How To Build Colosseum

The Flavian Amphitheater, now known as the Colosseum, is a large amphitheater created in 80 CE by emperors Vespasian and Titus. The amphitheater was a state-of-the-art facility with a floor area (known as the arena) able to handle “elaborate hunts of exotic wild animals such as giraffes and elephants.” (Textbook 265) The arena could also be filled with a large amount of water to stage battles between opposing fleets of ships. The amphitheater was also home to fights between well trained men who were usually warriors captured in battle, forced to fight each other, wounding or killing for the enjoyment of huge crowds of exited spectators. The barbaric and brutal showed the less civilized side of the culture of philosophy. This structure is significant

During this period the Romans focused their architectural abilities on creating very large and polarizing buildings. The Romans wanted the sheer size of their buildings to be intimidating. The Romans where terrific engineers and this showed in the completion of there great buildings. Many achievements in architecture were achieved by the Romans during the Pax Romana. One of them being the great Roman Coliseum, which is still standing today after 2000 years, serving as a monument to the size and strength of the Roman Empire. The Coliseum was a major achievement for the Romans and it held the Roman gladiatorial games, chariot races, and many other great events. Even to today the amazing Coliseum is the basis for every major sporting arena. The Romans not only built great stadiums but they also built what is know as the Roman Aqueducts, a huge step forward for Roman civilization. The Roman aqueducts were built initially for the purpose of supplying water to the public bath houses, but it soon became evident to use the aqueducts as the major water source in the city. The water that was brought to Rome through the aqueducts was also used in public drinking water fountains. Along with the great architecture of the Romans, art work was also at a high point during the Pax

The art I selected from the Roman Empire is the architectural structure of the Colosseum, or amphitheater. This structure reveals the importance that the Romans’ placed on entertainment, in so much that Benton and DiYanni indicate “it was official policy that the state should provide entertainment for the public” (Benton, DiYanni, p. 108). The relationship between the art and the culture is distinguished and represented by the size of the structure; it being able to accommodate such large crowds of people indicates that the Romans placed much importance in attending the entertainment provided. The Colosseum influenced the culture by providing ample space for everyone to enjoy entertainment. The culture influenced the art by supporting through attendance to the different entertainment during that time.

The bread and circuses offered many events that the public adored; such as, the distribution of food, public baths, gladiators, exotic animals, chariot races, sports competition, and theater representation but none more extravagant than arena they were held in, the Colosseum. The Colosseum, a massive stadium that could hold more than 50,000 spectators, was located in the center of the city. It was commissioned around 70-72 A.D. by Emperor Vespasian at a time when Rome was rapidly expanding, and was finished by his son Titan in 80 A.D. For the Flavian Amphitheater opening, its official name because Tian and Vespasian were part of the Flavian dynasty , Titan held 100 days of games, including gladiatorial combats and wild animal fights to win public’s approval. People piled in to this 620 by 513 feet arena, the largest amphitheater in the Roman empire, through the 74 arches, in which 4 were elaborately engraved in marble, that surrounded the Colosseum and sat by social ranking. The Colosseum had three stories and was constructed of mostly marble.

The question that I was most interested in is why and how did the Romans come up with the idea of building the Colosseum. The Colosseum which was built in the 72 AD but took a lot of years to be completed it was not until 80AD until it was finished. When it was built the Romans still felt as if more needed to be added and it kept being modified from the 81-96 AD. It was three Emperors who were involved with most of the building one of their names was Flavin Dynasty. They named the type of structure which it was known as Amphitheatre but they had so many monuments inside of it that is what made it so unique.

Vespasian began construction on the Colosseum in 72 A.D., but the amphitheater was officially opened in 80 A.D. by

When I ask you to imagine Italy and all the vast architecture, what do picture? I am going to assume you would picture colosseums. The piece of art I chose to research was the granddaddy of them all, the Roman Colosseum. This is potentially the most famous monument to survive the classical period. Today, the Colosseum is one of Rome’s most popular tourist attractions, attracting millions of visitors every year. This massive amphitheater is located in the center of Rome, Italy. During ancient roman times these massive amphitheaters were commonly placed around cities. “Eventually there were well over 250 amphitheaters in the Roman empire” (Hopkins). However, no other amphitheater competes in size. What sparked the want to build such a massive amphitheater? Why is this so important?

Located in the central part of Rome is the Flavian Amphitheatre, also known as the Roman Colosseum. Built during the reign of Emperor Vespasian in 72 C.E. it took nearly ten years to complete. The Colosseum was an arena used as a place of blood sport: where gladiators, criminals and animals fought to the death for the public's entertainment. Towering 157 ft in height, it consisted of four elliptical floors (1788 ft in perimeter) which contained 80 radial and circular arches per floor. Containing seating for as much 50, 000 spectators, it housed 2 theatres which faced each other. The central arena (180ft x 287 ft) was surrounded by a 15 ft. wall that acted as a barrier between the spectators, underneath the arena were passageways, a hypogeum

The exterior of the colosseum comprises of three stories, each with 80 arches and embedded columns to punctuate the façade. In addition, each of the three stories have different styles. The first story was made in rather simple Tuscan style and the second story was in Ionic style, then topped by the ornate Corinthian style for the third story (NetworksA&E, 2014). Furthermore, the seating in the colosseum was divided into 4 sections. The people sat at the different sections according to their class.

The opening of 100 days of games, 9,000 wild animals and 2,000 gladiators died for the amusement of the spectators. Unlike earlier amphitheaters which were nearly all dug into convenient hillsides, the Colosseum is a freestanding structure of stone and concrete measuring 620 by 513 feet. The Colosseum consists of three levels of arcades surmounted by a wall-like top, or attic story. Every arch is framed by engaged columns, which support friezes that mark the division between levels. Each level uses a different architectural order, and the levels become increasingly decorative as they rise. At ground level are columns in the Tuscan order (modified Greek Doric order; smoothing out the shafts and setting them on a base), the Ionic order is used on the second level. The Corinthian on the third, and flat Corinthian pilasters adorn the fourth. The foundation is a ring of concrete 13.5m high and 54m wide, set 9m deep into the clay bed of the former lake. The super structure is composed of a network of radial and annular barrel-vaulted passages on three levels, linked by staircases, with seating supported raking barrel vaults. The floor of the arena itself, 79 by 47m, along its major axis is consisted of wooden boards

In 75 CE, Emperor Vespasian started construction on the Flavian Amphitheater, known today as the Colosseum. It is the largest amphitheater ever to be built, and is considered one of the greatest works of architecture and engineering. It is an iconic Roman symbol. The Flavian Amphitheater received the name “Colosseum” from the nearby statue of Nero, called the “Colossus”(Lubell).  

Rome’s greatest arena, which began in 72 CE during the reign of Vespasian and dedicated by Titus in 80 CE, was used to cater the taste for sports for the Romans. This would be known as the famous Colosseum, because of “a gigantic statue of Nero, called the Colossus,” that stood next to the great architectural building (144). The Romans used the Flavian Amphitheater, another name for the Colosseum, for blood sports and spectacles including animal hunts, fights to the death, and performances by trained animals and acrobats. The Romans were considered huge fans of entertainment and sport, which made this arena a pinnacle of theatre. The origins of the Olympics were also found during this time, most of which were held in this arena.

     The arches of the Coloseum allowed great ventilation, stability, and passageways to keep the crowd comfortable all day. The most amazing construction had nothing to do with the show. The Romans had actually constructed a roof for the Coloseum. The roof was like a retractable sail covering most of the audience during the current event.

The Colosseum is one of the finest examples of ancient Roman architecture. “The Colosseum was commissioned around A.D. 70-72 by Emperor Vespasian of the Flavian dynasty as a gift to the Roman people” (History.com). The Colosseum entertained the Roman people, both plebeians and patricians, for over one thousand years. The Colosseum used multiple examples of ancient architecture techniques, entertained a variety of events, and attracts many tourists and visitors today.

The Colosseum was the largest amphitheater of the time period. It was a huge elliptical structure consisting of four stories, over 150 feet high. It measured 620 X 513 feet. The enclosed oval arena measure 287 feet long X 180 feet wide.