Colosseum

The Colosseum or Coliseum, originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre (lat. Amphitheatrum Flavium), is an amphitheatre in Rome, capable of seating 50,000 spectators, which was once used for gladiatorial combat. Construction was initiated by Emperor Vespasian and completed by his sons, Titus and Domitian, between AD 72 and AD 90. It was built at the site of Nero's enormous palace, the Domus Aurea. The Colosseum's name is derived from a colossus (a 130-foot, or 40-metre, statue) of Nero which once stood nearby. The Colosseum is located at {{Coor d|41.89|N|12.492|E|type:landmark_scale:2000}}.

Later history

The Colosseum was in continuous use until 217, when it was damaged by fire after it was struck by lightning. It was restored in 238 and gladiatorial games continued until Christianity gradually put an end to those parts of them which included the death of humans. The building was used for various purposes, mostly venationes (animal hunts), until 524. Two earthquakes (in 442 and 508) caused a great damage to the structure. In the Middle Ages, it was severely damaged by further earthquakes (847 and 1349), and was then converted into a fortress.

Related Topics:
217 - Lightning - 238 - Christianity - 524 - 442 - 508 - Middle Ages - 847 - 1349 - Fortress

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The marble that originally covered the façade was burned to make quicklime. During the Renaissance, but mostly in the Baroque age, the ruling Roman families (from which many popes came) used it as a source of marble for the construction of St. Peter's Basilica and the private Palazzi. A famous description is in the saying Quod non fecerunt Barbari, fecerunt Barberini; "What the Barbarians weren't able to do, was done by the Barberinis" (one such family).

Related Topics:
Marble - Quicklime - Renaissance - Baroque - Pope - St. Peter's Basilica - Barberini

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Venerable Bede (c. 672–735) wrote:http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04101b.htm

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Quandiu stabit coliseus, stabit et Roma(As long as the Colosseum stands, so shall Rome);

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Quando cadit coliseus, cadet et Roma(When the Colosseum falls, so shall Rome);

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Quando cadet Roma, cadet et mundus(When Rome falls, so shall the world).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Note the use of coliseus, i.e. which made the name a masculine noun. This form is no longer in use.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1749, in a very early example of historic preservation, Pope Benedict XIV forbade the use of the Colosseum as a quarry. He consecrated the building to the Passion of Christ and installed Stations of the Cross, declaring it sanctified by the blood of the Christian martyrs who were thought to have perished there. Later popes initiated various stabilization and restoration projects. Every Good Friday the pope leads a procession within the ellipse in memory of Christian martyrs. However, there is no historical evidence that Christians were tortured and killed in the Colosseum http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04101b.htm. It is presumed that the majority of Christian martyrdom in Rome took place at the Circus Maximus.

Related Topics:
1749 - Historic preservation - Pope Benedict XIV - Passion of Christ - Stations of the Cross - Martyr - Good Friday - Circus Maximus

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 2000 there was a diffused protest in Italy against the death penalty all over the world (in Italy it was aboilished in 1948); several manifestations took place in front of the Colosseum. The illumination of the Colosseum is always on, and so it was at that time, but in that period, as a gesture against capital punishment, the local authorities of Rome changed the colour of the night time illumination from white to gold whenever a person condemned to the death penalty anywhere in the world gets commuted or released. http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/views/y/2000/02/young.italydeath.feb24/

Related Topics:
2000 - Death penalty - 1948 - Capital punishment

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

According to the current political division of the center of Rome, the Colosseum is placed in rione Monti.

Related Topics:
Rome - Rione - Monti

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~