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What was the purpose of the Coliseum?. BY: Sabrina Contrino. Provide breath-taking structures conveying the wealth, might, and power of Rome. One of the most breath-taking structures that the Romans had built was the Coliseum.
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What was the purpose of the Coliseum? BY: Sabrina Contrino
Provide breath-taking structures conveying the wealth, might, and power of Rome • One of the most breath-taking structures that the Romans had built was the Coliseum. • It could hold up to 45-50,000 spectators and on special occasions could hold up to 70,000 spectators. • The Coliseum was built with four stories and each of the first three floors was surrounded by arches on the outside. • The visual effect is the same as the Aqueducts but has a more theatrical look. • The fourth storey doesn’t have any arches but rather a series of square windows which let light into the arena. • On the outside the fourth floor windows alternated with decorative bronze shields. • The entire building was completely covered in Travertine marble and the surface of it today still shows the holes left by the metal clasps which held the blocks together and which were later plundered.
Showcase exotic animals. • Wild animals that were shown at the Coliseum were displayed as either clever circus acts where animals had been trained to do tricks or they were destined for death in the arena. • There to attack and kill defenseless prisoners. • These wild animals came from all parts of the Roman Empire and conveyed the extent of the lands that had been conquered by the Romans. • The very architecture of the Colosseum allowed for tall animals such as giraffes to pass through the tall gates of death. • A massive selection of wild animals was transported from their natural habitats to be slaughtered at the Roman Colosseum.
List of more exotic animals. • Wild Boar Snakes Jaguars • Bear Camels Chimpanzees • Bulls Lions Apes • Deer Tigers Baboons • Stags Leopards Rhino • Dogs Panthers Hippo • Wolves Elephants • Goats Crocodiles
Fighting of Gladiators • Were people who were slaves, soldiers, or people who wanted to be famous. • If a gladiator was defeated by another gladiator, the emperor would give thumbs up or thumbs down which meant life or death. Gladiators who refused to fight would be killed. • They dress liked the people they had conquered and would reenact the battles. • Few won battles against the animals and the animals that were killed in action were chopped into pieces and used for food. • The gladiators were from so many parts of the Roman Empire that they all didn't speak the same language which made it hard for communication. • Gladiators usually died during battles but if they were lucky enough to win multiple battles they might be set free.
Work Cited • Works Cited Milani-Santarpia, Giovanni. Building the Structure of the Colosseum. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2011. <http://www.mariamilani.com/colosseum/colosseum_structure.htm>. Roman Gladiators . N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2011. <http://solomon.cps.k12.il.us/gladiatorsindex.html>. Wild Animals at the Colosseum. N.p., 2008. Web. 28 Mar. 2011. <http://www.roman-colosseum.info/colosseum/wild-animals-at-the-colosseum.htm>.
