Rather than going on with other ancient wonders of the world, I want to return to my origins in Italy by talking a bit of the Colosseum in Rome, our capital since more than 2,000 years.
This monument of today was originally named the Flavian Amphitheater built of concrete and stone. It is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and engineering.
Occupying a site just east of the Roman Forum, its construction started in 72 AD under the emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 AD under Titus, with further modifications being made during Domitian's reign (81–96). The name "Amphitheatrum Flavium" derives from both Vespasian's and Titus's family name
Capable of seating 50,000 spectators, the Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology. The building ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era. It was later reused for such purposes as housing, workshops, a fortress, a quarry, and a Christian shrine.
My favorite memory connected with the Colosseum is the Latin phrase that says:” Quamdiu stat Colisæus, stat et Roma; quando cadet colisæus, cadet et Roma; quando cadet Roma, cadet et mundus ("as long as the Colosseum stands, so shall Rome; when the Colosseum falls, Rome shall fall; when Rome falls, so falls the entire world").
Unlike earlier Greek theatres that were built into hillsides, the Colosseum is an entirely free-standing structure. It derives its basic exterior and interior architecture from that of two Roman theatres back to back. It is elliptical in plan and is 189 meters (615 ft) long, and 156 meters (510 ft) wide, with a base area of 6 acres (24,000 m2). The height of the outer wall is 48 meters (157 ft). The perimeter originally measured 545 meters (1,788 ft). The central arena is an oval 87 m (287 ft) long and 55 m (180 ft) wide, surrounded by a wall 5 m (15 ft) high, above which rose tiers of seating.
Its 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 the same problem. The amphitheatre was ringed by eighty entrances at ground level, 76 of which were used by ordinary spectators. Each entrance and exit was numbered, as was each staircase. The northern main entrance was reserved for the Roman Emperor and his aides, whilst the other three axial entrances were most likely used by the elite. All four axial entrances were richly decorated with painted stucco reliefs.
The Colosseum is at the center of Rome and is listed as part of the Center of Rome World Heritage site. It is very important because it allows the moderns the ability to see how the ancients lived. It was an engineering marvel for its time and was a testament to Rome’s Power and world standing at the time it was built.
The ancient Romans pretty much built some kind of Colosseum almost everywhere they were ruling and in fact my “mother town” Verona has one too but it’s named the “Arena” and because it was built with perfect acoustics, it’s still used today for operas and concerts of many kinds.
Many centuries ago it was used to be filled with the water from the nearby river Adige to have battleships in it engaged in theatrical fights for the enjoyment of the public, the population of Verona at that time.
What I find fascinating to see is the labyrinth of rooms connected by corridors below the main floor of these buildings and when I’m there I imagine the gladiators and warriors (or Christians) rushing through them to go to face death in the name of their beliefs. They would all be heroes today, but nothing is remembered of any of them.
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