The largest amphitheater in the Roman world Colosseum This presentation begins with exterior views, continues with interior views, and concludes with images taken at night. The Pictorial Library of Bible Lands provides PowerPoint files in addition to individual jpg images. The PowerPoint files are organized in logical sequence and may provide a quicker option for copying slides into other presentations. The PowerPoint files also include annotations about the sites and images that are not available elsewhere. The images in the PowerPoints are approximately 1024x768 pixels, the maximum size displayed by many projectors. Users will particularly benefit from accessing the individual higher-resolution jpg images if (1) they have a projection system higher than 1024x768; (2) they want to zoom in on a particular portion of an image; or (3) they want to crop, edit, adapt, or print an image. The largest amphitheater in the Roman world

Colosseum from Arch of Titus The Colosseum was built during the years AD 72-79 and the first games held in it in AD 80. Vespasian built the Colosseum over an earlier palace complex that Nero had erected, financing the construction by selling war spoils (probably from the Jewish victory). Vespasian’s son, Titus, finished the amphitheater, which was referred to as the Flavian Amphitheater, after Vespasian’s and Titus’ family name, Flavius. Not until the Middle Ages did anyone call it the “Colosseum,” a name taken from the Colisaeus, a large statue of Nero formerly standing beside the amphitheater. tb011801620 Colosseum from Arch of Titus

tb0514179352 Colosseum

Colosseum from west tb112105088

Colosseum from west tb112105089

tb051417897p Colosseum

tb0514178976 Colosseum

tb112002271 Colosseum from east

Colosseum from northwest The travertine façade of the Colosseum was decorated with semi-columns in a different classical style for each tier: the lowest Doric, the middle Ionic, and the highest Corinthian. The travertine blocks were connected with iron clamps which were removed in the Middle Ages. tb011701622 Colosseum from northwest

Colosseum from west tb112105101

Colosseum exterior arches showing construction tb112002266 Colosseum exterior arches showing construction

Colosseum exterior lowest level arch The 80 arches at ground level served as entrances into the amphitheater. Marked with numbers, each arch was reserved for a different type of ticket, whose number matched the doorway. A special arch located on the northeast side was reserved for the emperor alone. tb112002267 Colosseum exterior lowest level arch

Colosseum exterior second level arch tb112002268 Colosseum exterior second level arch

Colosseum exterior third level arch tb112002269 Colosseum exterior third level arch

Colosseum interior panorama The final phase of the Colosseum’s construction allowed more than 50,000 spectators into the amphitheater, making it by far the largest in the history of the Roman empire. The interior was made of tufa (a brittle, sandy, volcanic rock) and brick-faced concrete. tb112002274 Colosseum interior panorama

Colosseum interior panorama tb112002275 Colosseum interior panorama

tb112002282 Colosseum interior

The arena was constructed of wood in the shape of an oval, measuring 280 by 170 feet (86 by 54 m), and then covered with sand (Greek arena, from which the word for this platform came). Under the arena were housed animals and gigantic stage props for battle scenes played out in the arena. When Titus officially opened the games in AD 80, games were held for the first hundred days, during which time thousands of animals were slaughtered. A wall originally surrounded the arena, which served to protect spectators from the wild animals. Gladiators competed in hand-to-hand combat until the 5th century. At times the arena was also flooded and mock sea battles were held, similar to those at the Circus Maximus. tb112002270 Colosseum arena

Colosseum interior seating The place where the spectators sat, called the cavea, was overlain with marble and composed of three tiers, or levels. The tier on which a spectator held a seat reflected his social standing, with the least respected (populace, women, and slaves) sitting at the top, Roman citizens in the middle, and the most respected (knights) at the bottom. Between the cavea and the arena stood a podium where emperors and other high officials took their seats. tb112002280 Colosseum interior seating

tb112002283 Colosseum interior

Colosseum Door of Death The Door of Death gets its name from the fresh carcasses that were dragged out of the Colosseum this way. tb011801619 Colosseum Door of Death

Colosseum interior seating base tb112002279 Colosseum interior seating base

Colosseum interior seating base and arches tb112002278 Colosseum interior seating base and arches

Colosseum interior reconstructed seats tb112002277 Colosseum interior reconstructed seats

Colosseum DMV Basilius Inscription with mistake tb112002265 Colosseum DMV Basilius Inscription with mistake

Colosseum at night tb111805170

Through the centuries fires and earthquakes destroyed some of the structure. Nobles and churchmen used the site as a quarry when looking for building materials, especially travertine. wk031002264 Colosseum at night

Colosseum at night tb111805192

The Colosseum fell into disuse during the Christian era The Colosseum fell into disuse during the Christian era. In the Middle Ages the Frangipani and Annibaldi families used it as a castle-fortress while battling with other families within the city. Emperor Henry VII presented the Colosseum to Rome in 1312, but by the 15th century, it had become a stone quarry. In 1749 it was dedicated to Christ’s Passion, because many Christians were thought to have been martyred in it; today the Pope visits annually on Good Friday to carry the cross in a reenactment of the Passion. In the 19th century, visitors like Lord Byron and Charles Dickens admired the structure for the romantic nature of its ruins. tb112002262 Colosseum at night

Colosseum at night with full moon tb112002261 Colosseum at night with full moon

wk031002263 Colosseum at night

Colosseum at night from below tb112002260 Colosseum at night from below