Coliseums

1. Coliseums Delaney Lucey, Maddi Collins, and Jared Mathews Period:3

2. The achievement was the creation of the Coliseum. The Romans had to use concrete to create this. They also had to master architecture and engineering in order to create this. It was the Roman Emperor Vespasian and his son Titus’s idea to make the Coliseum. The Coliseum took less than ten years to build and they achieved a form of entertainment when they finished creating it. Construction was planned by Nero. Vespasian and Titus added fourth tier and dedication to the amphitheater. It was used by actors and Gladiators. The Roman Gladius is an example of a short amphitheater sword which might be used by a gladiator in ancient Rome.

3. In order to build the Coliseum, the Romans needed to know how to effectively use architecture. They also needed to master their engineering skills. They needed to know mathematics well to build with all the angles.

4. The Coliseum was an oval shaped building that could hold over 80,000 spectators at once. It covered a total of 6 acres and had over 76 entrances. It was 50 meters high(187 ft.) which is approximately the height of a 12 story building and was 189 meters long( 615 ft.). The Coliseum was 156 meters wide( 510 ft.) and had a circumference of 545 meters( 1,788 ft.). The center arena was 257 feet long and 180 feet wide and was covered with about 15 cm of sand spread across the ground of the arena. Underneath the arena was the hypogeum. This was a 2 level subterranean labyrinth of tunnels and 32 animal cages. Over 80 vertical shafts for instant5 access to the arena were built and large hinged platforms were installed for extremely large animals to gain access to the arena. There were also 36 trapdoors scattered around the arena. At the top of the Coliseum, there was a retractable awning that the spectators could set up to protect them from the shade and weather. There were 3 stone brackets in each of 80 “bays” on the top of the Coliseum. each bracket would supported one of 240 wooden masts that were placed there to hang the awning or cover for the protection from weather. Drains were also built around the Coliseum in the arena as well as the spectator areas. The foundation was set under the Coliseum as well as around it. The foundation under the outer walls and seating were 12-13m(39-42 ft. deep) and there foundations under the ellipse of the arena were 4m(13 ft. deep) There was a space of 40 cm width per spectator to sit and about 70 cm of leg room. Over 100,000 cubic meters of marble were used in the construction of the Coliseum and most were used to construct the 60-80 rows of seats that could fit 80,000 spectators. 34 ft. high Doric arches were 23 ft. high by 14 ft. wide. Ionic order or style were 38 ft. high arches and 21 ft. by 14 ft. wide. The top level of the Coliseum was 45 ft. high and had no arches.

5. The creation of the Coliseum was Revolutionary. The shows and duels in the Coliseum gave ancient Romans fun and entertainment in their lives. This achievement would be a sign of advanced civilization because they needed to be skilled in engineering and architecture. More people would want to see the gladiators combat and so more people joined the empire. The Christian religion also helped with the growth of the empire because people became more determined to hold on and to not let go of their lives.

6. This achievement had use for many things that the Romans did. They used it for gladiatorial combats, wild beast hunts, vaudeville acts, and they also used it for many types of theatrical entertainment.

7. These achievement are still affecting us today in many ways. A way that it is affecting us is we have stadiums such as our football stadiums that are shaped like the coliseum and we also have pillars on our White House and on the Capital and some people have them on their houses. This was all inspired by the Romans.

8. This is the Roman Coliseum that was built in 72 A.D. by Emperor Vespasian and his son Titus.

9. Emperor Vespasian who reined as emperor/caesar from July 69- June 79