So, Saturday, our last full day in Italy. Tried for the Sistine Chapel, but it was closed for Epiphany, so we hit the Coleseo and rambled around for the day. This one caught Kim off guard, we saw these guys dressed up as Roman guards and she thought they were so cute. I knew they were hustlers, but I was curious to see how she would respond to them. An eye-opener.
Set shots of the Roman Foru
And on to the Coleseo, not as pretty in the daylight, but full of history. The Colosseum or Coliseum, originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre was originally capable of seating 45,000-50,000 spectators, and was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. It was built on a site just east of the Roman Forum, with construction starting between 70 and 72 AD under the emperor Vespasian. The amphitheatre, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire, was completed in 80 AD under Titus, with further modifications being made during Domitian's reign. The Colosseum remained in use for nearly 500 years with the last recorded games being held there as late as the 6th century — well after the traditional date of the fall of Rome in 476. As well as the traditional gladiatorial games, many other public spectacles were held there, such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, reenactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology. The building eventually ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era. It was later reused for such varied purposes as housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry and a Christian shrine.
The arena itself was 83 metres by 48 metres. It comprised a wooden floor covered by sand (the Latin word for sand is harena or arena), covering an elaborate underground structure called the hypogeum (literally meaning "underground"). Little now remains of the original arena floor, but the hypogeum is still clearly visible. It consisted of a two-level subterranean network of tunnels and cages beneath the arena where gladiators and animals were held before contests began. Eighty vertical shafts provided instant access to the arena for caged animals and scenery pieces concealed underneath; larger hinged platforms, called hegmata, provided access for elephants and the like. It was restructured on numerous occasions; at least twelve different phases of construction can be seen.
