousbuildingprojects,includingthecathedralsofSt.PeterandSt.JohnLateran,thePalazzoVeneziaanddefensefortificationsalongtheTiberRiver.Beginninginthe18thcentury,however,variouspopessoughttoconservethearenaasasacredChristiansite,thoughitisinfactuncertainwhetherearlyChristianmartyrsmettheirfateintheColosseum,ashasbeenspeculated.Bythe20thcentury,acombinationofweather,naturaldisasters,neglectandvandalismhaddestroyednearlytwo-thirdsoftheoriginalColosseum,includingallofthearena’smarbleseatsanditsdecorativeelements.Restorationeffortsbeganinthe1990s,andhaveproceededovertheyears,astheColosseumcontinuestobealeadingattractionfortouristsfromallovertheworld.WATCH:Rome:RiseandFallofanEmpireonHISTORYVaultFACTCHECK:Westriveforaccuracyandfairness.Butifyouseesomethingthatdoesn'tlookright,clickheretocontactus!VIDEOSCoroner'sReport:PompeiiGamesintheColosseumJuliusCaesarTheVisigothsSackRomeSubscribeforfascinatingstoriesconne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