The Colosseum is the eternal symbol of Rome. Who built the Colosseum and when?

The Colosseum is the most recognizable landmark of Rome. Its outlines are often depicted on postcards, but only those who visit the capital of Italy will be able to see other angles and even wander inside. For almost two millennia, this amphitheater has been attracting spectators and tourists to its walls. The name "Colosseum" in Latin means "huge", "colossal". This is how it seemed to the ancient Romans, but even today its greatness is difficult to underestimate. In addition to its considerable size, the historical and cultural significance Colosseum.

Historical facts

Emperor Vespasian (9-79 AD), founder of the Flavian dynasty, was distinguished by his great love of architecture. During his reign, many ancient temples were restored and new majestic structures were built. In 72, he decided to perpetuate his dynasty and instructed the builders to build the largest amphitheater that existed at that time.

Construction was very widespread near the border of the Forum. To quickly complete the work, a huge army of workers was brought in. It housed about 100,000 people, most of whom were prisoners or slaves. In just 8 years, the Roman Colosseum in Italy was completed and fully satisfied the emperor's expectations.

For several centuries, the amphitheater remained the most important structure for the Romans. It was a constant reminder of the creator; until the middle of the 8th century, people called it not the Colosseum, but the Flavian Amphitheater. Impromptu performances and fights between gladiators and wild animals were regularly held in the arena. Later, executions of the first Christians began in the arena. Such fame led to the desolation of the Colosseum. Emperor Constantine I banned entertainment events on a stage with a bloody history. For several centuries it fell into disrepair and was used only as memorial place, where the first Christian martyrs were killed.

Until the beginning of the 18th century, no one paid attention to the technical condition of the Colosseum. It gradually collapsed, the ceilings rotted, and residents dismantled individual stones to build their own houses. Part of the building disappeared from the face of the earth forever. Only in the 19th century did the ministers of the Catholic Church decide to begin the restoration of the Colosseum in order to preserve at least the external outlines ancient monument stories for posterity.

It took several decades, as well as knowledge in the fields of history, architecture and art, for the amphitheater to acquire the appearance that tourists see now.

How does the Colosseum work?

Scientists suggest that the modern Colosseum is only a third of the one that graced Rome several centuries ago. During numerous performances, 50,000 spectators could sit in the stands and there were still 18,000 standing places left.

To make the structure lighter, and therefore reduce the load on the foundation, 240 huge arched openings were built in the walls, which were located in 3 tiers. The inside of the arches is made of oval brick coated with concrete, and the outside is finished with travertine. The length of the walls is 524 m with a width of 156 m and a height of 57 m. Terracotta bricks were first used during the construction of the Colosseum. The entire structure required almost a million bricks.

Later, another continuous tier was built above the stands. There are still holes in its walls for the sticks that supported the awning. This made it more convenient to protect yourself from the scorching sun or rain. There are also details whose purpose has not yet been figured out. Thus, small pillars on the pavement could serve as barriers for the crowd or as the basis for another awning.

Along the walls were the interior spaces of the Colosseum. The vaulted galleries could house traders and places for spectators to rest. Although there are a lot of arches in the tiers, each of them is unique. The angle to the sun and the interior design differ.

The first tier contained 76 passages for citizens. Each of them has its own Roman numbering. Many arches made it possible to speed up the movement of spectators and reduce crowding in the aisles. Even a large crowd was completely seated or out of the Colosseum in just 5-10 minutes.

The supports deserve special attention, each of which differs in design style. They gave the amphitheater additional lightness. The columns of the first tier look the heaviest; these are Doric stone sculptures. The second tier features Ionic concrete columns, while the third tier features lightweight Corinthian piers with leaf moldings. It is assumed that sculptures were installed under the arches of the upper tiers, but the remains of at least one of them have not yet been discovered.

The arena itself has an oval shape, which made it impossible for the combatants to hide in the corner from a sharp spear or blade. The floor was made of planks, which made it possible to quickly replace the covering or add water for a naval battle. Cages for prisoners and predators appeared much later. An underground turning system and other communications were installed under the stage. The wooden floors have not survived to this day, but the destruction opened up the opportunity to study the underground plan well.

For many years, tourists could only view the Colosseum at night, but over time, scientists became eager to increase its popularity. After long reconstructions, comprehensive excursion tours were developed for everyone who wanted to get to know the ancient structure better.

The grandeur of the Roman Colosseum

It was here that the phrase “Bread and Circuses” was shouted from the stands. For centuries, spectators have rejoiced in bloody performances, deciding the fate of animals or people. The Colosseum's repertoire included a rich program of massacres and duels. The first protesters against cruel performances appeared at the beginning of the 5th century, but the majority continued to enjoy cruel performances. On one occasion, spectators even stoned the monk Telemachus in response to his protests against bloodshed.

Since 521, fighting and fights with animals were stopped. The popularity of the Colosseum remained in the past, but the great building continued to remain a symbol of the Roman Empire. They said that as long as the Colosseum stands, Rome will stand.

Tourist information

A few years ago you could get to the Colosseum at any time of the day. This freed the hands of some attackers and made it difficult to control the safety of the monument. Since then, security has been increased and the following operating mode has been established:

• 9:00-19:00 (from April to October);
• 9:00-16:00 (from November to March).

In the evenings, excellent illumination turns on around the Colosseum, so wandering around the amphitheater is interesting even at dusk.

To get inside the Colosseum you need to pay 12 euros. Discounts are available for children, students and pensioners. There is a long queue for tickets in the morning, so it is advisable to buy them in advance at special ticket offices or on the official website: www.the-colosseum.net.

How to get there

To see the Colosseum, you need to come to the Colosseum Square in Rome. You can make the journey by metro, tram No. 3 or bus routes No. 60, 85, 175, 271, 850. The stop has the same name as the attraction itself.

Many historical monuments have been preserved, but the most extraordinary of them is the Colosseum, in which people doomed to death desperately fought and died for the entertainment of free citizens of Rome. It became the largest and most famous of all Roman amphitheatres, and one of the greatest masterpieces of Roman engineering and architecture that has survived to this day. The building had 80 entrances and exits and could seat approximately 50,000 spectators - more than most sports venues today, a testament to its greatness almost 2,000 years after its completion. Having eclipsed with its grandeur the ruins of the Roman Forum (the central square in Ancient Rome), the Pantheon and other attractions of the city, the Roman Colosseum will forever remind visitors of the inhuman past, when the thirst for blood brought spectators to the stands of this building, and nothing disturbed them so much as deprivation person of life.

The Colosseum is Italy's most famous and most visited tourist attraction, the world's largest structure built during the Roman Empire. It is considered one of the greatest structures in the world of engineering and architecture, an iconic symbol of the Roman Empire during its greatest period of power, and the most famous and instantly recognizable monument preserved from antiquity. Even in modern world The skyscrapers of the Colosseum are impressive. It is a glorious and at the same time mournful monument to Roman imperial power and its cruelty. Inside, behind close-knit rows of arches and columns, the Romans for centuries coolly watched the murder of tens of thousands of condemned criminals, captured warriors, slaves, and animals. Almost two thousand years later, it still attracts great interest from visitors.

History of the Colosseum

The Colosseum was originally called the Flavian Amphitheatre. His modern name(Colosseum in English) is derived from the word colossus, meaning a huge statue (there was a huge statue of Nero next to the Colosseum, which disappeared without a trace in the Middle Ages). As befits the largest city in the empire, it became the largest amphitheater in the Roman world, capable of seating 50,000 spectators. In total, there were more than 250 of them in the Roman Empire - it is not surprising that the amphitheater and associated spectacles were the main symbols of Roman culture.

Unlike most other amphitheaters, located on the outskirts of the city, the Colosseum was built in the very center of Rome. It was the product of the uncontrollable extravagance of the Roman emperor Vespasian (69-79), who decided to strengthen his position by building an amphitheater at the expense of the huge booty obtained as a result of suppressing the Jewish uprising. The construction, which began in 72, was completed by Emperor Titus in 80. The grand opening of the Colosseum was accompanied by gladiator fights, hunting wild animals and naumachia (reproduction of a naval battle in a flooded arena), the games continued for 97 days.

Emperor Domitian (81-96) significantly modernized the structure, built a series of underground tunnels in which animals and gladiators were kept before entering the arena, and also added a fourth tier, significantly increasing the capacity.

Unlike a circle, the elliptical shape of the Colosseum, measuring 83x48 meters, prevented fighting gladiators from retreating into a corner and gave spectators the opportunity to be closer to the action. This design has been inherited by almost every modern sports facility in the world.

The Colosseum's honeycomb structure of arches, passages and staircases allowed thousands of people to easily take their seats and watch the deadly spectacle. It is strikingly different from most ancient public buildings, inherited from the classical model of Greek temples with their rectangular rows of columns topped by pediments.

History of the Colosseum after construction

With the spread of Christianity, the killing of people within the walls of the amphitheater stopped, and the last hunt for animals took place around 523. But the main reason that put an end to the games was the military and financial crisis in the western part of the empire, accompanied by numerous barbarian invasions. The amphitheater required enormous expenses for organizing the games, and in the absence of them, the need for the existence of the Colosseum disappeared.
With the glory of imperial Rome having sunk into history, the purpose of the Colosseum has changed. No longer a place for entertainment, it was used as a home, a fortress and a religious monastery at various times. It ceased to serve as an arena for the entertainment of bloodthirsty Roman citizens, and began to suffer from earthquakes and the barbaric attitude of the people, who stripped off the rich marble cladding and bricks to build palaces and churches. The famous Cathedrals of St. Peter and St. John the Baptist on the Lateran Hill, Palazzo Venezia were built using brick and marble from the Colosseum. As a result of 2000 years of wars, earthquakes, vandalism and the inexorable action of time, two thirds of the original structure was destroyed. From former glory The Colosseum remains only a shadow of its former appearance, the famous ruins. The amphitheater's reputation as a sacred place where Christian martyrs met their fate saved the Colosseum from complete destruction (but the legend that Christians were sacrificed to lions here is considered unfounded by historians).

In 1749, Pope Benedict XIV declared the Colosseum a public church. From that moment on, the barbaric removal of stones from the walls of the amphitheater finally stopped. The building began to be restored, and since then reconstruction has continued intermittently until today.

Organization of games at the Colosseum

Invented in the Roman Empire, the amphitheater served as a venue for spectacular fights, the most popular of which were venationes (animal hunting) and munera (gladiator fights). In the first years after the opening of the Colosseum, naumachia (sea battles) was extremely popular. The Roman ruling class was obliged, according to the generally accepted concepts of the time, to organize spectacles in order to earn the respect and favor of ordinary citizens of the empire and to maintain public peace. All free citizens of Rome had the right to visit the amphitheater.

Organizing the games required enormous costs and was regulated by numerous laws. In the first century AD, the emperors created the Ratio a muneribus, something like a “Ministry of Games,” which had the necessary financial resources to organize games.

For the Romans, visiting the Colosseum became not only a way of relaxation and entertainment, but also a meeting place for people belonging to different classes. Roman society was divided into classes, and the amphitheater became a place where the public could meet and even address the emperor.

Gladiators

Gladiators usually became prisoners of war who did not have any rights under Roman law, whose lives were of no value to the state, slaves and those sentenced to death. death penalty criminals. Prisoners of war were trained in gladiator schools for performances in the arena of the Colosseum and other amphitheaters. When there was a shortage of gladiators, runaway slaves began to be sent to schools. They fought on a common basis, and after three years they stopped their performances in the arena. This distinguished the slaves from the condemned criminals who fought in the Colosseum without any hope of survival, like those condemned to ad bestias (to be torn to pieces by wild beasts) or ad gladium ludi damnati (condemned to death by the sword). In the latter case, one armed gladiator killed a disarmed enemy, then he himself found himself disarmed and became the victim of another armed gladiator, and so on, until the last convicted criminal remained.

Beginning in the first century AD, free citizens of Rome (auctorati) voluntarily became gladiators and fought in the Colosseum arena as professionals. These free citizens began their gladiator careers by submitting completely to Lanista's demands. The lanista in the Roman world was considered the most disgusting profession (even below pimps or executioners), had the power of life and death over gladiators, who were required to take an oath of complete obedience as a prerequisite for admission to the school. The gladiator swore to "suffer punishment with a whip, a brand, or accept death by the sword." Such terrible punishments were intended to suppress any hint of disobedience and instilled the belief that overcoming any challenge was the only means of their survival. The public demanded professional spectacles, so training took several years before entering the arena. On last stage During the existence of the Roman Empire, about half of all gladiators were free citizens of Rome.

The gladiators fighting in the arena of the Colosseum were armed equally: a warrior better equipped with offensive weapons had fewer means of defense, or vice versa. The fighting techniques adhered to the traditional battle script, the fight was a show of skill well known to the public, who expected a professional performance. Spectators could approve or disapprove of the gladiators' maneuvers, as we do today when we watch sport games, for example, football. The public did not tolerate monotony and imitation, and highly valued courage and displays of bravery.

In 73 BC, about 70 gladiators under the leadership of Spartacus fled from the school of Capua, created an army of 90,000 people, and for three years the largest slave uprising raged on the territory of the Roman Empire. After the revolt was suppressed, the Roman Senate took measures to avoid such incidents. A garrison of soldiers stood near each school, delivering weapons there every morning and taking them back in the evening. In case of the slightest disturbance, the soldiers intervened immediately. Schools were considered quite safe, so they were located inside cities. Those held in custody could not escape, and they could only hope to save their lives by fighting valiantly in the arena of the Colosseum in order to attract the attention of influential aristocrats, gain their sympathy and gain their freedom.

Visit to the Colosseum

Games in the Colosseum were considered the privilege of only free citizens (slaves were not allowed), but tickets were not sold for them. Various communities, fraternities, partnerships, leagues, unions, associations and the like had reserved seats in the amphitheater in accordance with their role and rank in society. Those who were not members of any society tried to find a patron and get a place from him on the basis of an invitation. This tradition was observed for a long period of time. Not only in the amphitheater, but also in the circus or theater, each category of citizens was provided with certain places.
All spectators were required to dress appropriately: male citizens must wear a toga. Citizens who did not enjoy a good reputation - bankrupt, depraved or wasteful persons - sat together with the plebs in the upper ranks. In ancient times, even single women were allowed access to the Colosseum. Drinking alcohol in the stands was prohibited; the writer Lampridius criticized Emperor Commodus when he sometimes drank alcohol.

On game day, spectators arrived very early, and some even slept in the Coliseum. To enter the room, spectators presented a tessera (invitation). Tessera was a small plate or cube of marble, which, like today's tickets, indicated the exact location of its owner (sector, row, place). Each seat in the stands had a number. People sat on wooden planks set on marble stones, while the Roman aristocracy sat on more comfortable upholstered seats. The poor, including women, were located on the top tier.

Spectators walked to their seats through arches marked with numbers I - LXXVI (1-76). The four main entrances were not numbered. The best seats were on or behind the podium, which was raised 5 meters above the arena for safety reasons.

Modern scholars argue that the layout of the sites reflected the social hierarchy of Roman society. The two lowest tiers (that is, the most prestigious) stands could accommodate 2,000 and 12,000 spectators, respectively. On the upper tiers of the Colosseum, spectators were crowded together like sardines in a can, each of them having an average of 40x70 cm of space.

The Colosseum arena was covered with a 15 cm thick layer of sand (the Latin word for sand is spelled “arena”), sometimes painted red to hide the spilled blood. And, as seen in Ridley Scott's film "Gladiator", holes opened from below, from where wild animals were released into the arena.

Naumachia

Navachia was a reproduction of famous naval battles, the participants of which, as a rule, were criminals sentenced to death, and sometimes simply trained warriors and sailors. Such shows (mostly held in Rome) were extremely expensive. The ships were no different from warships and maneuvered in battle like real ones. The Romans called such spectacles navalia proelia (sea battles), but the Greek word naumachia (naumachia) became famous - a term indicating that the spectacle took place in a specially equipped place.

Naumachia often tried to recreate famous historical battles, such as the Greek victory over the Persians at the Battle of Salamis, or the destruction of the Athenian fleet at Aegospotami. During the show, the sequence of historical events that took place was followed, and the audience received great pleasure from the skill of the warriors and their equipment.

Sources claim that the naumachia was installed in the Colosseum immediately after grand opening amphitheater During the reign of Emperor Domitian (81-96), a system of tunnels was built under the arena and the naumachia was abolished.

Animal hunting

Hunting scenes were extremely popular in the Colosseum and other amphitheaters of the empire. This was the only chance for the Romans to see wild animals unfamiliar to them in those days. At the very beginning, hunting of wild animals was demonstrated in the morning, as a prelude to gladiatorial battles. In the last period of the republic, hunting in the arena was organized in broad daylight, sometimes lasting several days. All types of wild animals - elephants, bears, bulls, lions, tigers - were captured throughout the empire, transported and kept for the day of the games.

To ensure the safety of spectators in the Colosseum, the height of the fence around the arena was 5 meters. Most of the pairings were classic: lion versus tiger, bull or bear. Sometimes the pairs were clearly unequal: dogs or lions were released on deer, in this case the outcome was predictable. To break the monotony, the Romans resorted to strange combinations of animals: bear versus python, crocodile versus lion, seal versus bear, and so on. Sometimes the animals were chained to the Colosseum arena to prevent them from maneuvering.

Most martial arts were animals against trained men (venatores) armed with spears. Animal hunting has become extremely popular among wealthy citizens. The venatores involved in this type of fighting became so famous that their names can still be read on some mosaics and graffiti.

A huge number of wild animals died in the Colosseum arena (sources say that 9,000 animals were killed in the first days of opening alone). Even if this figure is exaggerated, we can say with confidence that a large number of animals died for fun in the arenas of Roman amphitheaters. Bears were captured in Caledonia (Scotland) and Pannonia (now Hungary and Austria); lions and panthers - in the province of Numidia in Africa (currently Algeria and Tunisia), tigers in Persia, crocodiles and rhinoceroses in India.

Capturing animals and transporting them in good condition over thousands of kilometers was extremely expensive. The animals had to be caught alive, and this posed the main danger. The animals were caught in traps, put in cages, and fed all the way to their destination to ensure they arrived in good condition. The hunt for large animals is reflected in numerous mosaics and paintings depicting the search, capture, transportation, and finally the kill. The costs were enormous, so the provinces of the Roman Empire were subject to special taxes so that Rome could organize hunting in the amphitheater arenas.

Tourism

Today the Colosseum is Rome's main tourist attraction, welcoming millions of tourists every year. Thanks to the reconstruction carried out in 2010, for the first time in modern history The amphitheater opens to the public the underground tunnels in which once shackled gladiators waited to enter the arena. Also restored and reopened (for the first time since 1970) was the third tier of the Colosseum, from where Rome's middle class watched the desperate battles in the arena. Tours are for groups of 25 people and must be booked in advance. The wooden walkway in the center that you see in the last photo is the result of the latest renovation.

Although the Colosseum has lost its former grandeur, it is still used for various events. From time to time the Pope holds services here. Famous performers held their concerts under the shadow of the ancient monument: Paul McCartney, Elton John, Ray Charles, Billy Joel. On July 7, 2007, it was included in the list of one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, the only European nominee.

Emperor Vespasian, who ascended the throne of the Roman Empire in 69 AD, spent enormous amounts of money on the restoration of religious buildings (such as, for example, the Capitol). But in 72, he decided to take on a more ambitious project and commissioned the best builders in the region to build the Flavian Amphitheater, which would forever leave the mark of his dynasty in world culture. Vespasian also had an ulterior motive. The foundation of the Colosseum was laid on the site of a lake near the Golden House of Nero, the predecessor and enemy of the new ruler. Such construction completely erased traces of its existence from the map of Rome.

According to historians, about 100 thousand workers took part in the construction of the amphitheater, most of whom were prisoners of war and slaves. After eight years of grueling and non-stop work, the Colosseum was completely completed and approved by the emperor.

During the first centuries of its existence, the building really occupied a huge place in the life of the Romans and always reminded them of its founder, since until the 8th century it was called the Flavian amphitheater. Gladiator fights, animal battles and festive performances were regularly held here. Except entertainment events, executions were also carried out here, which served as the reason for the cessation of use of the Colosseum by Emperor Constantine I. Throughout the Middle Ages, this religious building was either completely ignored by the authorities, or was used as a memorial site in honor of early Christians who died as martyrs. All this led to the fact that until the 18th century, no one thought about the need for reconstruction and restoration of the Colosseum, and many of its parts were irretrievably destroyed.

IN late XIX century, the Catholic Church decided to resume work around the amphitheater in order to preserve as many of the surviving elements as possible. Thanks to this change in attitude towards the monument, the Colosseum began to attract the attention of historians, architects and art historians, who over the course of several decades were able to turn the once forgotten building into a symbol of European civilization.

In 2007, the New Open World Corporation held a competition in which residents around the world were able to vote and choose those structures that, in their opinion, deserve the title of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The first place was taken by the Colosseum, which became the only attraction on the list that represents the heritage of European culture.

Structure and architecture of the Colosseum

According to approximate estimates of scientists, the modern Colosseum represents only one third of the original building, but even this fact does not in any way detract from the greatness of the structure. At the beginning of our era, when all the inhabitants of Rome flocked to the Colosseum to watch the next gladiator fight or theatrical performance, 50 thousand spectators could easily fit in the seats around the arena, and up to 18 thousand could watch the performances standing. These days, the capacity of the Colosseum is much smaller, but this does not stop thousands of guests from coming to the iconic place.

An ingenious solution that significantly lightened the construction: 240 huge arches in three tiers, externally lined with travertine, surround a concrete-brick ellipse, the length of the walls of which is 524 m, width - 156 m, height - 57 m. This was a revolution in world construction: the invention of concrete and terracotta bricks. About 1 million pieces were required for the Colosseum building.

The fourth continuous tier was added later. Nowadays, on its cornice you can see holes where supports were inserted for quick stretching a huge tent over the arena and amphitheater. It protected spectators from rain and scorching sun. On the pavement of the Colosseum you can see pillars, the purpose of which is still controversial. According to one version, tent ropes were additionally attached to them; according to another, the 5 remaining pedestals served as turnstiles to contain and organize the crowd.

Inside the ancient amphitheater there were vaulted galleries - places for spectators to rest and for brisk trade. At first glance, there are so many “leaky” arches that they resemble numerous honeycombs in a bee hive, but at the same time there is no monotony among them. Each one turns out to be at a slightly different angle both to the sun and to the viewer, so the shadows fall on the arches differently. Please note - they are uniform, but not ordinary!

The first tier of the Colosseum contains 76 spans through which one could enter the amphitheater. Above them you can still see Roman numerals for numbering the entrances. This is not typical a large number of arches made it possible to significantly increase the capacity of the amphitheater - if necessary, spectators could leave the Colosseum in 5-10 minutes. There are no buildings with such an architectural organization anywhere in the world today!

Another interesting idea to facilitate the construction of the Colosseum was the supports different styles, which, in addition to protecting against collapse, made the structure look more airy. In the first tier, the heaviest, made of stone, there are half-columns of the Doric order, in the second (concrete) - Ionic, and on the third - Corinthian, with elegant capitals decorated with foliage.

It was believed that the openings of the second and third tiers were decorated with statues made of white marble. However, not a single one of them was found, which caused historians to debate whether they actually existed or were only in the project.

The elliptical shape of the arena did not give either gladiators or doomed animals a chance to hide from the bloodshed by huddling in a corner. The floor of the arena was paved with boards, which were easily removed when it was necessary to flood the place where the naval battles were being performed. Slave cells, animal cages and other service rooms were built later, in the basement under the arena, as well as a complex system of turning stages and other devices that created special effects during performances. Most of interior decoration not preserved. However, despite the destruction, you can get a good look at the structure of the premises under the arena. It is possible that the animals, gladiators and backstage members were lifted into the arena by freight elevators.

It is curious that for a long time tourists visited the amphitheater exclusively at night to admire the beautiful lighting of the building. But scientists wanted to restore the Colosseum’s historical glory and developed exciting sightseeing tours. With their stories, the guides try to immerse listeners as much as possible in the atmosphere of bygone times, when the foundation of the Flavian amphitheater was just being laid, thereby allowing them to see something more than ancient ruins.

Meal'n'Real!

Panem et circenses, “bread and circuses” - this is the motto of the grandiose amphitheater in the city center for centuries! People not only wanted to be well-fed: they craved entertainment. And the Colosseum provided them with a rich program of mortal combat and bloody carnage.

The first recorded protest against violent arena performances dates back to 404 AD, when the monk Telemachus jumped up from his seat on the podium screaming, demanding that the fight be called off. Enraged spectators stoned him to death. The last gladiator fights and baiting of animals were staged in 523, after which the Colosseum fell into disrepair. In the 7th century one monk wrote: “As long as the Colosseum stands, Rome stands. The Colosseum will fall and Rome will fall with it.”

Video: Aria – Colosseum

Opening hours and ticket prices

More recently, the approach to the Colosseum was open around the clock. But the authorities of the Italian capital realized that this could negatively affect the condition of the building and hastened to install security. Now the amphitheater is open only for daytime visits from 9:00 to 19:00 in the summer (April-October) and from 9:00 to 16:00 in the winter (November-March). But don’t despair if you weren’t able to get here during daylight hours, because in this case, the city planners decorated the outer walls with beautiful illumination, which is the highlight of Rome at night.

There are only two days off per year when tourists cannot visit the attraction - December 25 and January 1.

Entrance and excursion program will cost 12 € for an adult visitor and 7 € for a child (+2 € for exhibition events). Schoolchildren, students and pensioners have the opportunity to purchase a discounted ticket, but to do this they must have the appropriate documents with them. The purchase itself can be a little problematic. The fact is that most tourists decide to pay for admission at the walls of the Colosseum itself, which is why long lines form at the ticket office by 10:00.

If you want to save your time and money, order tickets on the complex’s website or purchase them at pre-sale points. In the latter case, you can obtain a document that allows you to visit several attractions at once.

Order online – www.pierreci.it (service available in Italian and English) and www.ticketdic.it (available in Italian, English and French) - 10.50€, 12.50€ (with exhibition). A single ticket - with the Palatine Museum, the Roman Forum - is valid for 24 hours from the date of purchase.

Information center phone number: 399 67 700.

How to get to the Colosseum

Most often, international flights land at Leonardo da Vinci Airport, which all Italians call Fiumicino. It is located 20 km from Rome itself, but this short distance is not so easy to overcome given the intensity traffic towards the capital of Italy.

Very often, tourists travel from the airport to the city by train, which departs from one of the terminals. The ticket costs 14 euros and the journey takes about 35 minutes. But in this case, it is worth considering that you will only get to the city station, from which you will have to go to the hotel by another means of transport.

If you are going big company, the most logical thing would be to take a taxi near the airport walls. These are white cars with the signature “Comune di Roma”, which are the property of the city, which means they have fixed tariffs. The minimum cost of the trip is 40 €, and then depends on the location of the hotel.

In addition, several bus companies operate regular services from the airport to various parts cities. The cost of a trip on such transport can vary from 9 € to 20 €, so it is worth familiarizing yourself with the price list in advance on the website of the company you are interested in.

Once you're finally in Rome, getting to the Colosseum isn't too difficult. The majestic amphitheater is located at the Colosseo metro station of the same name in the very center of the city. The ticket price is 1€ and allows you to travel by underground transport for 75 minutes.

Bus numbers going to the Colosseum: 60, 75, 81, 85, 117, 175, 271, 571, 673, 810, 850. There is also tram number 3.

Address: Piazza del Colosseo.

The Colosseum or Flavian Amphitheater is a grandiose structure in the form of an amphitheater, built in the center of Rome by representatives of the Flavian dynasty in 72-80 AD. e. The main purpose of this construction masterpiece was the communication of the emperor with the people. It was accompanied by majestic and bloody spectacles of gladiatorial battles. The first of these was held in 80, and the arena was used for various competitions until 523. After this, spectacular events, on the initiative of the Roman senator and patrician Anicius Maximus, were prohibited due to their high cost.

The Colosseum today

Construction of the Colosseum

The construction of the Flavian amphitheater was preceded by the 14-year despotic reign of Emperor Nero. It ended in 68. The emperor committed suicide, and after that the Civil War. It lasted a year and a half, and its culmination was the rise to power of Emperor Vespasian, who laid the foundation for the Flavian dynasty.

The new ruler needed the support of the people, and therefore required popular measures that could arouse admiration and veneration. At that time, the center of Rome was occupied by Nero's huge palace, which was called the Golden House. It included an unfinished palace, a park, and an artificial lake. They decided to erect government institutions on this territory, fill up the lake and build an amphitheater in its place. As planned, it was supposed to serve for the entertainment of free citizens of Rome. Thus, Vespasian wanted to emphasize that he was not a usurper, but a ruler who cared about the welfare of his subjects.

It should be noted that all amphitheaters in Ancient Rome were built on the outskirts of cities. And the Colosseum was the only one of its kind, which was erected in the very center of the capital. As a result of this, it acquired a special status, and began to be considered a meeting place for emperors and their citizens.

The grandiose construction was preceded by military operations in Judea. There, rich spoils were taken from the Jewish temple. It was they who became the source of financing for construction work. The workforce consisted of slaves. Their number reached 100 thousand people. They did all the hard work handmade. And they were led by professional builders from citizens of Rome. In addition, artists, decorators, and sculptors took part in the work.

All work began in 72, and by 79 3 floors were erected. The fourth floor or level was completed under Emperor Titus in 80. Under the next emperor Domitian, a dungeon was built. It consisted of rows of underground rooms in which slaves and animals were kept. They were lifted into the arena using special lifts. And they appeared as if from underground, which created an additional effect. An overhead gallery was also added to increase capacity.

This is what the Colosseum looked like under the Flavians

Architectural features

The Colosseum was a free-standing structure and shaped like an ellipse. This ellipse was 189 meters long and 156 meters wide. The original perimeter reached 545 meters. The central arena was 87 meters long and 55 meters wide. The arena was surrounded by a 5 meter high wall. Above it there were seats for spectators. The height of the outer wall of the amphitheater was 48 meters.

The amphitheater could accommodate 65 thousand people at a time, although the ancient Romans themselves called the number equal to 87 thousand people. Therefore, numerous entrances were provided along the perimeter. There were 80 of them in total. Each entrance had its own number. Citizens of Rome bought tickets in the form of shards, each with an entry number. Thanks to this, seats were filled in just 30 minutes.

There was a main northern entrance for the emperor and his entourage. In addition, there were 3 more entrances for the nobility. All of them were richly decorated with painted stucco bas-reliefs. The remaining entrances were intended for the general Roman public. Most of the entrances disappeared with the collapse of the perimeter wall. In our time, entrances 23 and 54 have been preserved.

The entire building structure rested on a foundation 13 meters thick. The outer wall was made of travertine stones. They were fastened not with mortar, but with iron staples. In general, the construction project had a relatively small weight, since its main share was occupied by arches decorated inside with statues.

The Colosseum in a section with underground structures

The arena was a wooden floor covered with sand. Under the arena there was a complex underground structure consisting of 2 levels. This is a network of tunnels and cages under the arena. Gladiators and animals were placed in cages before the competition began. There were 80 lifts. Thanks to them, animals and decorations were instantly delivered upstairs. The animals entered the underground cages through underground tunnels connected to rooms located outside the Colosseum. The lifts were special elevators that were driven by a whole system of pulleys.

There is evidence of large hydraulic mechanisms associated with the water supply network. With their help, it was possible to quickly flood the arena with water and simulate naval battles.

The seats for spectators were made of stone. They were divided into tiers. And each tier was intended for a specific class. The first tier had 20 rows of benches. Representatives of the city authorities and the equestrian class sat on them. There were 16 rows in the second tier. Wealthy Roman citizens sat there.

Next there was a high wall separating the second tier from the third. The third tier seats were positioned more steeply to improve the view of the arena. These places were also intended for Roman citizens, but only of the lower class. The fourth tier was built under Domitian. Visitors, slaves and the poorest citizens of Rome went up there, since no payment was taken for the fourth tier. But the seats there were mostly standing. There were groups of people who were not allowed into the Colosseum. These included former gladiators, funeral workers and actors.

The defeated gladiator is sentenced to death

Brief history of the Colosseum after construction

After its construction, the Flavian Amphitheater served as a place for colorful and bloody spectacles. They included gladiator fights, fights with lions and other large predators, and sea battles. Free citizens of Rome gladly attended such events. In addition, the emperor was constantly present there. At the end of the gladiatorial battles, it was he who decided whether the defeated opponents should live or not. But at the same time, the head of the empire was always guided by the opinion of the audience. Having made a decision, he either raised thumb hands up, which meant life, or lowered, which meant death.

In 217, the Colosseum was damaged as a result big fire caused by lightning. He destroyed the wooden upper levels. Repair work continued until 240. Gladiatorial battles took place in the amphitheater until 435, but then they were banned because they did not correspond to the spirit of Christian morality. In 443 there was a strong earthquake and the amphitheater was badly damaged. Large restoration work was carried out in it in 484 and 508. The last animal hunt dates back to 523.

After the invasion of the barbarians, the Flavian amphitheater gradually began to fall into disrepair and collapse. At the end of the 6th century, a small chapel was built on its territory. The arena was converted into a cemetery. The tiers where the seats were located were converted into living quarters and began to be rented out. At the end of the 11th century, the wealthy Frangipani family (Roman clan) turned the Colosseum into their castle.

This is what a gladiator fight looked like from the top tier

In 1349, the amphitheater was heavily damaged by a strong earthquake. The entire southern side of it collapsed. These stones were subsequently used to build churches, hospitals, and other buildings in other areas of Rome. After this, the huge structure began to be gradually taken away for building materials. Only the northern part of the Colosseum remained untouched, as it was considered the property of the Catholic Church.

In 1749, Pope Benedict XIV declared that the Flavian Amphitheater was sacred place, since the first Christians were martyred here. But there is no evidence to support Benedict XIV's statement. Apparently people were very interested in building materials. But no one dared to disobey dad. Therefore, a large cross and altars were placed in the middle of the arena. All this was removed only in 1874. Subsequent popes also continued to care for the Colosseum. And on their orders, from time to time they carried out major repairs remaining structures.

Inside the Colosseum today

Currently, the majestic building of antiquity is considered a symbol of Rome. It is visited by a huge number of tourists every year. Concerts are regularly held near the walls, using the preserved wall of the amphitheater as a backdrop. Unfortunately, the surrounding atmosphere, polluted by exhaust gases, negatively affects the ancient structure. The last restoration work took place from 1993 to 2000. They cost 40 billion Italian lire. The amount is large, but there is nowhere to go, because current generations should not forget the history of human civilization.

Who doesn’t know the calling card of Rome, but when, by whom and for what purpose was the Colosseum built in Rome - Italy? The history of the Roman Colosseum or how it turned from the Flavian Amphitheater into the Colosseum. But too much in the history of ancient Rome does not fit together without thinking about this new wonder of the world and its origin.

One close look at the Colosseum is enough to discover that it was immediately built as an “ancient ruin.” But examples of its rather late construction are clearly visible. It is known that “The Colosseum is built of stone, concrete and brick.” Isn’t it strange that in such a supposedly very ancient building CONCRETE used? Historians may argue that concrete was invented by the “ancient” Romans more than 2 thousand years ago. But why then was it not widely used in medieval construction?

Rather, all supposedly “ancient” concrete buildings are of much more recent origin than historians think.

The Colosseum (Colloseo) was built during the reign of the emperors of Ancient Rome Titus Vespassian and his son Titus from the Flavian dynasty. Therefore, the Colosseum is also called the Flavian Amphitheater. Construction began in the 72nd century AD. e. under Vespassian, and ended in 80 under Titus. Vespassian wanted to perpetuate the memory of his dynasty and strengthen the greatness of Rome, adding to this the triumph of Titus after the suppression of the Jewish revolt.

The Colosseum was built by more than 100,000 prisoners and captives. Building stones were mined in quarries near Tivoli (now a suburb of Rome with beautiful palaces, gardens and fountains). The main building materials of all Roman buildings are travertine and marble. Red brick and concrete were used as know-how in the construction of the Colosseum. The stones were hewn and held together with steel staples to strengthen the stone blocks.

The amphitheaters of antiquity were marvels of architecture and engineering, which modern specialists continue to admire. The Colosseum Amphitheater, like other such buildings, has the shape of an ellipse, the outer length of which is 524 m. The height of the walls is 50 m. Along the major axis, the length of the stadium is 188 m, along the minor axis – 156 m. The length of the arena is 85.5 m, its width is 53.5 m. The width of the foundation is 13 m. To build such a grandiose structure, and even on the site of a dried-up lake, set Flavian engineers a number of challenges important tasks.

First, the lake had to be drained. For this purpose, a system of hydraulic drains, slopes and gutters was invented, which can still be seen today once inside the Colosseum. Drains and gutters were also used to divert storm water flowing into the sewer system ancient city.

Secondly, it was necessary to make the megastructure so strong that it would not collapse under its own weight. For this purpose, the structure was made arched. Pay attention to the image of the Colosseum - there are arches of the lower tier, above them there are arches of the middle, upper, etc. It was an ingenious solution, capable of supporting colossal weight, as well as giving the structure an appearance of lightness. Here it is necessary to mention one more advantage of arched structures. Their preparation did not require super-skilled labor. Workers were mainly involved in creating standardized arches.

Thirdly, there was the question of building materials. We have already mentioned here travertine, red brick, marble, and the use of concrete as a durable bonding mortar.

Surprisingly, the ancient architects calculated even the most favorable angle of inclination at which seats for the public should be placed. This angle is 30'. On the highest seats, the recline angle is already 35’. There were a number of other engineering and construction issues that were successfully resolved during the construction of the ancient arena.

The Flavian Amphitheater in its heyday had 64 entrances and exits, which made it possible to let the public in and out in a matter of time. This is an invention ancient world used in the construction of modern stadiums, which can simultaneously admit streams of spectators through different passages into different sections without creating a crowd. In addition, there was a well-thought-out system of corridors and steps, and people could climb the tiers to their seats very quickly. And now you can see the numbers engraved above the entrances.

The arena at the Colosseum was covered with boards. The floor level could be adjusted using engineering structures. If necessary, the boards were removed and it became possible to organize even naval battles and battles with animals. Chariot racing was not held at the Colosseum; for this purpose, the Circus Maximus was built in Rome. There were technical rooms under the arena. They could contain animals, equipment, etc.

Around the arena, behind the outer walls, in the basements, the gladiators waited to enter the arena; cages with animals were placed there, and there were rooms for the wounded and dead. All rooms were connected by a system of elevators raised on cables and chains. There are 38 elevators in the Colosseum.

The outside of the Flavian Theater was lined with marble. The entrances to the amphitheater were decorated with marble statues of gods, heroes and noble citizens. Fences were put up to hold back the onslaught of crowds trying to get inside.

Currently, inside this miracle of the ancient world, only the grandiose scale of the structure testifies to its former greatness and amazing adaptations.

The arena was surrounded by rows of seats for the public, arranged in three tiers. A special place (podium) was reserved for the emperor, members of his family, vestals (virgin priestesses) and senators.

Citizens of Rome and guests were seated on three tiers of seats, strictly according to the social hierarchy. The first tier was intended for city authorities, noble citizens, and horsemen (a type of class in Ancient Rome). On the second tier there were seats for Roman citizens. The third tier was intended for the poor. Titus completed another fourth tier. Gravediggers, actors and former gladiators were prohibited from being among the spectators.

During the performances, merchants scurried between the spectators, offering their goods and food. Special species souvenirs included details of gladiator costumes and figurines depicting the most prominent gladiators. Like the Forum, the Colosseum served as the center of social life and a place of communication for citizens.

The beginning of the destruction of the Colosseum was provoked by the invasion of barbarians in 408-410 AD, when the arena fell into disrepair and without proper maintenance. From the beginning of the 11th century until 1132, the amphitheater was used by the noble families of Rome as a fortress in the fight among themselves, the Frangipani and Annibaldi families were especially famous. Who were forced to cede the Colosseum to the English Emperor Henry VII, who handed it over to the Roman Senate.

As a result of a powerful earthquake in 1349, the Colosseum was severely damaged, and its southern part collapsed. After this event, the ancient arena began to be used for mining building material, but not only the collapsed part of it, stones were also broken out of the surviving walls. Thus, from the stones of the Colosseum in the 15th and 16th centuries the Venetian palace, the Palace of the Chancellery (Cancelleria), and the Palazzo Farnese were built. Despite all the destruction, most of the Colosseum survived, although overall the great arena remained disfigured.

The attitude of the church towards the old monument of ancient architecture has improved since the mid-18th century, when Pope Benedict XIV was elected. The new pope dedicated the ancient arena to the Passion of Christ - the place where the blood of Christian martyrs was shed. By order of the pope, in the middle of the arena of the Colosseum was placed large sizes cross, and install several altars around it. In 1874, church paraphernalia was removed from the Colosseum. After the departure of Benedict XIV, church hierarchs continued to monitor the safety of the Colosseum.

Modern Colosseum architectural monument, is protected, and its fragments, if possible, were installed in their original places. Despite all the trials that befell the ancient arena over thousands of years, the ruins of the Colosseum, devoid of expensive decoration, still make a strong impression today and provide an opportunity to imagine the former grandeur of the arena.

Today the Colosseum is a symbol of Rome, as well as a famous tourist attraction.

If you look closely at the brickwork of the interior walls of the Colosseum, you will notice that the edges of the bricks are upholstered, very orderly, and the upholstery was done before the masonry, and not over the centuries, as they tried to depict, and the bricks are fastened together with a composition very reminiscent of cement XIX century. All the brickwork appears to be approximately the same and is constructed from uniform bricks. It seems that during the construction of the Colosseum, the appearance of supposedly centuries-old deterioration of the structure was immediately faked.

This can be seen even better in places where the brick wall allegedly “collapsed.” These masonry sites are undoubtedly unreal, built in today’s “collapsed” form. If the brick wall had truly collapsed, then its exposed “remains of ancient vaults” would look unnatural on the smooth brickwork of the Colosseum. All these “alterations” were built immediately during the initial construction, so they were confused to show the antiquity of the structure. Real alterations of the vaults are inevitable in ancient houses buried in the ground; they look completely different.

For example, the Church of St. Irene in Istanbul-Constantinople. Countless traces of real alterations are perfectly represented there. Moreover, the upper part of the walls looks much newer than the lower part, in which more remodeling is visible. But in the Colosseum the walls are strangely identical: what is above is what is below.

In real ancient structures, the bottom of the structure is usually located underground or in a pit if archaeological work is being carried out. The Church of St. Irene goes underground to a depth of 4 meters. And we are talking about a medieval building. And around the Colosseum there is no noticeable subsidence into the ground. It turns out that for two thousand years, the arena was immersed in some kind of vacuum and the rules of nature, which apply to all other places on the planet, and are, by the way, the main dating milestone in archeology, had no power over it.

But what can we say if, under the guise of reconstruction, absolutely openly, in full view of tourists, with the help of portable scaffolding, the completion of the Colosseum is taking place in our time.

The Vatican does not hide the history of the building much. In the Vatican Palace you can see a fresco depicting the newly designed ruins of the Colosseum! An angel with a compass and a construction angle is drawn next to it. He helps build the Colosseum. But to whom? Is it really possible for a pagan emperor that would be inappropriate for an angel? Not at all. The name of the builder, as well as the year of construction, are directly indicated on the fresco. Next to the image is written: “THE SEVENTH YEAR OF POPE Pius VII”

“The Colosseum is the largest ancient Roman amphitheater and one of the wonders of the world. Located in Rome on the site of a pond. The construction was started by the emperor Flavius ​​Vespasian, and his son finished it in 80 AD. Emperor Titus Flavius... Initially, the Colosseum was called, after the name of the Flavian emperors, the Flavian Amphitheater, its current name (in Latin Colosseum, in Italian Coliseo) was assigned to it later... This place was a place of fun and spectacle for the citizens of Rome... The barbarian invasions marked the beginning of the destruction of the amphitheater. IN XI-XII centuries The amphitheater was used as a citadel by the Roman families of Annibaldi and Frangipani. Then the Flavian amphitheater passed to Henry VII, who presented it as a gift to the Roman people. Back in 1332, a bullfight was held here. But most likely, in 1332 bullfights took place not in the current Colosseum, but in that city amphitheater Italian Rome, which was later converted into the Castle of St. Angel, but from then on its regular destruction began...

The word "amphitheater" itself combines two Greek words meaning "double theater" or "theater on both sides" and very accurately conveys architectural features this type of ancient Roman architecture. As for the name “Colosseum”, according to one version it comes from the Latin “colosseum”, which means “colossal”, and according to another it is associated with the nearby gigantic statue of Nero, which was called “Colossus”. Both versions have equal rights to existence , fortunately they agree on one thing - they emphasize the cyclopean dimensions of the Colosseum. It is not without reason that more than 100 thousand cubic meters of natural stone were used for its construction, while 45 thousand were used for the external wall. It is not surprising that a special road was built to transport marble. As for the name "Flavian Amphitheater", it is due to the fact that the Colosseum became a collective structure of representatives of this imperial dynasty - Vespasian, Titus and Domitian built it for 8 years, from 72 to 80 AD.

Construction was started by Vespasian after his military victories in Judea, and the construction was completed by his son Titus, according to the famous historian Suetonius - “At the consecration of the amphitheater and the baths hastily built nearby, he (Titus - author’s note) showed a gladiator fight, amazingly rich and lush; He also arranged a naval battle in the same place, and then there he brought out the gladiators and released five thousand different wild animals in one day.” This beginning of the history of the Colosseum to some extent determined its future fate - for a long time it was the main place for specific entertainment spectacles that are so familiar to us from modern cinema and fiction- gladiatorial fights and baiting of animals are just a small part of the entertainment that attracted the Romans to the arena. The reign of Emperor Macrinus was marked by a severe fire for the Colosseum, but by order of Alexander Severus it was restored, and in 248, under Emperor Philip, the celebration of the thousand-year existence of Rome was held there with great solemnity.

According to surviving eyewitness accounts, 60 lions, 32 elephants, 40 wild horses and dozens of other animals such as moose, zebras, tigers, giraffes and hippos were killed during the “celebrations”. In addition, it was not limited to animals and enthusiastic spectators were able to watch the fights of a total of 2,000 gladiators. Centuries passed, and the Colosseum still retained the status of the main cultural center of Ancient Rome, and the nature of the performances for the townspeople practically did not change - only in 405, Emperor Honorius imposed a ban on gladiator fights, since this was contrary to the spirit of Christianity, which, since the time of Constantine Great, it became state religion Roman Empire. However, animal persecution continued to delight the Romans until the death of Theodoric the Great. The Middle Ages marked the decline of the Colosseum - in the 11th-12th centuries, it served as a fortress for the noble families of Rome competing with each other; Frangipani and Annibaldi were especially successful in this field, who eventually were forced to cede the Colosseum to Emperor Henry VII. The latter donated the famous arena to the Roman Senate and people, thanks to which, until the first third of the 14th century, various games were still held in the Colosseum, including bullfights.

Paradoxically, the reason for the further decline of the Colosseum was its splendor. The fact is that the walls of the Colosseum were made of large blocks of travertine marble, which was mined in the city of Tivoli. The marble blocks were fastened with steel staples; fortunately, they were carefully ground together and did not require mortar for better adhesion. The materials used, as well as the construction technology itself, led not only to the fact that the Colosseum was able to exist for many centuries, but also to the fact that for the Romans of the 15th-16th centuries. it has become a source of valuable materials, which can also be easily disassembled into separate parts. The marble of the Colosseum contributed to the construction of the Venetian Palace, the Palace of Chancellery and the Palazzo Farnese.

Only in XVIII century The popes changed their utilitarian approach to the Colosseum, so Benedict XIV took it under his protection, turning it into a kind of Christian sanctuary - a huge cross was installed in the middle of the arena, which was framed by altars in memory of the torture, the procession to Calvary and the death of the Savior on the cross. This complex was dismantled at the end of the 19th century.

The outer side of the Colosseum consisted of three tiers of arches, between which there were semi-columns, in the lower tier - Tuscan, in the middle - Ionic, and in the upper - Corinthian style. The surviving images of the Colosseum from the time of its glory allow us to conclude that the spans of the arches of the middle and upper tiers were decorated with statues. A fourth floor was built above the upper tier, which was a solid wall, which was cut into compartments by Corinthian pilasters and had a quadrangular window in the middle of each compartment. The cornice of this floor had special holes for installing wooden beams that served as support for the awning stretched over the arena. At the ends of the major and minor axes of the ellipse there were four main entrances, which were three-arched gates, two of which were intended for the emperor, and the rest were used both for ceremonial processions before the start of performances, and for transporting animals and necessary machines to the Colosseum.

Spectators were located in the stands according to their social status:
- the bottom row, or podium (lat. podium) was intended for the emperor, his family and the highest nobility of Roman society.

Note that the emperor's place rose above the rest.
- further, in three tiers, there were places for the public. The first tier belonged to the city authorities and persons from the equestrian class. The second tier was reserved for citizens of Rome. The third tier was occupied by the lower classes.

Under the arena there was a complex labyrinth for the movement of gladiators and the maintenance of predatory animals that were used for performances.

In general, the structure of the Colosseum alone, even without taking into account its scale, would be enough to rightfully call this structure one of the “wonders of the world.” It organically combines the symbolism of the power of Rome, the architectural complexity that speaks of high technological culture and the pagan riot of the pre-Christian past of the empire. One building embodies a huge layer of the history of one of the most ancient states, the cradle of European history. The Colosseum is a true heritage of world culture, one of those few threads that makes visible the connection between times and eras.

Let's return to the probable story. So, in the XV and XVI centuries. Pope Paul II used material from the amphitheater when building the Venetian palace, Cardinal Riario - when building the Palace of the Chancery, Pope Paul III - the Farneze Palace. The Colosseum has nothing to do with it - just the stone and brick of the old city of the 14th century. was used for papal buildings, after which the old part of Italian Rome turned into ruins. However, most of the amphitheater was preserved; Sixtus V wanted to use it and built a cloth factory, and Pope Clement IX used the amphitheater building as a saltpeter factory. In the 18th century the popes came to their senses or decided that they could earn more from pilgrims than from saltpeter. Benedict IV (1740-1758) ordered the installation of a grandiose cross in the arena, and around it a number of altars in memory of the death of the Savior on the cross, who removed the cross and altars from the Colosseum only in 1874. Probably, they too much contradicted the imaginary antiquity of the Colosseum, giving it openly Christian appearance, that’s why they were removed.

So, under Clement IX (1592-1605), a cloth factory operated on the site of the Colosseum, and before that there was probably just a pond there. There was most likely no trace of anything like this in those days. Probably the first person who came up with the idea of ​​erecting some kind of grandiose structure was Pope Benedict XIV (1740-1758). But he clearly intended to erect not an “ancient amphitheater”, but a monument to Christian martyrs. However, his successors took things in a different direction. It was under them that the actual construction of the modern Colosseum began, portrayed as an allegedly “easy restoration of the ancient amphitheater.”

This is what the Encyclopedic Dictionary reports: “The popes who ruled after Benedict XIV, in particular Pius VII and Leo XII, strengthened the walls that were threatening to collapse with buttresses (we read between the lines: they built walls), and Pius IX repaired a number of internal passages in the amphitheater (we read between the lines : built the inside). The Colosseum is protected with considerable care by the modern Italian government. By his order, under the leadership of learned archaeologists, basement rooms were excavated in the arena, which were once used to bring people and animals and decorations into the arena, or by damming the arena to organize “naumachia”.

Particularly absurd is the idea of ​​historians about “naumachia” - naval battles presented in the water-filled arena of the Colosseum. At the same time, no intelligible explanations are given - how exactly and with the help of what mechanisms water could fill the Colosseum arena? Where are the drain and fill pipes? Water pumps? Waterproof walls with traces of water filling? All this is missing in the Colosseum.

Now let's look at the history of the Roman Colosseum in historical sources, and what they tell us about this ancient amphitheater, and even Flavian. After all, they were supposed to tell about such a remarkable structure as the Colosseum. But it so happened that not a single chronicle mentions anything about the Colosseum. Here are the two most shining examples.

The facial chronicle code is a detailed account of world and Russian history, usually dating back to the 16th century. The second and third volumes describe in detail the history of ancient Rome. Moreover, which is fortunate, especially much space is devoted to the reign of Emperor Flavius ​​Vespasian, who, according to historians, founded the Colosseum amphitheater. In general, the Facial Chronicle is a very detailed chronicle and contains more than sixteen thousand beautiful color drawings, made especially for the kings. Therefore, even if there is no mention of the Colosseum - neither in the text nor in the drawings - then we have to conclude that in Moscow in the 16th-17th centuries. they knew nothing about the Colosseum. Surprisingly, there really are no such references.

But maybe the Facial Vault is silent about the Colosseum simply because it does not concern the buildings erected by the first Flavius ​​in Rome at all? No, that's not true. The Facial Vault tells in sufficient detail how Vespasian, having returned to Rome from the Jewish War, immediately began the construction of huge and amazing buildings. But the Colosseum is not mentioned among them. And in general, nothing is said about the theater. We only talk about temples, treasuries, libraries. Here's an excerpt:

“Vespasian thought about how to create an altar to an idol and soon erected something that surpassed all human imagination. And he put all the valuable garments there, and everything wonderful and inaccessible was collected there and laid out in plain sight. For all this, people all over the world travel and work, just to see it with their own eyes. He hung the Jewish curtains there, as if proud of them, and all the gold-embroidered vestments, and ordered the books with the laws to be kept in the chamber.”

The facial vault tells the story of Vespasian's remarkable buildings in Rome, built after the end of the Jewish War. But the Colosseum is not mentioned among them.

The Lutheran Chronograph of 1680, a world chronicle in which all Roman incidents are described in detail, does not report anything about the Colosseum. It, just like the Facial Vault, reports only on the construction by Vespasian of a certain “temple of peace” at the end of the Jewish War: “The year of Christ 77, the temple of peace is being built, and the decorations of the temple of Jerusalem are placed in it, and these are the golden vessels of the Jews. The law and the scarlet veils were preserved in the chambers by the command of Vespesian.”

This is where the description of Vespasian's buildings ends. The Lutheran Chronograph is completely silent about the Colosseum - and in general, about any amphitheater built by Vespasian in Rome. Moreover, in the detailed index of names and titles given at the end of the Chronograph, the name “Colosseum” is not present. There are no similar names either. How is it that the Colosseum is not mentioned in the Lutheran chronograph, as well as in the Facial Vault. Although it was written in 1680 and, it would seem, its author should have known about such an outstanding structure as the Colosseum. And call it exactly “Colosseum”. After all, this name, as historians tell us, has been assigned to the Colosseum since the 8th century. Why is the author of the second half of the 17th century. doesn't know him yet? It turns out that in the seventeenth century. Europe really didn’t know anything about the Colosseum yet.

Let us now turn to the “ancient” writers. What do they know about the greatest amphitheater of ancient Rome, the grandiose Colosseum? It is believed that Suetonius, Eutropius and other “ancient” authors wrote about the Colosseum. It is also believed that the Colosseum was allegedly sung by an “ancient” poet of the 1st century AD. Martial. And he even tried to classify it as one of the seven wonders of the world, amazingly anticipating the decision of contemporary historians (in 2007) to classify the Colosseum as one of the “seven new wonders of the world.”

But were the “ancient” writers really talking about the Colosseum in Italy, and not about some other amphitheater? But then, maybe the real Colosseum is not in Italy, but in some other place? And one more important question. When, by whom and where were the supposedly “ancient” works that are generally known today and talking about the Colosseum discovered? Isn't it in the Vatican? And after it was decided to build the Roman Colosseum, and it was necessary to create a history for it, to find “primary sources” that “confirm” its existence in the past?

Let's take the book of Suetonius as an example (the others say approximately the same thing). Suetonius reports on the construction in Rome by Emperor Vespasian, upon his return from the Jewish War, of several structures at once: the Temple of Peace, another temple, a certain nameless amphitheater in the middle of the city. Suetonius writes: “... Vespasian also undertook new construction projects: the Temple of Peace... the Temple of Claudius... an amphitheater in the center of the city...”. Modern commentators believe that Suetonius is talking about the Colosseum here. But Suetonius by no means calls the amphitheater the Colosseum and, in general, does not report any details about it. He writes simply about the “amphitheatre.” Why does it have to be the Colosseum? There is no evidence of this.

Eutropius, in his Brief History from the Founding of the City, attributes the construction of the amphitheater to Emperor Titus Vespasian, son of Emperor Vespasian. But he also does not provide any data that allows us to identify the Amphitheater of Titus specifically with the Colosseum. It is only sparingly reported that Titus Vespasian “erected an amphitheater in Rome, during the consecration of which 5 thousand animals were killed in the arena.”

Another “ancient” historian, Sextus Aurelius Victor writes in the “History of Rome” that under Emperor Flavius ​​Vespasian, the restoration of the Capitol was begun and completed in Rome... the Temple of Peace, the monuments of Claudius, the Forum, and a huge amphitheater was created. But even here there are no details that would allow us to identify this amphitheater specifically with the Colosseum. It is not said what size the amphitheater was, how it was built, or where in the city it was located. And again the question arises: why is this the Colosseum? Maybe Aurelius Victor had a completely different amphitheater in mind?

Nowadays, the Colosseum is under special protection of the Italian government; work is underway to collect chaotically scattered marble fragments and install them in places supposedly intended for this. Walking hand in hand archaeological excavations and restoration work made it possible to do whole line wonderful discoveries. However, these days, the defenders of this unique monument are faced with new problems - from numerous tourists, many of whom are not averse to taking something “as a souvenir” with them, to the negative impact on the stone of the Colosseum from atmospheric pollution, vibration caused by city traffic and other factors technogenic nature.

Despite its complex history and difficult existence today, the Colosseum, even in the form of ruins, has preserved so majestic view, which, based on voting results, was recognized in 2007 as one of the 7 New Wonders of the World.