TEN THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE COLOSSEUM
1. Colossal... dimensions
The Colosseum is an elliptical building 189 metres long (100 metres less than the Costa Concordia, ed.) and 156 metres wide, covering an area of 24,000 square metres with a height of more than 48 metres. It has about 80 entrances and could accommodate about 50,000 spectators.
2. Work in progress.
It took just over five years to build it: from 75 to 80 AD. For the outer wall alone, more than 100,000 cubic metres of travertine were used.
3. A name, a mystery.
In the beginning it was called Flavian Amphitheatre (it was built by Vespasian and Titus of the Flavian dynasty, ed). The name 'Colosseum' arrived only in the Middle Ages: the most accredited theory is that it is so called because it was built near the statue of Nero's 'colossus' that stood a few metres from the amphitheatre. Others say it derives from the location, because it stands on a hill where a temple to Isis once stood (hence Collis Isei). But there is also a black legend that it was formerly a pagan temple, where the devil was worshipped. And at the end of each ceremony, the priests asked the worshippers: "Colis Eum?" ("Do you worship him?").
4. Without the Colosseum, many historical buildings would not exist.
The marble of the facade and some interior parts of the Colosseum were used for the construction of St Peter's Basilica and also for civil buildings such as Palazzo Barberini. Having fallen into neglect, for a long time the amphitheatre was in fact used as a source of building materials. This was the case until the 18th century, when love for the ancient remains of Rome returned. It is estimated that in the course of time only one third of the original construction remained.
5. Historical film? No, horror.
In the time of the gladiators, the Colosseum gained a sinister reputation, to the point of being considered one of the 7 gates of hell (tens of thousands died there). It is said that propitiatory rites were held there, using the blood of the dead in the arena. In the Middle Ages, bands of brigands used it to bury their victims. And in the 16th century it was targeted by magicians and sorcerers who apparently enjoyed the herbs with magical powers that grew among its ruins.
6. It's a bit like the jungle.
Strange but true: for several centuries, botanical experts have been studying the flora growing wild inside the Colosseum. More than 350 different species of plants have taken root in the ruins, some of which are of exotic origin and whose growth would be favoured by the amphitheatre's microclimate.
7. It was also used as a swimming pool.
For a time, nauromachiae, representations of naval battles in water, were also held inside the arena, but they were not as successful as the gladiator games. According to Martin Crapper, a lecturer in civil and environmental engineering at the University of Edinburgh, water flowed through a series of internal wells and pipes below the grandstands. It took about seven hours to fill the entire arena.
8. ...And covered by a large sun shade.
On sunny days, the Colosseum was covered by a sail consisting of about 80 triangular sails, controlled by 320 support ropes. The reason is easy to guess: to avoid sunstroke for the spectators during the midday shows.
9. At the cinema.
It has been the set of numerous films. But the film that celebrated its worldwide fame, Gladiator, was not filmed at the Colosseum. In fact, a series of hiccups prompted director Ridley Scott to shoot some scenes in the Roman amphitheatre of El Jem in Tunisia and to reconstruct one in Malta, where it took 19 weeks and only in part: the bulk was recreated on the computer.
10. New, or rather old, look.
At the end of September, the preparation phase should be completed and the restoration of the Colosseum façade can begin, which, cleaned of smog, will return to the shining white of travertine. The estimated cost of the operation, sponsored by Tod's, is 25 million euro.
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