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By: Brian Murphy, Stephanie LaGuardia, and Denise Stokich
The Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheater, was built in 70 A.D. in Rome, but was not inaugurated until 80 A.D. The amphitheater is the most famous structure created by the Romans, in part because it is still standing today. The Colosseum was the first permanent amphitheater built in Rome. It was constructed on marshy land between the Esquiline and Caelian Hills. It was able to hold crowds of 50,000 and control such a large number because of its eighty easily accessible entrances. The Colosseum consists of four storeys, which can still be seen today even though it is partly in ruins. The first three consist of arcades separated by columns in the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian style respectively; the fourth is a solid wall pierced by windows. The structure of the Colosseum contains four types of concrete: concrete , travertine, tufa in fill, and brick-faced concrete.
Why did Rome need a Colosseum?
The reason that the Colosseum was built was for entertainment, it added to the "bread and circuses" theory of Rome. The gladiatorial combat or "Munera" were undoubtedly the most exciting event held in the Colosseum. In addition to combats between men, they also organized fights between men and animals called "Venationes", and these were certainly among the most cruel. The fighting area was skillfully organized: the arena was made to look like a hill, a wood, or some other natural setting in order to afford the illusion of an actual hunt. The technique and the imagination did not stop there. The Colosseum was also used to stage naval battles or "Naumachie". For the purpose of the naval battle, the arena was filled with water by carefully devised methods, and fierce battles were fought to the bitter end on this artificial lake.
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