Colosseum means big, colossal. This is one of the names of the sports arena in Rome, which was built by the Flavian dynasty of emperors. This is a landmark of the Italian capital, ranked among the seven wonders of the world.
This is indeed a huge museum, the territory of which occupies 24 thousand square meters. Until now, in many respects, this building surpasses modern buildings, despite new technologies.
In the Colosseum, everything amazes: the scale of the idea, the innovation of construction, the number of people involved, the timing of execution, resourcefulness in raising funds. The fact is that after the reign of Emperor Nero, there was no money in Rome, and it was unrealistic to conceive of such a construction. However, the new emperor Vespasian understood that it was necessary to retain power, keep the people in subjection, and leave his name in the history of Rome.
There is a version that it was at that time that a saying arose about the fact that people demand bread and circuses. The Colosseum was called upon to give all this to the Romans, and the idea was realized thanks to the victory over the Jews: the Romans ravaged the religious complex "Temple Mount", drove thousands of captives, who later worked on the construction site.
How the Colosseum was built
The construction of the Colosseum began by Vespasianus Flavius in 72, and his son Titus finished in 80. The building could accommodate more than 50 thousand spectators, and for that time it was a truly revolutionary structure. During construction, there were fears that such a whopper would fall due to its own weight, and then an arched structure was invented: each tier of the arena is made of arches.
The next revolutionary invention is materials for construction. To facilitate construction, the Romans learned to make red bricks and concrete. In the organization of construction, a conveyor was used, which was not available anywhere before.
The result was a huge arena where most of the life of the townspeople and rulers took place: there were gladiator fights, fights with wild animals, theatrical mysteries, jesters' performances, and even the distribution of money and food to the poor. The Colosseum, located in the center of Rome, has become a common center of attraction.
In 404, gladiatorial fights were banned by Emperor Honorius. And in 523, the last games were held, which included the baiting of wild animals. Starting from the 6th century, the forces of the elements began to destroy the Colosseum, and now you can see its ruins, but they also impress the imagination with their size and monumental beauty.
It is still a symbol of Rome, the main attraction and one of the most popular tourist destinations. Now the Colosseum is being reconstructed, and soon it can be expected that it will appear in all its splendor.
How to get to the Colosseum
With a ticket, which costs 12 euros, and gives the right to visit the Colosseum and two other attractions - Forum and Palatine for two days. There is always a long queue at the Colosseum, so it is better to buy a ticket at the Forum, Palatine, or on the official website of the Colosseum, which provides for an additional payment of 2 euros, but it saves a lot of time
Colosseum address: Italy, Rome, Colosseum Square, 1 (Piazza del Colosseo, 1). The most convenient metro access: Get off at Colosseo station and walk a little.
