Rome & Lazio - Italy - page 154

The 50,000-seat arena was originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, and although
it was Rome's most fearful arena, it wasn't the biggest - the Circo Massimo could hold up
to 250,000 people. The name Colosseum, when introduced in medieval times, was not a
reference to its size but to the Colosso di Nerone, a giant statue of Nero that stood nearby.
The outer walls have three levels of arches, articulated by Ionic, Doric and Corinthian
columns. They were originally covered in travertine, and marble statues filled the niches
on the 2nd and 3rd storeys. The upper level had supports for 240 masts that held up a can-
vas awning over the arena, shading the spectators from sun and rain. The 80 entrance
arches , known as vomitoria, allowed the spectators to enter and be seated in minutes.
Inside, the arena had a wooden floor covered in sand to prevent combatants from slip-
ping and to soak up the blood. Trapdoors led down to the hypogeum , an under-ground
complex of corridors, cages and lifts beneath the arena floor, which served as the stadi-
um's backstage area. The hypogeum, along with the top tier, can be visited on guided
tours (€8 on top of the normal ticket; advance booking necessary).
The cavea , for spectator seating, was divided into three tiers: magistrates and senior of-
ficials sat in the lowest tier, wealthy citizens in the middle, and the plebs in the highest
tier. Women (except for vestal virgins) were relegated to the cheapest sections at the top.
The podium , a broad terrace in front of the tiers of seats, was reserved for emperors, senat-
ors and VIPs.
With the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century, the Colosseum was abandoned. In
the Middle Ages it was used as a fortress by two of the city's warrior families, the Frangi-
pani and the Annibaldi. Later, it was used as a quarry for travertine; and marble stripped
from it was used in the construction of Palazzo Venezia, Palazzo Barberini and Palazzo
Cancelleria, among other buildings. Pollution and vibrations caused by traffic and the
metro have also taken a toll. The battle to maintain it is continuous and work is currently
underway on a 2½-year €25 million restoration project.

Arco di Costantino
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MONUMENT

( Colosseo) On the western side of the Colosseum, this triumphal arch was built in 312
to honour the emperor Constantine's victory over rival Maxentius at the battle of Ponte
Milvio (Milvian Bridge).