We’ve already nailed down some of the basic facts about the Colosseum, like:
⇒ It’s the world’s largest amphitheater
⇒ It was one of the Seven Wonders of the World
⇒ The Colosseum was originally called the ‘Flavian Amphitheater’
We bet (no, really) you didn’t know these Colosseum facts!
None of the original seating of the Colosseum remains; what you see today is an imagined reconstruction.
The emperor Domitian sometimes made women fight at night by torchlight, but these fights were not taken seriously and were considered a frivolous pastime.
Sometimes, during gladiator games, the emperors threw wooden balls (missilia) into the crowd which could be exchanged for food, silver, or even slaves.
Napoleon, along with the Pope’s archaeological team, was responsible for initially uncovering bits of the Colosseum’s underground in the 19th century.
The Colosseum’s engineers had a solid game plan for its drainage system even before the monument was fully constructed. It had a network of pipes (which were both underground and encircled the building) that drained off into the Tiber River.
The Underground is much bigger than the Arena, extending so far as the Ludus Magnus, or the gladiators’ training camp.
From the 6th century onwards, in stark contrast to its aristocratic lineage, the Colosseum was home to squatters like blacksmiths and shoemakers. With them came their livestock, and evidence of animal stalls was found.
Mussolini entertained Hitler on his visit to Italy by giving him a tour of the Colosseum in 1938. Unsurprisingly, Hitler was impressed. The building’s design gave him ideas on how to construct a similar space for the Germans.
It’s believed that the velarium, or the retractable awning that shielded the spectators from the sun and rain, was operated by 100 sailors of the ancient Roman fleet.
The holes you see on the Colosseum’s facade were made by robbers who stole the iron bearings that held the building upright. Similarly, even the lead pipes used for drainage had been looted.
One problem the ancient Romans encountered was the disposal of animal remains once they’d been killed. Several bones were found to clog the Colosseum’s drains, but some cuts, like the elephant’s heart, were considered a royal delicacy.
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