The Colosseum in Rome is a piece of architecture that has captured the imagination of humanity for generations. Although marble was taken from the Colosseum by popes and other similar figures in the years after it had fallen into disuse in order to build other buildings, the outward look of the Colosseum is still one of a building created to be massively large. The impressive size of the Colosseum makes it a striking image to the eye; and, passers by still stare in amazement at this impressive architectural feat, a building that has lasted almost two thousand years after its initial construction. According to Frank Sear (2007), "The Colosseum dominates the Flavian period. It was the biggest amphitheatre of its age or age, and has come almost to sum up Roman architectural achievement" (134).
[...] A look at the Colosseum reveals a large amount of information concerning the society, culture, mores, background, traditions, and civilization of Ancient Rome. Ancient Rome was not only a hierarchical civilization, but also one whose authority, supremacy, and influence covered the ancient world. The hypogeum, which can still be viewed by the Colosseum's modern guests today, holds a wealth of information concerning Ancient Roman architecture as well as the intricacies of gladiatorial events and many aspects of Roman culture. Anyone looking for information on the subject of Ancient Rome will find a whole host of secrets hidden in this large concrete creation, it's underground, it's outward decorations, and it's vaulted passageways. [...]
[...] The Colosseum was a structure that was not only a symbol of the power that emperors like Vespasian had, but also a symbol of the privilege and statues individual people within ancient Roman society possessed. The gladiators and animals, all of which were performing for the entertainment of Ancient Rome's populace on the lowest level of Ancient Rome's Colosseum, were completely expendable. Gladiators who were injured within Ancient Rome's Colosseum received the best medical care the ancient world could manage, but many lost their lives for the pleasure, entertainment, and enjoyment of the people of Ancient Rome. [...]
[...] In terms of the configuration of ancient Roman society, studying the interior seating of the famous structure of the Emperor Vespasian's Flavian Amphitheater can be unbelievably telling, and it does reveal some noteworthy realities. With regards to the gladiatorial combat inside the Colosseum, the effort involved in training, feeding, and caring for the animals as well as the gladiators were all tasks which brought a lot of industry into the local area. The gladiatorial training school near the Colosseum was known as the Ludus Magnus. [...]
[...] The poorest class of Roman citizenry sat on the highest tiers of the Colosseum and the richest classes of Romans had spaces in the lowest tiers of the Colossuem. As far as the Flavian Amphitheater went, being a wealthy person in ancient Roman times certainly did guarantee good seats at gladiatorial events. Emperors in later times added spaces on the very top tiers for more ordinary, regular poor people as well as classes of people like women and slaves. Something that many people might not be aware of is that people who were former gladiators were completely banned from the Colosseum as spectators. [...]
[...] A unique piece of information that concerns the Colosseum is the fact that a lake previously occupied the area that the ancient Roman Colosseum still sits upon today. Emperor Vespasian filled the lake in before embarking upon the creation of his famous masterpiece. According to Frank Sear (2007), new Emperor was a blunt, down-to-earth man whose solid middle-class character is well reflected in contemporary portrait busts. He was a man of the people and also proved to be a shrewd politician. [...]
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