The Colosseum of Rome is a giant amphitheater of the first century, located in the center of the city. It is one of the most famous monuments of antiquity and a symbol of the greatness of the Roman Empire. Its dimensions are so impressive that it is difficult to imagine its construction without modern techniques.
The size of the Colosseum
The Colosseum has a diameter of 188 meters and its walls reach a height of 48 meters. Its elliptical shape is divided into four sections, three of them composed of 80 arches and the fourth, of 76. The total number of arches is 320.
The arena, where the shows were held, had a diameter of 86 meters and a total area of 6,000 m2. This space was used for the fights between gladiators and wild animals.
Materials used
The Colosseum was built in 10 years with materials such as travertine and tuff. Travertine is a kind of limestone found in the surroundings of Rome and tuff is a volcanic rock. This material was used to build the walls of the amphitheater and to cover the exterior of the Colosseum.
The interior of the amphitheater was decorated with marble. The columns were of Corinthian style and the floor of the arena was made of wood and sand.
Structure of the Colosseum
The Colosseum is divided into four levels or orders. The first level is the ground floor, which was reserved for the emperor and his entourage. The second level was for the upper classes, the third was for the lower classes and the fourth was for the slaves.
The Colosseum had 80 entrances distributed around its perimeter. In addition, it had 80 staircases that were used to access the different levels of the amphitheater. This structure allowed up to 50,000 spectators to enter and leave the Colosseum quickly.
Facilities of the Colosseum
The Colosseum had an ingenious system of canals and pipes that allowed the water to circulate and allowed the amphitheater to be flooded in order to recreate naval battles. It also had an ingenious system of elevators and pulleys that allowed the scene to be changed quickly.
The Colosseum also had underground passages where the gladiators and animals were taken to the arena before the start of the show. In addition, the amphitheater had rooms where the gladiators and animals were kept before the show.
Conclusion
The Colosseum of Rome is a masterpiece of engineering and architecture. Its impressive dimensions and ingenious systems of canals and elevators made it a marvel of the Roman Empire. Its remains are a reminder of the greatness of the Roman Empire and a symbol of its culture and history.
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