16 Mind-Blowing Facts About the Colosseum That Will Leave You Speechless
Are you ready to travel back in time to ancient Rome and explore one of the most iconic and awe-inspiring structures in history? We're talking about the Colosseum, the legendary amphitheater that has captured the imagination of people around the world for centuries. The Colosseum is not only a breathtaking architectural masterpiece, but also a window into the brutal and fascinating world of ancient Roman entertainment. From the gladiators who battled to the death to the exotic animals that were hunted for sport, the Colosseum has seen it all. In this blog post, we'll take you on a journey through 16 of the most fascinating and little-known facts about the Colosseum. Are you ready? Let's dive in!
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**What is The Colosseum?**The Colosseum is over 1,900 years old and is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Colosseum has an oval shape, with dimensions of 189 meters in length, 156 meters in width, and a height of 48.5 meters. The Colosseum could sit between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators. Its total surface area spans over 6 acres.
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What does the name Colosseum mean? The name "Colosseum" is derived from the Latin word "colossus," which means "giant statue." The word was originally used to refer to a statue of Nero that stood near the site of the Colosseum. Over time, the name came to be associated with the amphitheatre itself, and it is now one of the most recognized landmarks in Rome.
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Who Built the Colosseum? The Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, was built under the reign of the Flavian dynasty of Roman emperors. It was constructed on the site of an artificial lake that had been part of the palace complex of Emperor Nero. The construction was initiated by the emperor Vespasian in 70 AD, and it was completed under his son Titus in 80 AD.The construction of the Colosseum involved a large workforce, including skilled engineers, architects, stonemasons, and laborers.
It is estimated that up to 100,000 people were involved in the construction process, including slaves, prisoners of war, and free laborers. Primarily the work was carried out by Jewish slaves, who were supervised by Roman engineers and craftsmen. Following their triumph in the initial Jewish-Roman war, the Jewish Temple of Jerusalem was plundered, and a considerable number of its inhabitants were captured and made into slaves. These slaves were subsequently transported to Rome, where an estimated 60,000 to 100,000 of them were utilized in the construction of the Colosseum.
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What is The Colosseum made of? The Colosseum was built with an estimated 100,000 cubic meters or travertine stone, which were mined at the quarries of Tivoli, 20 miles away. The stone was held together by thousands of iron clamps and cement made from a combination of volcanic ash, lime, and water.
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Tunnels and Chambers: The Colosseum was initially built with a complex system of tunnels and chambers beneath the arena floor. These were used to house animals, gladiators, and other performers before they entered the arena. The tunnels and chambers beneath the Colosseum were an essential part of the arena's functioning. They allowed for the efficient handling and storage of animals and performers before and during events, as well as providing access to various trapdoors and lifts used during the spectacles.
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It Looked Very Different Back In the Day The Colosseum was originally covered in a layer of marble and decorated with colorful frescoes and statues. The original marble cladding and decorative elements of the Colosseum were gradually removed over time, as the building fell into disrepair and became a convenient source of building materials. The frescoes and statues that once adorned the building were also lost, though some fragments have been recovered and preserved in museums.
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Why does The Colosseum look half built? The Colosseum endured extensive harm during the 1349 earthquake, which led to the collapse of the southern outer side that stood on an unstable alluvial ground. A significant portion of the resulting debris was utilized in the construction of numerous other structures, including churches, hospitals, palaces, and other edifices, located elsewhere in Rome.
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Trap Doors for Special Effects The Colosseum's arena boasted 36 trap doors that were employed for special effects during the games. Additionally, numerous underground passages and chambers were used to accommodate both wild animals and gladiators before the commencement of the games. Also the Colosseum had a sophisticated system of drainage channels and water supply. The complex system of channels and reservoirs used for the flooding and draining of the Colosseum arena was an engineering marvel for its time. It is estimated that it could hold up to 3 million liters of water, which could be drained in just a few hours using a series of specially designed drains and conduits.
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The Gladiators The role of gladiators in Roman society was complex. On the one hand, they were often seen as lowly and despised by the upper classes. On the other hand, they were also celebrated as heroes and symbols of courage and strength. Gladiators were typically slaves, prisoners of war, or condemned criminals who were trained to fight in the arena. They came from many different regions and backgrounds, including Gaul, Spain, Thrace, and Africa, and were trained in a variety of fighting styles.
Before each fight, gladiators would participate in a procession through the city, wearing elaborate costumes and carrying weapons. They were cheered and jeered by the crowds, and many gladiators became celebrities in their own right. There were many different types of gladiators, each with their own weapons and fighting style. Some of the most famous types included the retiarius (a fisherman who fought with a trident and a net), the secutor (who wore a helmet with a small eye-hole and fought with a short sword and a large shield), and the murmillo (who wore a helmet shaped like a fish and fought with a short sword and a rectangular shield).
Gladiators were not always forced to fight to the death, but many were. This depended on the whims of the crowd and the preferences of the emperor or other officials in charge of the games. It was not uncommon for defeated gladiators to be granted mercy, especially if they had put on a good show.
The life of a gladiator was a harsh one, and many gladiators died young. However, the promise of fame and fortune was often enough to entice young men to become gladiators, and some even volunteered for the profession. Despite their brutal reputation, gladiators were sometimes able to earn their freedom through their fighting prowess. This was known as the missio, and it was granted by the emperor or other officials in charge of the games.
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Other Uses for The Colosseum While gladiatorial contests are the most well-known form of entertainment associated with the Colosseum, many other types of spectacles were also held there. These included wild animal hunts, mock sea battles, and even public executions.
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Emperor Trajan's 123 day Spectacle The Colosseum was once the site of a massive public spectacle involving more than 5,000 animals and 4,000 gladiators over the course of 123 days. The spectacle was one of the most famous events held at the Colosseum. It was staged by the emperor Trajan in 107 AD to celebrate his victories in Dacia, and it is said to have lasted for 123 days, during which over 11,000 animals were killed and 10,000 gladiators participated in the fighting.
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How Many People and Animals Died? It’s estimated that over 400,000 people and over a million wild animals died during the centuries that the games took place. At some point in time, the Colosseum played had a variety of wild animals such as lions, tigers, wolves, bears, leopards, wild boar, elephants, hyenas, buffalo, hippopotamuses, crocodiles, and even giraffes.
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Use as a Quarry The practice of using the Colosseum as a quarry continued well into the 18th century. The Renaissance saw a renewed interest in classical architecture and the reuse of ancient materials, and the Colosseum was no exception. Many of the stones from the Colosseum were taken and used in other buildings, including the Palazzo Farnese and St. Peter's Basilica. The demand for the Colosseum's materials only decreased when the government began to protect the building as an ancient monument.
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Disaster! The Colosseum has endured several natural disasters and human-induced events throughout its history, including:
- Earthquakes: The Colosseum has been damaged by several earthquakes over the centuries, including a significant one in 1349 that caused one side of the building to collapse.
- Lightning strikes: The Colosseum has been struck by lightning on multiple occasions, which has caused fires and other damage.
- Fires: The Colosseum has been damaged by fires throughout its history, including a major blaze in the 3rd century AD that destroyed much of the wooden framework beneath the arena.
- Looters and vandals: The Colosseum has been the target of looters and vandals over the centuries, who have stripped the building of its valuable materials and decorations.
- Natural erosion: The Colosseum's travertine stone exterior has been worn away over time by natural erosion, particularly by the effects of wind and rain.
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There Were Other Ampitheaters The Colosseum was not the only amphitheatre in ancient Rome, though it is certainly the most famous. The other two major amphitheatres in Rome were the Amphitheatrum Castrense and the Amphitheatrum Statilium.
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Myths and Superstitions The Colosseum has been the subject of many legends and myths over the centuries, including tales of secret tunnels, hidden treasure, and supernatural powers. One legend even claims that the building was built by the devil himself. The legends and myths surrounding the Colosseum are many and varied. Some people believed that the building was cursed, and that anyone who entered it would suffer terrible misfortune. Others believed that the building had supernatural powers, and that its stones could heal the sick or grant wishes.
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