Tuesday 17 September 2013

The Colosseum, Rome

One place I've always wanted to visit is the Colosseum in Rome.  I finally got around to it this year, and it lived up to all my expectations.  Completed in 80AD by the Emperor Titus, the Coloseum is made of concrete and stone.  It is believed to have held between 50,000 to 80,000 spectators.  According to our guide, the Colosseum operated a type of 'season ticket' approach, with each ticket holder knowing their entrance and place. 



The outside of the Colosseum would have been painted a range of colours and each alcove contained a statue.


Underneath the 'stage',  wild and exotic animals were often kept before being unleashed into the arena.  Props, such as palm trees could also be hoisted into the arena using pulleys and trap doors.   Our guide told us the days events often started with the animals being displayed.Then criminals were  executed - sometimes using the animals, or being made to fight each other, before the day's final attraction, the Gladiators.




 Note the holes in the concrete/stone - pillaged during the Middle Ages for the iron contained within.


No other way to put it - simply magnificent! 

4 comments:

Kathryn Warner said...

Fabulous pics! I've been to Rome and seen the Colosseum, but only outside, and it's lovely to see your pics of it! So glad you had a lovely time in Rome - it's somewhere I'm dying to see more of.

Anerje said...

like Egypt, it was a trip that had to be done!

Katarzyna Ogrodnik-Fujcik said...

I'm happy for you, Anerje! I too, like Kathryn, have seen the Colosseum only outside. Must change it one day :-)

Anerje said...

Yes Kasia, you must try and see if from the inside. I intend going back!