The ancient theater is called the “Coat of arms of Rome” quite deservedly - despite the long-term destruction and vandalism to which it has undergone historical monument, it still makes an indelible impression on those who have the good fortune to see the Colosseum for the first time. The most famous ruin in the world, brand name ancient Rome, The Colosseum might never have been built had Vespasian not decided to destroy the traces of the reign of his predecessor Nero. As part of this program, a grandiose amphitheater for 70,000 spectators was erected on the site of the pond with swans that adorned the Golden Palace - the largest circus of the Empire. Games in honor of its discovery (in 80 AD) continued non-stop for 100 days; during this time, 2,000 gladiators and 5,000 wild animals tore and slaughtered each other. True, the memory of the arsonist emperor was not so easy to erase: officially the new arena was called the Flavian Amphitheater, but it remained in history as the Colosseum - the name, apparently, refers not to its own dimensions, but to the colossal (35 m in height) statue of Nero in the form of the sun god.

“... He stood like an ancient God, illuminated by the rays rising sun, his posture expressed readiness for any outcome of the battle: the young man could without hesitation pierce the enemy through or fall from a mortal wound himself. The tense silence lasted for several seconds, and then the arena erupted with hoots and screams. The audience was out for blood - 50,000 onlookers gathered this morning to see Gladiator fights- brutal uncompromising battles. The Colosseum will once again become an altar for barbarian sacrifices today… And it will always be so…”

Coliseum- an outstanding architectural monument of Ancient Rome, the largest amphitheater ancient world, a symbol of the greatness and power of imperial Rome.

For a long time, the Colosseum was for the inhabitants of Rome and visitors the main place of entertainment spectacles, such as gladiator fights, animal persecution, sea battles.

Contrary to popular belief that Christians were executed in the Colosseum, latest research indicate that it was a myth created catholic church in subsequent years. Under Emperor Macrinus, it was badly damaged by fire, but was restored by order of Alexander Severus.

In 248, Emperor Philip was still celebrating the millennium of Rome's existence in the Colosseum with great performances. Honorius in 405 forbade gladiatorial battles as disagreeing with the spirit of Christianity, which became the dominant religion of the Roman Empire after Constantine the Great; however, animal persecution continued to occur in the Colosseum until the death of Theodoric the Great. After that, sad times came for the Flavian amphitheater.

The invasions of the barbarians led the Flavian Amphitheater to desolation and marked the beginning of its destruction. From the 11th century until 1132, it served as a fortress for noble Roman families who competed with each other for influence and power over fellow citizens, especially for the families of Frangipani and Annibaldi. The latter, however, were forced to cede the Colosseum to Emperor Henry VII, who presented it to the Roman Senate and people. Back in 1332, the local aristocracy organized bullfights here, but from that time on, the systematic destruction of the Colosseum began. They began to look at him as a source of getting building material, and not only fallen off, but also stones deliberately broken out of it began to go to new structures. So, in the 15th and 16th centuries, Pope Paul II took material from it to build the so-called Venetian palace, Cardinal Riario - Palace of the Chancellery, Paul III - Palazzo Farnese. However, a significant part of the amphitheater survived, although the building as a whole remained disfigured. Sixtus V intended to use it to set up a cloth factory, and Clement IX actually turned the Colosseum into a saltpeter factory.

best attitude Popes to the majestic monument of ancient architecture did not begin until the middle of the 18th century, and the first to take it under his protection was Benedict XIV. He dedicated it to the Passion of Christ as a place stained with the blood of many Christian martyrs, and ordered to erect a huge cross in the middle of his arena, and around it to put a number of altars in memory of the tortures, the procession to Golgotha ​​and the death of the Savior on the cross. This cross and altars were only removed from the Colosseum in 1874. The popes who followed Benedict XIV, especially Pius VII and Leo XII, continued to take care of the safety of the surviving parts of the building and reinforced with buttresses the places of the walls that threatened to fall, and Pius IX corrected some of the internal stairs in it.

The current view of the amphitheater is almost a triumph of minimalism: a strict ellipse, three tiers made in three orders, of a precisely calculated arch shape. This is the most grandiose ancient amphitheater: the length of its outer ellipse is 524 m, the major axis is 187.77 m, the minor axis is 155.64 m, the length of the arena is 85.75 m, its width is 53.62 m; the height of its walls is from 48 to 50 meters. With such dimensions, it could accommodate up to 87,000 spectators. The Flavian Amphitheater was built on a concrete foundation 13 meters thick. But one must understand that conciseness is the result of several barbarian invasions, a couple of earthquakes and many centuries of legalized robbery: until 1750, when Pope Benedict XIV finally ordered an end to disgrace, the Colosseum replaced the Romans with a quarry; a good part of the city's masterpieces have been built from its marble slabs and travertine blocks. Initially, a statue was attached to each arch, and a giant opening between the walls was covered with a canvas using a special mechanism. This mechanism was extremely complex - a separate team of sailors was hired to manage it. But neither the heat of the sun nor the rain became an obstacle to entertainment.

The games began early in the morning with a parade of gladiators. The emperor and his family looked at what was happening from the front row; senators, vestals, consuls and priests sat nearby. A little further away sat aristocrats and other important citizens. The next rows were occupied middle class; then marble benches gave way to covered galleries with wooden seats. The top one was for the plebs and women, the next one for slaves and foreigners.

The walls of the Colosseum were erected from large pieces or blocks of travertine stone or travertine marble, which was mined in the nearby city of Tivoli. The blocks were interconnected by steel ties with a total weight of approximately 300 tons; for internal parts local tuff and brick were also used. The holes visible today in various places in the walls are the nests of the mentioned connections, which disappeared in the Middle Ages - an era in which steel was highly valued and sought after everywhere. From the outside, the building represented three tiers of arches. Between the arches there are semi-columns, in the lower tier - Tuscan, in the middle - Ionic and in the upper - Corinthian style. Images of the Colosseum on the surviving ancient coins indicate that in the spans of the arches of the middle and upper tiers there were statues each. Above the upper arcade tier rises the fourth more high floor, representing a solid wall divided by Corinthian pilasters into compartments and having a quadrangular window in the middle of each compartment. At the ends of the major and minor axes of the ellipse were four main entrances in the form of three-arched gates. Two of these gates were assigned to the emperor; the rest served for solemn processions before the start of performances, for the admission of animals and for the import of the necessary machines.

The first number of the program was cripples and clowns: these also fought, but not seriously and without blood. Sometimes women also appeared - they competed in archery. And only then came the turn of the gladiators and animals (who were catapulted into the arena from the basement to heighten the effect). The battles were incredibly cruel, but Christians, according to the latest data, were never tormented in the arena of the Colosseum. It wasn't until 100 years later that games were banned. official recognition Christianity, and the battles of wild animals continued until the VI century.

A dozen centuries later, what remains of the Colosseum has become a favorite subject for melancholic reflections and idyllic landscapes. To climb here at night, by the light of the moon, every conscientious traveler considered it his duty. Until recently, it was possible to repeat the experience - but by 2000, all the holes in the fence were carefully sealed up, and now they are allowed inside only at the set hours.

Those who wish can climb the ruins of the galleries and try to imagine how animals rushed about in the corridors hidden under the arena and gladiators prepared for battle.

Behind the Colosseum there is another textbook building, the Arch of Constantine, the last (and largest) Triumphal Arch in Roman history - two years after its erection, Constantine will finally move to Byzantium. Glory, however, she is not entirely deserved: most of bas-reliefs literally torn off from previous victors.

Since great attention the Colosseum is protected by the current Italian government, by order of which, under the guidance of learned archaeologists, many of the fallen fragments of the structure, where it turned out to be possible, are inserted on former places, and curious excavations were made in the arena, which led to the discovery of basements, which once served to push groups of people and animals, trees and other decorations into the arena, or to fill it with water and lift ships up when naumachia were presented. Despite all the hardships experienced by the Colosseum over the centuries, its ruins, devoid of their former external and internal decoration, still make a strong impression with their severe majesty and give a fairly clear idea of ​​what its location and architecture were. rainwater seepage, atmospheric pollution and vibration from heavy urban traffic brought the Colosseum to a critical state. In many places, the architectural monument needs strengthening.

To save the amphitheater from further destruction an agreement was reached between the Italian ministry cultural heritage and the Roman bank. The first phase of the project includes the restoration and waterproofing of the arcades and the reconstruction of the wooden floor of the arena, where gladiators once fought. The newspaper Repubblica in 1991 referred to a planned investment of 40 billion lire and calls this agreement "the most big union between the public and private sectors, which has ever been concluded in Italy for the preservation of works of art".

The Colosseum has lost two-thirds of its original mass; nevertheless, it is still unparalleledly huge: one architect in XVIII century took the trouble to roughly calculate the amount of building material contained in the Colosseum, and determined its cost, at the prices of that time, at 1.5 million skudos (about 8 million francs). Therefore, the Colosseum has long been considered a symbol of the greatness of Rome.

Ancient Roman amphitheater in Rome. It is the largest of all existing amphitheaters and a well-preserved monument of ancient Roman architecture. Most likely, it is the Colosseum that is the first association that many people have when they mention the capital of Italy. That is, this ancient monument can be considered a symbol of the city, just as it is considered a symbol of Paris, and Big Ben is a symbol of London.

It was erected in 8 years, from 72 to 80 BC. It was originally called the Flavian Amphitheater, and the name Colosseum was given from the 8th century, probably because of its size.

Its structure is a classic ancient Roman amphitheater. This is an ellipse, in the middle of which there is an arena of the same shape. There are tiers of seats for spectators around the arena. The main difference between the Colosseum and other similar buildings is the shape. Its length is 187 meters, width - 155. The size of the arena is 85 by 55 meters, and the height of the outer walls of the Colosseum is about 50 meters.

Tooliseum served as the center for all Roman entertainment spectacles. Games, gladiator fights, animal baiting, sea battles were held on it. But in 405, fights were banned and the Colosseum fell into disrepair. It suffered from the invasion of the barbarians, then served as a fortress passing from hand to hand, and after that it gradually began to be dismantled for building materials. Only in the 18th century, Benedict XIV took the Colosseum under his protection, and the popes who followed Benedict carried out a series of restoration work.

Now the Italian authorities take care of the Colosseum. Partially, with the help of debris, the arena was restored and excavated, under which basements were discovered. But, unfortunately, the condition of the Colosseum is far from ideal - rainwater, the vibrations of the modern metropolis and pollution threaten this monument. antique architecture complete destruction.

But, despite the partial destruction and loss of its former beauty, it still makes a great impression and annually attracts a huge number of tourists. The Colosseum can be called one of the most famous world attractions, the main symbol of Rome.

origin of name

The official name of the Roman arena was the Flavian Amphitheatre. The attraction, familiar to us, received the name “Colosseum” only in the VIII century from the Latin word “colosseus”, which means “huge, colossal”. The popular belief that the name comes from a nearby colossal 36-meter statue of Nero is erroneous.

History of the Colosseum

To understand the reasons for the construction of the Colosseum, it is necessary to understand the situation that developed during the decade that preceded the start of construction. The Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD cleared vast areas in the city, including the valley of the three hills (Caelium, Palatine and Esquiline), where the amphitheater is located. Emperor Nero, taking advantage of the fire, seized a huge part of the vacated land for the construction of a palace complex, the size of which still remains a record for all the royal residences ever built in Europe. According to various sources, the palace complex of Nero was located on an area from 40 to 120 hectares and so impressed with its splendor that it later received the name "Nero's Golden House". For its construction, the emperor greatly increased taxes. The despotism and arbitrariness of Nero, together with the complete removal from the administration of the empire, led to a state conspiracy. There was a rare situation when the emperor managed to turn against himself all the social strata of ancient Roman society at once. Realizing that his fate was sealed, Nero committed suicide.

The new emperor Vespasian, being a subtle politician and pragmatist, understood how important it was to get the support of the Roman crowd. The recipe was simple - you need to provide "bread and circuses." Where the palace complex for Nero was located, Vespasian decides to build a huge building for the population of Rome. The symbolism is obvious. The choice fell on the project of building a new grandiose amphitheater. It was especially important to realize the conceived idea in connection with the desire of Vespasian to become the founder imperial dynasty Flaviev. The amphitheater was to become a family monument for the ages.

Construction financing

The wasteful Nero ruined the treasury, so Vespasian had to find funds for the construction as soon as possible. At this very time, to their great misfortune, the Jews rose in revolt against Roman domination. Vespasian and his son Titus took advantage of the opportunity presented to brutally suppress the rebellion, and at the same time sack Jerusalem. Particularly rich booty was the religious complex of the city called the Temple Mount, the main attraction of which at that time was the Second Jerusalem Temple. 30,000 captives were sold as slaves, and another 100,000 were sent to Rome for the most difficult work of extracting stone from a quarry and transporting it to the construction site of the Colosseum. It turns out that the prehistory of the Colosseum is as bloody and cruel as the events that took place later in its arena.

Of course, we felt the grandiose construction of the greatest of the Roman structures and ordinary citizens. The empire raised the old and introduced new taxes. Even a tax on toilets was introduced, thanks to which the expression "Money does not smell" appeared. This is how Vespasian responded to his son Titus when he questioned the moral aspect of the new tax.

Construction and architecture of the Colosseum

Coliseum- the most grandiose ancient amphitheater. Its dimensions:

• the length of the outer ellipse is 524 meters;
• major axis - 187 meters;
• minor axis - 155 meters;
• arena length (also elliptical) - 85 meters;
• width of the arena - 53 meters;
• wall height - 48 meters;
• foundation thickness - 13 meters.

Construction of the Colosseum started in 72 during the reign of Vespasian, was completed and consecrated under his son Emperor Titus in 80. In that historical period Rome had over one million inhabitants. The amphitheater had to be large enough to accommodate 50 thousand viewers and at the same time strong enough to support its own weight. The solution to this problem was clearly demonstrated by the genius of Roman architectural thought. Many engineering solutions that were used in the construction of the Colosseum became revolutionary.

prompt: if you want to find a cheap hotel in Rome, we recommend that you look at this section of special offers. Usually discounts are 25-35%, but sometimes they reach 40-50%.

The engineering idea of ​​the amphitheater is simple and ingenious. The frame of the structure is a solid structure of intersecting radial (extending from the arena in all directions) and concentric (surrounding the arena) walls. In total, 80 gradually rising radial and 7 concentric walls were erected. Above them were rows for spectators.

The outer concentric wall of the amphitheater includes four tiers, the first three of which have 80 seven-meter-high arches each. In the design of the first tier, decorative semi-columns of the Tuscan order are used, the second tier - Ionic, the third - Corinthian. The last fourth tier is a solid wall (without arches) with small rectangular windows. Bronze shields were placed in the piers between the windows, and statues were installed in the arched openings of the second and third floors.

The use of arches, a feature of which is the ability to reduce the weight of the entire structure, was the only true and possible engineering solution for such high walls. Another advantage of arched structures was their uniformity, which greatly simplified the construction of the entire structure. Arched sections were created separately, and only then they were assembled together as a constructor.

Construction Materials

The load-bearing radial and concentric walls of the amphitheater are lined with natural limestone known as travertine. It was mined near Tivoli (35 km from Rome). Researchers believe that the same 100 thousand captives captured as a result of the suppression of the Jewish uprising worked at the stage of extraction, delivery and primary processing of travertine. Then the stone fell into the hands of Roman masters. The quality of their processing, as well as the level of construction in general, is simply amazing. Pay attention to how precisely the huge stones adjoin each other.

All travertine blocks were connected to each other with iron staples, which were removed in the Middle Ages, which greatly weakened the structure of the entire structure. It is estimated that 300 tons of metal were spent on the brackets that tighten the walls. Now in their place, through holes gape in the preserved walls.

In addition to the travertine used for load-bearing radial and concentric walls, when building the Colosseum, Roman engineers widely used volcanic tuff, brick and concrete, the advantage of which was relative lightness. For example, tuff blocks were intended for the upper tiers of the amphitheater, while concrete and brick were well suited for partitions and ceilings inside the structure.

- group tour (up to 10 people) for the first acquaintance with the city and the main attractions - 3 hours, 31 euros

- immerse yourself in the history of Ancient Rome and visit the main monuments of antiquity: the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill - 3 hours, 38 euros

- the history of Roman cuisine, oysters, truffle, pate and cheese during a tour for real gourmets - 5 hours, 45 euros

Entrances to the Colosseum

The architectural and logistical solution used in the Colosseum is used in the construction of stadiums to this day - many entrances are located evenly around the entire perimeter of the structure. Thanks to this, the public could fill the Colosseum in 15 minutes and leave in 5.

In total, the Colosseum had 80 entrances, of which 4 were intended for senators and members of the magistrate, 14 for horsemen, 52 for all other social categories. The entrances for horsemen were called south, north, west and east, while the other 76 had their own serial number(from I to LXXVI). If you look closely, some of them can be seen even today. Each viewer depending on social status received a ticket (report card), which indicated not only his place, but also which entrance he should use.

The more important a person was, the easier it was for him to get to his place. In addition, the corridors and stairs of the amphitheater were planned in such a way that people different classes did not collide with each other. Such a well-thought-out system practically eliminated the crush.

Seats for spectators

The Roman Colosseum could accommodate up to 50,000 people at the same time. Spectators were seated in strict accordance with social hierarchy. The bottom row, or podium, was reserved for senators and members of the magistrate. Here, although on a slight elevation, was the bed of the emperor. Behind the podium was a tier for horsemen, and then a tier with seats for those who had the status of a citizen in the Roman Empire. The next tier is for the plebs and women. The last was a standing tier for slaves and not noble foreigners. It turns out that the Colosseum was a model of Roman society in miniature.

Arena and Hypogeum

Two entrances led to the arena: the “Gate of Triumph” (lat. Porta Triumphalis), through which gladiators and animals entered the arena and returned back with victory, and the “Gate of Libitina” (lat. Porta Libitinaria), named after the goddess of death and burials, and where the dead or wounded were taken.

Over time, the desire for more majestic spectacles in the arena of the Colosseum only increased. Constant innovation was required to keep the Roman crowd happy and tractable at all times. Already 5 years after the opening, the arena was completely reconstructed by Domitian, the second son of Vespasian. Domitian created an underground complex of unprecedented scale under the arena - the hypogeum. It was a series of technical and utility rooms with complex system special passages and platforms (elevators) for raising gladiators and animals to the arena. There were 60 hatches and 30 platforms in total.

Due to the unique functionality of the hypogeum, the arena of the Colosseum could change depending on the scenario. Real theatrical performances unfolded here, the purpose of which was to present death and murder even more colorful and vivid. Decorations were erected to imitate nature or structures. The participants of the show, especially if it was a mass show, appeared at the most unexpected moment in an extremely important places than could seriously change the disposition of the fighting parties in the arena. Hypogeum has taken the games to a higher level. Today, this part of the Colosseum is the only one that has hardly suffered from time.

Velarius (canopy)

On hot and rainy days, a velarium (sailcloth canopy) was stretched over the amphitheater, which was mounted on 240 wooden masts installed in stone console racks of the upper fourth tier of the outer wall. The canopy was operated by several thousand specially trained sailors who had previously served in the Navy. Unfortunately, detailed information, exactly how the canopy functioned and how it was pulled, was not preserved.

The history of the functioning of the Colosseum

The first repair, as shown by archaeologists, was made after a fire during the reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161). In 217, as a result of a lightning strike on the upper floor of the Colosseum, most of the amphitheater burned out. In 222, games were resumed in the arena, but the reconstruction of the building was completed only in 240 under Emperor Gordian III, and on this occasion a commemorative coin was issued.

In 248, Emperor Philip organized grandiose celebrations of the millennium of Rome in the Colosseum. In 262, the amphitheater was able to relatively successfully survive strong earthquake. The second half of the 4th century was marked by the gradual decline of gladiatorial games under the influence of the spread of Christianity:

• in 357, Emperor Constantine II prohibited the Roman military from voluntarily enrolling in gladiatorial schools after the end of their service;
• in 365, Emperor Valentinian forbade judges from sentencing criminals to death in the arena;
• in 399 all gladiatorial schools were closed.

The reason for the final ban on gladiator fights was the case described by Bishop Theodoret of Kirr. In 404, a Christian monk from Asia Minor named Telemachus jumped into the arena and rushed to the fighting gladiators, trying to separate them. This pious zeal cost him his life: an angry mob attacked the peacemaker and tore the monk to pieces. However, Telemachus's sacrifice was not in vain: under the impression of his martyrdom Emperor Honorius banned gladiatorial games forever.

The capture of Rome by the Goths (410) led to the looting of the amphitheater, from which bronze ornaments and decorative elements were removed. The last games (included only the baiting of wild animals) were held by Flavius ​​Anicius Maximus in 523. Starting from the 6th century, the Colosseum, under the influence of natural elements, began to rapidly fall into decay, its arena was overgrown with trees and grass, and wild animals found shelter under the stands.

During the Middle Ages, all knowledge about the purpose of the amphitheater was lost. People began to imagine that the grand structure was the temple of the Sun God. In special brochures for pilgrims who visited Rome, the Colosseum was described as a round temple dedicated to various gods, and once covered with a bronze or copper dome. Gradually, the entire space inside the amphitheater began to be built up with houses of small craftsmen and artisans. Also in the Middle Ages, there was a popular legend that the influential Frangipani family hid their treasures in the Colosseum.

In 1349, a powerful earthquake in Rome caused the collapse of the Colosseum, especially its southern part. After that, they began to look at the ancient landmark as a place for the extraction of building material, and not only stones that had fallen off, but also deliberately broken out of it, began to be used for the construction of new buildings. Many Roman mansions, palaces and temples were built from marble and travertine quarried from the ruins of the Colosseum.

So, in the 15th and 16th centuries, Pope Paul II used stone from the Colosseum to build the so-called Venetian Palace, Cardinal Riario - the Palace of the Chancellery, and Paul III - the Palazzo Farnese. It is known that Sixtus V intended to use the Colosseum for arranging a cloth factory, and Clement IX turned it into a saltpeter factory for a short period of time. Despite this consumer attitude a significant part of the amphitheater still survived, although in an extremely disfigured state.

Modern architectural studies of the Colosseum began around 1720, when Carlo Fontana made an inspection of the amphitheater and studied its geometric proportions. At this time, the first tier of the structure was already completely buried under the ground and debris accumulated over many centuries.

The first Pope to take the Colosseum under his protection was Benedict XIV (Pontiff from 1740 to 1758). He dedicated it to the Passion of Christ as a place stained with the blood of many Christian martyrs, and ordered a huge cross and a number of altars to be erected in the middle of the arena in memory of the tortures, the procession to Golgotha ​​and the death of the Savior on the cross. He (Benedict XIV) put an end to the centuries-old "robbery" of the Colosseum, forbidding the use of the building as a quarry.

In 1804, Carlo Fea, an archaeologist and curator of antiquities, after examining the monument of architecture, drew up a memorandum in which he noted the importance of immediate restoration work due to the danger of collapse of the walls. A year later, excavations began and a thorough examination of the amphitheater for reconstruction, which was led by the architect Camporesi. Throughout the time until 1939, the entire territory of the Colosseum was gradually cleared of debris and centuries-old layers of soil. The outer walls were also strengthened and the arena cleared.

In the second half of the 20th century, the position of the Colosseum deteriorated due to rainwater seepage, atmospheric pollution (mainly car exhaust) and vibration from heavy urban traffic. Researchers believe that from the VI to the XXI century, the Colosseum lost two-thirds of its original "volume". Of course, the main role in the destruction was played by the inhabitants of Rome themselves, who used long time abandoned arena as a source of travertine for the construction of new structures.

Spectacles in the arena of the Colosseum

In the arena of the amphitheater, the public was offered such entertainment spectacles as gladiator fights, baiting of wild animals, the killing of convicted criminals and the reconstruction of naval battles. The celebrations in honor of the opening of the Colosseum, organized by Emperor Titus in 80, lasted exactly 100 days. During this time, about 5,000 gladiators and 6,000 wild animals took part in the battles. Of these, 2,000 gladiators and 5,000 animals were killed.

People and animals wounded in battle lost a lot of blood, and so that the flooring of the arena did not become slippery, it was sprinkled with a layer of dry sand, which absorbed blood well. Such sand, saturated with blood, was called "harena", from which the word "arena" came.

Contrary to the opinion that Christians were allegedly executed in the Colosseum on a huge scale, there is something else - that all this is nothing more than successful propaganda of the Catholic Church, which at one time was in dire need of creating images of suffering and martyrdom. Of course, individual executions of Christians in the arena took place, but their number is considered to be deliberately overestimated.

Traditionally, the action in the arena of the Colosseum began in the morning with the performance of cripples and clowns, who entertained the audience with fake fights without bloodshed. Women also sometimes competed in shooting and weapons. Then there was the persecution of wild animals. By noon the executions began. Murderers, robbers, arsonists and robbers of temples were sentenced by Roman justice to the most cruel and shameful death in the arena. AT best case they were given weapons and they had a ghostly chance against a gladiator, at worst they were given to animals to be torn to pieces. Over time, such executions turned into real theatrical performances. Decorations were set up in the arena, and the criminals were dressed up in appropriate costumes.

- evening lighting and unique illumination add extraordinary texture and mystery to architectural masterpieces - 3 hours, 29 euros

- cheeses, prosciutto, pizza, wine, pastries and other delicacies of Italian cuisine - 4 hours, 65 euros

gladiator fights

The origin of gladiatorial games is still a matter of debate. There is a version that they are rooted in the Etruscan custom of sacrifice during the funeral of a noble person, when a warrior defeated in a fight was sacrificed in order to propitiate the spirit of the deceased. Historians believe that the first gladiatorial games were held in 246 BC by Marcus and Decimus Brutus in honor of their deceased father, Junius Brutus, as a gift for the dead.

Gladiators were criminals sentenced to death, prisoners of war, or slaves who were specially bought for this purpose and trained. were professional gladiators free people who volunteered to participate in the games in the hope of making money or gaining fame. Concluding the first contract, the gladiator (if he was previously a free man) received a one-time fee. With each re-extension of the contract, the amount increased significantly.

Gladiators were trained in special schools-barracks, originally owned by private citizens, but later became the property of the emperor in order to prevent the formation of private armies. So, the emperor Domitian built four similar barracks for gladiators near the Colosseum. They were adjoined by: training facilities, a hospital for the wounded, a morgue for the dead and a warehouse with weapons and food.

It is known that even individual Roman emperors entered the arena. So, the historian Aelius Lampridius at the beginning of the 5th century writes about the emperor Commodus: “He fought like a gladiator and received gladiatorial nicknames with such joy, as if they were given as a reward for triumphs. He always performed in gladiatorial games and ordered that reports of any of his performances be entered in official historical documents. It is said that he fought 735 times in the arena.” Emperors Titus and Adrian also liked to "play" in gladiators.

Archaeologists have deciphered several inscriptions found on the stones of the Colosseum under the arena. One of them says that "Flamm's gladiator received a wooden sword four times, but chose to remain a gladiator." The presentation of a wooden sword after the battle meant that the gladiator was granted freedom, which he had the right to refuse.

Scenarios of gladiator fights were different. Participants fought both one-on-one and teams for the survival of the strongest. The most spectacular and bloodthirsty was a group fight on the principle of "every man for himself", which ended when only one of the gladiators remained alive.

In the scope of gladiator fights, the record belongs to Trajan. He organized games lasting 123 days, in which 10 thousand gladiators took part. In total, during the years of Trajan's reign, 40,000 people died in the arena.

The lifestyle of the gladiators was close to the military: living in the barracks, strict discipline and daily training. For insubordination and non-compliance with the rules, the gladiators were severely punished. For those who fought well and won, there were special privileges: special diet and an established daily routine that allows you to maintain a good physical form. For victories, concubines were often brought as a reward to gladiators. Cash rewards for successful fights were at the disposal of the school. In harsh everyday life and endless games with death, gladiators, however, were not deprived of female attention and love. A lot of women, including many noble persons, burned with passion for strong courageous warriors.

Also in Rome were specialized schools, in which they taught how to fight with wild animals, various sophisticated tricks and methods of killing them for the amusement of the audience. This category of warriors was called venatores. They were lower in rank than gladiators.

Harassing wild animals

The first mention of the persecution of wild animals in Rome dates back to 185 BC. Most likely, the new entertainment was borrowed during Punic War with the Carthaginians, who had a custom to put up runaway slaves to fight against wild animals.

For persecution in the arena of the Colosseum, wild animals were brought to Rome from all over the empire. Not only predators such as lions, panthers and cheetahs were valued, but also exotic non-aggressive animals (such as zebras). The variety of animals was primarily a manifestation of imperial power. Over time, persecution led to terrible consequences - some species simply became extinct (elephants in North Africa, hippos in Nubia, lions in Mesopotamia).

The day before the persecution, the animals were exhibited in special place for public viewing. In Rome, it was a vivarium near the port. Then the animals were transported and placed in the premises of the hypogeum (under the arena of the amphitheater), where they waited in the wings to effectively rise to the surface of the arena on a special platform. In some representations, animals fought each other, such as a lion against a tiger, a bull or a bear. Sometimes the pairs were unequal: lions were placed against deer.

However, most animal persecution took place with the participation of a person. It was either a trained "hunter" (lat. venatores), armed with a spear or sword and protected by leather armor, or a "bestiary" (a convicted criminal who was sentenced to fight with a predatory beast). The criminal, as a rule, was armed only with a dagger, so that his chances of surviving in the arena were minimized. Usually the performance ended with the performance of tamed animals specially trained to perform tricks, similarly contemporary performances in the circus.

A peculiar record of bloodshed during persecution, as in gladiator fights, belongs to the emperor Trajan. In honor of his victory over the inhabitants of the Balkans, about 11 thousand different animals (elephants, hippos, tigers, horses, lions, giraffes, zebras and many others) were hunted down in the Colosseum.

The persecution of animals, the only bloody action of the era of Ancient Rome, which continued even for a long time after the fall of the empire, although on a completely different scale. It is generally accepted that bullfights are rooted in animal baiting.

Naumachia (sea battles)

Naumachia (Greek: Ναυμαχία) was a reconstruction of well-known naval battles, in which the participants, as a rule, were criminals sentenced to death, less often - gladiators. The reconstructions required complete watertightness of the arena and a depth of about two meters. Naumachia were too costly, since the ships and all naval ammunition were extremely expensive, however, the public effect of their holding was colossal.

The first re-enactment of a naval battle in Roman history was funded by Julius Caesar, who wished to celebrate his triumphant military victory in Egypt with a grand spectacle. Caesar's naumachia was held in a temporary lake dug in the Campus Martius, where they recreated the battle between the Egyptians and the Phoenicians. The performance involved 16 galleys and 2,000 gladiators.

For the first time, naumachia in the Colosseum were placed immediately after the opening. Basically they reconstructed famous historical battles, such as the victory of the Greeks over the Persians in the naval battle of Salamis, or the defeat of the Spartans in the Aegean in the Corinthian War.

Colosseum today

Having survived all the hardships, the Colosseum has long become a symbol of Rome and one of the most popular tourist sites in Italy. In 2007, the amphitheater was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. In October 2013, restoration work began, which will take place in three stages. As part of this project, at the first stage, dynamic vibrations to which the structure is exposed, being in close proximity to the metro line and the highway, will be monitored. The second stage will be devoted to the restoration of the inner area of ​​the Colosseum and a more comprehensive restoration of the underground facilities under the arena. Restoration work in the third phase will also include the construction of tourist center service.

Photo gallery

Buying tickets to the Colosseum

Throughout the day, there is a long queue in front of the entrance to the Colosseum, in which you can easily stand for several hours. Therefore, it is better to buy tickets in one of the following ways:

1) the fact is that the Colosseum, the Forum and the Palatine have general ticket. Thus, buying a ticket to the Forum almost without a queue, you calmly go to the Colosseum, which is located relatively close. The ticket is valid for 2 days (each attraction can only be visited once). Ticket price - 12 euros.

2) can be pre-purchased e-ticket on the site rome-museum.com (Russian version of the site is available). Such a ticket is also complex (except for the Colosseum, it includes a visit to the Palatine and the Forum). The only inconvenience of an e-ticket is that it is necessary to indicate the date of the visit, which means that your visit will depend on the weather. The ticket is also valid for 2 days, but the price includes a sales commission and is 16 euros. You can also purchase a ticket with an audio guide for 21 euros. As an audio guide, they give out iPods with audio and video clips. After payment, you will receive an e-mail with a purchase notification. The e-ticket itself will come in the next letter a day or two after payment. Attention! The received e-ticket must be printed! The option to display it on the phone screen will not work. Then, when you are on the spot (near the Colosseum), you need to exchange your e-ticket for a standard ticket.

Important! In early 2014, the administration of the Colosseum announced the launch special application for phones, with which it will be possible to buy tickets, but we do not yet have details. If you know them, we will be grateful for the information provided in the comments.

- you will immerse yourself in "living" Rome and get acquainted with its history, legends and main attractions - 2 hours, 20 euros

- beautiful and romantic corners the eternal city away from noisy tourist routes - 2 hours, 30 euros

- art, beauty, history and religious culture Italy in the masterpieces of the Vatican Museums - 3 hours, 38 euros

schedule

from 02.01 to 15.02 - Colosseum is open from 8:30 to 16:30
from 16.02 to 15.03 - Colosseum is open from 8:30 to 17:00
from 16.03 to 31.03 - Colosseum is open from 8:30 to 17:30
from 01.04 to 31.08 - Colosseum is open from 8:30 to 19:15
from 01.09 to 30.09 - the Colosseum is open from 8:30 to 19:00
from 01.10 to 31.10 - the Colosseum is open from 8:30 to 18:30
from 01.11 to 31.12 - the Colosseum is open from 8:30 to 16:30

It is quite deservedly called the "Coat of arms of Rome", because despite the vandalism and long-term destruction to which the historical monument is subjected, it also makes a great impression on those who first managed to see the Colosseum.

History of the Colosseum

One of the most famous structures in the world, distinctive sign of ancient Rome, the Colosseum might never have been built if Vespasian had not decided to destroy the traces of the reign of his predecessor Nero. For this, on the site of a pond with swans, which adorned the courtyard of the Golden Palace, a majestic amphitheater was built, accommodating 70,000 spectators.

In honor of the opening, in 80 AD, games were held that lasted 100 days and during which 5,000 wild animals and 2,000 gladiators were killed. Despite this, the memory of the previous emperor was not so easy to erase: officially the new arena was called the Flavian Amphitheatre, but in history it was remembered as the Colosseum. Apparently, the name does not refer to its own dimensions, but to a giant statue of Nero in the form of the sun god, reaching 35 meters in height.

Colosseum in Ancient Rome

For a long time, the Colosseum was a place of entertainment for the inhabitants of Rome and visitors, such as animal baiting, gladiator fights and naval battles.

The games began in the morning with a parade of gladiators. The emperor and his family watched the action from the front row; senators, consuls, vestals and priests sat nearby. A little further on sat the Roman nobility. In the next rows sat the middle class; after the marble benches were replaced by covered galleries with wooden benches. Plebeians and women sat on the top, and slaves and foreigners sat on the next.

The performance was started by clowns and cripples: they also fought, but not seriously. Sometimes, for archery competitions, women appeared. And then came the turn of animals and gladiators. The fights were incredibly brutal, but the Christians in the arena colosseum didn't torment. Only 100 years after the recognition of Christianity, games began to be banned, and the battles of animals continued until the 6th century.

It was believed that Christians were periodically executed in the Colosseum, but subsequent research indicates that this was a myth invented by the Catholic Church. During the reign of Emperor Macrinus, the amphitheater was badly damaged by fire, but was soon restored by order of Alexander Severus.

Emperor Philip in 248 was still celebrating in colosseum millennium of Rome with grandiose performances. In 405, Honorius banned gladiator fights as opposed to Christianity, which became the dominant religion of the Roman Empire after the reign of Constantine the Great. Despite this, animal persecution continued to take place in the Colosseum until the death of Theodoric the Great. After, sad times came for the Flavian amphitheater.

Destruction of the Colosseum

The invasions of the barbarians led the Colosseum into desolation and marked the beginning of its gradual destruction. From the 11th century until 1132, it served as a fortress for influential Roman families who disputed power over their fellow citizens, especially the Frangipani and Annibaldi families. The latter were forced to cede the amphitheater to Emperor Henry VII, who, in turn, presented it to the Senate and the people.

In 1332, the local aristocracy still held bullfights here, but from that time the destruction of the Colosseum began. They began to look at him as a source of building materials. For the construction of new structures, not only fallen stones were used, but also specially broken ones from it. Thus, in the 15th and 16th centuries, Pope Paul II used material from the Colosseum to build a Venetian palace, and Cardinal Riario for the Chancery Palace, as well as Paul III for the Palazzo Farnese.

Despite this, a significant part of the Colosseum survived, although the building remained disfigured. Sixtus V wanted to use it to build a cloth factory, and Clement IX turned the Colosseum into a saltpeter factory. From its travertine blocks and marble slabs, many urban masterpieces were built.

More good relationship to the majestic monument began only in the middle of the 18th century, when Benedict XIV took it under his protection. He dedicated the amphitheater to the Passion of Christ as a place soaked in the blood of many Christian martyrs. By his order, a huge cross was erected in the center of the arena, and a number of altars were erected around it. Only in 1874 they were removed.

Later, the Popes continued to take care of the Colosseum, especially Leo XII and Pius VII, who reinforced the places of the walls that threatened to fall with buttresses. And Pius IX repaired some of the interior walls.

Colosseum today

The current view of the Colosseum is a triumph of minimalism: a strict ellipse and three tiers with precisely calculated arches. This is the largest ancient amphitheater: the length of the outer ellipse is 524 meters, the major axis is 187 meters, the minor axis is 155 meters, the length of the arena is 85.75 meters, and its width is 53.62 meters; the height of the walls is 48-50 meters. Thanks to its size, it could accommodate up to 87,000 spectators.

The Colosseum was built on a concrete foundation 13 meters thick. In its original form, there was a statue in each arch, and huge space between the walls was drawn with a canvas using a special mechanism, for which a team of sailors was hired to control. But neither the rain nor the heat of the sun were an obstacle to entertainment.

Now, everyone can walk through the ruins of the galleries and imagine how gladiators were preparing for battles and wild animals rushing about under the arena.

With great attention guards the current Colosseum Italian government, by order of which the builders, under the guidance of archaeologists, inserted the scattered fragments, where possible, into their former places. Excavations were carried out in the arena, which led to the discovery of basements that served to raise people and animals, various decorations to the arena, or to fill with water and raise ships up.

Even despite all the hardships experienced by the Colosseum during its existence, its ruins, devoid of interior and exterior decoration, still make an indelible impression with their grandeur and make it clear what its architecture and location were. Vibrations from constant city traffic, atmospheric pollution and rainwater infiltration have left the Colosseum in critical condition. For its preservation, reinforcement is required in many places.

Preservation of the Colosseum

To save the Colosseum from further destruction, an agreement was made between the Roman Bank and the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage. The first stage is the restoration, processing of the arcades with a waterproof compound and the reconstruction of the wooden floor of the arena. Most recently, part of the arches was restored and the problem areas of the structure were strengthened.

Now the Colosseum has become a symbol of Rome and one of the most popular tourist sites. In 2007, she was chosen as one of the new seven wonders of the world.

In the VIII century, the pilgrims said - "While the Colosseum stands and Rome will stand, disappear the Colosseum - Rome will disappear and with it the whole world."

It is difficult to find a person who in our time has not heard anything about him. This is one of the grandest structures in the entire era of human existence, a recognizable symbol of the Roman Empire. It's about about the famous amphitheater Colosseum in Italy (Rome).

Amphitheater Colosseum in Rome: history and interesting facts

The Colosseum in Rome was built in 80 AD under the Roman emperor Titus from the Flavian family. The building itself was called the Flavian Amphitheatre. The Golden House of Nero, or rather its artificial lake, located in the city of Rome, was chosen as a place for construction. The construction of the building took only 8 years.

Colosseum is Latin for colossal. It is not surprising that it was this name that replaced the people official version amphitheater. And although it was already difficult to surprise ancient Roman architects by this time with the construction of huge amphitheatres, the Colosseum in Rome surpassed all its competitors by an order of magnitude and quickly became associated as a new wonder of the world.

The size of the building is impressive. The oval-shaped arena occupies an area of ​​86 by 54 meters, the entire building has a diameter along the axes of 156 and 188 meters, the height of the wall is 48 meters. 80 entrances and 50 thousand seats confirmed the colossality of the Flavian amphitheater.

The architect of the building was Quintius Aterius. For the construction of such a huge structure, the labor of slaves was used. The construction went on day and night.

The building was erected on a 13-meter concrete foundation, which was made in a drained lake. The reliability of the structure was also ensured by the frame, made up of 80 radial walls and 7 ring walls.

What is the Colosseum made of? During the construction of the Colosseum in Italy, the most different materials: marble - seats, travertine - ring walls, concrete and tuff - radial walls, brick - arches. Marble cladding was made separately.

In its original form, the Colosseum amphitheater had 3 floors. On the first floor was the emperor's box and marble seats for the senate. On the second floor, marble benches were installed, intended for the citizens of Ancient Rome. On the third floor there were places for all other spectators, made in the form of wooden benches and just standing places. In the 2nd century, the last fourth floor was completed.

The arena of the Roman Colosseum on bad days (heat or rain) could be closed with an awning stretched on the masts. It is worth noting the floor of the arena itself. It was made of wood, usually covered with a layer of sand, and was... movable. For naval battles, the arena could be filled with water from a suitable aqueduct.

The main purpose of the Colosseum in Rome was to hold gladiator fights. The arena of the amphitheater allowed to accommodate up to 3 thousand fighters. The celebration of the opening of the Colosseum, which lasted for 100 days, stands out in history. In addition to gladiator fights, hunting scenes were also arranged here, with special decorations pulled out of the wooden floor. Another date in the history of the Flavian Amphitheater is the celebration of the millennium of Rome in 249. Thousands of gladiators and animals died here as well. End massacres laid only in 405.

With the fall of the great Roman Empire, the building of the amphitheater of the Colosseum in Italy began to fall into disrepair and began to collapse. In the Middle Ages, the Colosseum is referred to as a castle. In Revival locals began to dismantle the amphitheater for the construction of local facilities. Even later, the homeless found shelter here.

The overgrowth and destruction of the Colosseum amphitheater was put to an end in the 18th century by Pope Benedict XIV. On his initiative, a cross was erected here in memory of the shed blood, and church events. And in our time, on Good Friday, the Way of the Cross passes here, uniting thousands of believing Christians.

And although today the Colosseum in Rome is half destroyed, it still makes a huge impression and with dignity holds the title of a symbol of Rome.