Little Blue Birdie's diary

At the Colosseum

Dear Diary,

I hear the cheer of the spectators and the roar of the lion. A man struggles with the lion in a fight that will decide his fate. Why is he fighting? For the sake of giving pleasure to a group of cruel men and women.

Though I feel that I hear these sounds, this fight is not really happening in the modern world. I am only imagining a game which took place hundreds of years ago. Today, through films and history books, we are even more aware of the cruel fights and games that took place those days, all for the joy of spectators.

In ancient times, the Colosseum in Rome, which is now one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, was a popular place to witness such games. The design concept of this great amphitheatre (circular or oval building without a roof, with tiers of seats around a central arena), in the centre of Rome, is still relevant, having influenced almost every modern sports stadium.

The name 'Colosseum' is believed to have originated from a colossus (a 40 metre/130 ft statue) of Nero nearby, which was changed by Nero's successors into a statue of Sol or Apollo, the sun god. At some point during the Middle Ages, the statue disappeared.

The construction of the Colosseum started between 70 and 72 AD, under Emperor Vespasian, and was completed in 80 AD under Titus, with further modifications made during Domitian's reign. It remained in use for nearly 500 years, with the last recorded games being held as late as the sixth century, well after the traditional date of the fall of Rome in 476 AD.

As well as the traditional gladiatorial games, many other public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on classical mythology were held there.

Unlike earlier amphitheatres that were built into hillsides, the Colosseum was an entirely free-standing structure. It was 48 metres (157.5 ft) high, 188 metres (617 ft) long, and 156 metres (512 ft) wide. There were 80 arches on each of the first three levels, and the wooden floor of the arena was covered with sand.

Its elliptical shape prevented the players from retreating to a corner and allowed the spectators to be closer to the action, than in a circle. More than 100,000 cubic metres (3,531,466.62 cubic ft) of travertine, a type of stone, was used in its construction. The Colosseum was cleverly designed, and most modern stadiums have important features which were first seen here.

Seating was divided into sections: the podium or first level was for the Roman senators; the emperor's cushioned box was also here. Above the podium was the area for other Roman aristocrats (royalty). The third level was divided into three sections: a lower part for wealthy citizens, an upper part for poor ones, and a wooden area at the very top of the building provided standing room only, for lower-class women.

The Colosseum's huge crowd capacity made it essential that the venue could be filled or evacuated quickly. Its architects adopted solutions very similar to those used in modern stadiums to deal with this problem. Eighty entrances at ground level, 76 of which were used by ordinary spectators, ringed the amphitheatre.

Each entrance and exit was numbered, as was each staircase. The northern main entrance was reserved for the Roman Emperor and his aides, while the elite (upper classes) most likely used the other three axial entrances. Today, the arena floor no longer exists, though the walls and corridors are visible in the ruins.

There are also tunnels, still in existence, made to flood and evacuate water from the Colosseum floor so naval battles could be staged.

Another innovative feature was the cooling system, known as the velarium: a canvas-covered, net-like structure made of ropes, with a hole in the centre. This roof covered two thirds of the arena and sloped down toward the centre to catch the wind and provide a breeze for the audience. Sailors on special platforms moved the ropes on command.

The building eventually ceased to be used for entertainment in the early middle era. Later, it came to be used for such varied purposes as housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry, and a Christian shrine.

The Colosseum was in use until 217 AD, when it was damaged by fire from lightning. Four earthquakes between 442 and 1349 AD severely hurt the building, which was then converted into a fortress with a Christian church built into one small area.

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