Colosseum: Rome's Iconic Monument, Its History & Facts

 Rome's first amphitheater, the Statilius Scaurus, was situated near the Campus Martius. Unfortunately, it fell victim to the great fire of 64 CE. Meanwhile, the popularity of gladiatorial spectacles was soaring, and amphitheaters began popping up in various Roman cities, including Pompeii, Lyons, and Merida. This widespread construction highlighted the swift Romanization of conquered territories. 

The planning for the construction of the Flavian amphitheater, more commonly known as the Colosseum, began in 70 A.D. This was when Emperor Vespasian commissioned the ambitious project. The chosen location was the drained domus aurea lake, nestled between the Esquiline, Velia, and Caelian hills. 

The ten-year construction process, which utilized the labor of tens of thousands of individuals including slaves and prisoners of war, was a massive undertaking. It included the removal of nearly thirty thousand tons of earth from the lake, laying foundations that plunged 12 meters deep, and raising the massive structure supported by seven concentric circles of pillars. 

The Colosseum, a marvel of Roman engineering, was built from travertine stone. Extracted from quarries near Tivoli, the required one hundred thousand tons of stone were transported to Rome via a specially constructed and likely heavily trafficked route.

Here are some intriguing facts about the Colosseum:

• Start of Construction: 72 A.D. (under Vespasian)
• Inauguration Year: 80 AD (under Titus)
• Perimeter Measurement: 573 meters
• Surface Area: 3357 square meters
• Height**: 50 meters
• Foundation Depth: 12 meters
• Outer Axes Measurement: 188 and 156 meters
• Arena Axes Measurement: 76 and 46 meters
• Number of Supporting Pillars: 80
• Estimated Capacity: 70,000 spectators
• Number of Tiers of Bleachers: 5
• Facade Order: 4 (including 3 with arches and the last with square windows)
• Spectator Entrance: 74
• Number of Poles for the Velarium: 240
• Number of Hoists for Beasts: 28