Page 130 - DK Eyewitness Travel Guides - The World's Must-See Places

128 EUROPE Colosseum, Rome

Rome's great amphitheater was commissioned by the
Emperor Vespasian in AD 72 on the marshy site of a lake
in the grounds of Nero's palace, the Domus Aurea. Deadly
gladiatorial combats and wild animal fights were staged
free of charge by the emperor and wealthy citizens for
public viewing. The Colosseum was built to a practical
design, with its 80 arched entrances allowing easy access
for 55,000 spectators, but it is also a building of great
Classical beauty (Classical Style, seep. 137). The drawing
here shows how it looked at the time of its inauguration in Vespa sian, founder of
the Colosseum
AD 80. It was one of several similar amphitheaters built in
A Outer Wall of the Colosseum
the Roman Empire, and some survive-at El Djem in North
Africa, Nlmes, and Aries in France and Verona in northern
Italy. Despite being damaged over the years by neglect and
theft, it remains a majestic sight.

Vomitorium
Vomitoria were wide
corridors situ a ted below
or behind a tier of seats,
through which thousands
of spectators could file
in and out quickly.

-< Internal
Corridors
GAl Outer Wall
Stone plundered from
the fao;ade during
the Renaissance was
used to build several
palaces and bridges,
and part of St. Peter's.

-< Beneath the Arena
In the late 19th century,
excavations exposed the
network of underground
rooms where the animals
-·-..;>..;~-:::...JI:,~~l~~J~~~· were kept.

Bollards
11n
These anchored
the vela rium.

0
A Looking across Velarium il j
the ancient Forum This huge awning shaded n 3
to the Colosseum 1 I) l
in Rome spectators from the sun. Supported
on poles fixed to the upper story 1
of the building, it was hoisted into ~~ , 1
-< Colossus of Nero position with ropes anchored to
The Colosseum may have acquired its bollards outside the stadium.
name from this huge gilt-bronze statue,
which stood near the amphitheater.