Colosseum
and the Roman Forum
Colosseum, was an
amphi-theatre of very impressive proportions,
between the Esquiline and Caelians Hills of Rome. The ruins that can be
seen
today represent the architectural genius of Romans and as well are a
reminder
of their cruelty. Human beings and animals were mercilessly killed for
the
pleasure of the emperor.
The
colosseum was built on
the
of a lake in Emperor Nero's famous landscaped gardens of his golden
House, the
'Domus Aurea'. Though the building work was started was started during
the
reign of Vespasian, it was finished ten years later by Titus, the next
king.
Its opening ceremony lasted 100 days, during which thousands of people
and
animals were killed.
The
size and design is the
architectural work of a genius. It was oval in shape. 617 feet long and
512
feet wide and 1729 feet in circumference. The exterior wall was
187 feet
high and faced with white travertine stone. Only a part of this wall
remains
today.
There
were four storeys;
each of the lower three had eighty arches
separated by piers bearing decorative columns. The arches on the second
and
third storey contained statues of Roman Gods. The top storey wall
supported great masts with huge canvases attached to them. These
provided shade
in the summer days.
The
central arena itself,
an
oval measuring 289 feet by 180 feet, was covered in sand to soak up
blood.
Under it were changing rooms and animal pens. When filled to capacity,
the
Colosseum held over 50,000 people. 45,000 seated and 5000 standing. In
the
middle of the long curve on the north side was a raised platform for
the
emperor's box.
Colosseum
is a masterpiece of architecture but
it will always bear the stigma of cruelty, degradation and shame of the
Roman
emperors. Near the Colosseum is the famous 'Roman Forum' - a
meeting place
for Romans and a centre for religion art, law and commerce. Surrounding
the
Forum is the Temple of Vesta, Temple of Saturn, and Temple of Castor a
Polux
and the temple built to rulers like Caesar, Antonius Pius.