The most famous amphitheater in Rome was built under the Flavian emperors, begun by Vespasian and dedicated by him in 79, finished by Titus and rededicated in 80 (Figure 23.17). Formally known as the Flavian amphitheater, the building became better known from AD 1000 as the Colosseum, thanks to the colossal statue of Sol (the Sun) that stood nearby during the later empire.
Figure 23.16 Relief sculpture (detail), Trajan's Column
As noted at Pompeii (Chapter 22), the amphitheater, or double theater, is an architectural type prominent in towns of Italy and the central and western parts of the empire, but rarely seen in the eastern half. The Colosseum, a large oval (arena: 86m x 54m; overall building: 188m x 156m), was built on the site of the artificial lake of Nero’s Domus Aurea; the Flavians thus reclaimed part of the city center for the people. The building was used for gladiatorial games and for shows with wild animals (venatio, pl. venationes), including hunting. The last gladiatorial combats took place in 404, but the venationes continued well into the sixth century. The destruction of the building began in the ninth century, excavation and restoration in the nineteenth century.
The Colosseum was built of concrete, with occasional brick facing, and with a facade of high-quality travertine quarried near Tivoli. The seating was covered with marble. The exterior consisted of four stories (Figure 23.18). The first three featured arches flanked by attached columns, a Roman decorative combination. The lower story had columns in the Tuscan order; the second story Ionic; the third, Corinthian. The top story was a solid wall with Corinthian pilasters, with a rectangular window between every other pair. The total height of the exterior was 48.5m. Statues may have been intended to fill the arches of the second and third stories; although they are shown on coins, they may not have existed, for no statue bases were found.
The cavea, or seating, held ca. 45,000 people. Placed above five annular passages, the seating rose at differing slopes. The outer two passages were vaulted, carrying additional vaults above. Stairs led to the seats. Spectators had tickets, or tokens, for their reserved seat, marked with the number of their vomitorium (entrance way), gradus (row), and locus (seat). Some seats would be protected from the sun by awnings attached at the top of the arena. A narrow passage, probably for patrolling armed guards, and a fence separated the spectators from the arena. The emperor’s box was on the south, opposite a box for magistrates; both were reached by separate ceremonial entrances.
The arena was surfaced with wood. Below it lay a complex warren of four parallel rows of cells surrounded by three annular passages, an area provided with drainage. At one end machinery lifted wild animals up to the arena.
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