The Colosseum is built oftravertine limestone,tuff (volcanic rock), and brick-facedRoman concrete. It could hold an estimated 50,000 to 80,000 spectators at various points in its history,[4][5] having an average audience of some 65,000;[6] it was used forgladiatorial contests andpublic spectacles includinganimal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, dramas based onRoman mythology, and brieflymock sea battles. The building ceased to be used for entertainment in theearly medieval era. It was later reused for such purposes as housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, afortress, aquarry, and a Christian shrine.
Originally, the building's Latin name was simplyamphitheatrum,'amphitheatre'.[9] Though the modern name Flavian Amphitheatre (Latin:Amphitheatrum Flavium) is often used, there is no evidence it was used inclassical antiquity.[9] This name refers to the patronage of theFlavian dynasty, during whose reigns the building was constructed, but the structure is better known as the Colosseum.[9] In antiquity, Romans may have referred to the Colosseum by the unofficial nameAmphitheatrum Caesareum (withCaesareum an adjective pertaining to the titleCaesar), but this name may have been strictly poetic[10][11] as it was not exclusive to the Colosseum; Vespasian and Titus, builders of the Colosseum, also constructed aFlavian Amphitheatre inPuteoli (modern Pozzuoli).[12]
Interior of the Colosseum by late nineteenth century photographerFrancis Frith
The nameColosseum is believed to be derived from acolossal statue of Nero on the model of theColossus of Rhodes.[9][3] The giant bronze sculpture of Nero as asolar deity was moved to its position beside the amphitheatre by the emperorHadrian (r. 117–138).[9] The wordcolosseum is aneuterLatin noun formed from theadjectivecolosseus, meaning "gigantic" or "colossean".[9] By the year 1000 the Latin name "Colosseum" had been coined to refer to the amphitheatre from the nearby "Colossus Solis".[13]
In the 8th century, an epigram attributed to theVenerable Bede celebrated the symbolic significance of the statue in a prophecy that is variously quoted:Quamdiu stat Colisæus, stat et Roma; quando cadet colisæus, cadet et Roma; quando cadet Roma, cadet et mundus ("as long as the Colossus stands, so shall Rome; when the Colossus falls, Rome shall fall; when Rome falls, so falls the world").[14] This is often mistranslated to refer to the Colosseum rather than the Colossus (as in, for instance,Byron's poemChilde Harold's Pilgrimage). However, at the time that the Pseudo-Bede wrote, themasculine nouncoliseus was applied to the statue rather than to the amphitheatre.[15]
The spelling was sometimes altered inMedieval Latin:coloseum andcoliseum are attested from the 12th and 14th centuries respectively.[9] In the 12th century, the structure was recorded as theamphitheatrum colisei,'Amphitheatre of the Colossus'.[9] In theHigh Middle Ages, the Flavian amphitheatre is attested as the late 13th-centuryOld French:colosé, and inMiddle French as:colisée by the early 16th century, by which time the word could be applied to any amphitheatre.[9] From Middle French:colisée derived theMiddle English:colisee, in use by the middle of the 15th century and employed byJohn Capgrave in hisSolace of Pilgrims, in which he remarked:Middle English:collise eke is a meruelous place … þe moost part of it stant at þis day.[16] An English translation byJohn Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners, ofAntonio de Guevara's biography ofMarcus Aurelius (r. 161–180) in about 1533 referred toMiddle English:this Emperour, beynge with the Senate at Collisee ....[16] Similarly, theItalian:colosseo, orcoliseo, are attested as referring first to the amphitheatre in Rome, and then to any amphitheatre (asItalian:culiseo in 1367).[16][9] By 1460, an equivalent existed inCatalan:coliseu; by 1495 had appeared theSpanish:coliseo, and by 1548 thePortuguese:coliseu.[9]
The Colosseum at night in 2024
The earliest citation for the name Colosseum inEarly Modern English is the 1600 translation, byPhilemon Holland, of theUrbis Romae topographia ofBartolomeo Marliani, which he used in the preparation of his translation ofLivy'sAugustan eraAb Urbe Condita Libri.[9] The text states: "This Amphitheatre was commonly called Colosseum, of Neroes Colossus, which was set up in the porch of Neroes house."[9] Similarly,John Evelyn, translating the Middle French name:le Colisée used by the architectural theoristRoland Fréart de Chambray, wrote "And 'tis indeed a kind of miracle to see that the Colosseum … and innumerable other Structures which seemed to have been built for Eternity, should be at present so ruinous and dilapidated".[9]
History
Construction, inauguration, and Roman renovations
Sestertius of Titus celebrating the inauguration of the Colosseum (minted 80 AD).A map of central Rome during the Roman Empire, with the Colosseum at the upper right corner
The site chosen was a flat area on the floor of a low valley between theCaelian,Esquiline andPalatine Hills, through which acanalised stream ran as well as an artificial lake/marsh.[17] By the 2nd century BC the area was densely inhabited. It was devastated by theGreat Fire of Rome in 64 AD, following whichNero seized much of the area to add to his personal domain. He built the grandioseDomus Aurea on the site, in front of which he created an artificial lake surrounded by pavilions, gardens and porticoes. The existingAqua Claudia aqueduct was extended to supply water to the area and the gigantic bronzeColossus of Nero was set up nearby at the entrance to the Domus Aurea.[18]
Although the Colossus was preserved, much of the Domus Aurea was torn down. The lake was filled in and the land reused as the location for the new Flavian Amphitheatre. Gladiatorial schools and other support buildings were constructed nearby within the former grounds of the Domus Aurea. Vespasian's decision to build the Colosseum on the site of Nero's lake can be seen as a populist gesture of returning to the people an area of the city which Nero had appropriated for his own use. In contrast to many other amphitheatres, which were on the outskirts of a city, the Colosseum was constructed in the city centre, in effect, placing it both symbolically and geographically at the heart of Rome.
Construction was funded by the opulent spoils taken from theJewish Temple after theFirst Jewish–Roman War in 70 AD led to theSiege of Jerusalem. According to a reconstructed inscription found on the site, "the emperorVespasian ordered this new amphitheatre to be erected from his general's share of the booty." It is often assumed, as it is with many other Roman projects at the time, that slaves and prisoners of war were brought back to Rome and contributed to the massive workforce needed for the construction of the amphitheater.[19] Along with this free source of unskilled labor, teams of professional Roman builders, engineers, artists, painters and decorators undertook the more specialized tasks necessary for building the Colosseum. The Colosseum was constructed with several different materials: wood, limestone,tuff, tiles, cement, and mortar.
Construction of the Colosseum began under the rule of Vespasian[3] in around 70–72 AD (73–75 AD according to some sources). The Colosseum had been completed up to the third story by the time of Vespasian's death in 79. The top level was finished by his son,Titus, in 80,[3] and the inaugural games were held in 80 or 81 AD.[20]Dio Cassius recounts that over 9,000 wild animals were killed during theinaugural games of the amphitheatre. Commemorative coinage was issued celebrating the inauguration.[21] The building was remodelled further under Vespasian's younger son, the newly designated EmperorDomitian, who constructed thehypogeum, a series of tunnels used to house animals and slaves. He also added a gallery to the top of the Colosseum to increase itsseating capacity.[22]
In 217, the Colosseum was badly damaged by a major fire (caused by lightning, according to Dio Cassius[23]), which destroyed the wooden upper levels of the amphitheatre's interior. It was not fully repaired until about 240 and underwent further repairs in 250 or 252 and again in 320.Honorius banned the practice of gladiator fights in 399 and again in 404. Gladiatorial fights are last mentioned around 435.[18] An inscription records the restoration of various parts of the Colosseum underTheodosius II andValentinian III (reigned 425–455), possibly to repair damage caused by a major earthquake in 443; more work followed in 484[24] and 508. The arena continued to be used for contests well into the 6th century. Animal hunts continued until at least 523, whenAnicius Maximus celebrated his consulship with somevenationes, criticised by KingTheodoric the Great for their high cost.[18]
Medieval
Map of medieval Rome depicting the Colosseum
The Colosseum underwent several radical changes of use. By the late 6th century a small chapel had been built into the structure of the amphitheater, though this apparently did not confer any particular religious significance on the building as a whole. The arena was converted into a cemetery. The numerous vaulted spaces in the arcades under the seating were converted into housing and workshops, and are recorded as still being rented out as late as the 12th century. Around 1200 theFrangipani family took over the Colosseum and fortified it, apparently using it as a castle. In the early to mid 14th century, the Pope'srelocation to Avignon caused a population decline in Rome that left the region insecure. The colosseum was largely abandoned by the public and became a popular den for bandits.[25]
Severe damage was inflicted on the Colosseum by the greatearthquake in 1349, causing the outer south side, lying on a less stablealluvial terrain, to collapse. Much of the tumbled stone was reused to build palaces, churches, hospitals and other buildings elsewhere in Rome. In 1377, after the Pope's return to Rome, the Colosseum was restored by a religious order called Arciconfraternita del SS. Salvatore ad Sancta Sanctorum, who then inhabited a northern portion of it until as late as the early 19th century.[25][26] The interior of the amphitheater was extensively stripped of stone, which was reused elsewhere, or (in the case of the marble façade) was burned to makequicklime.[18] The iron clamps[18] which held the stonework together were pried or hacked out of the walls, leaving numerous pockmarks which still scar the building today.
During the 16th and 17th century, Church officials sought a productive role for the Colosseum.Pope Sixtus V (1585–1590) planned to turn the building into a wool factory to provide employment for Rome's prostitutes, though this proposal fell through with his premature death.[27] In 1671, CardinalPaluzzo Altieri authorized its use forbullfights; a public outcry caused the idea to be hastily abandoned.[28]
Allied troops consult a guidebook outside the Colosseum after liberation in 1944
However, there is no historical evidence to support Benedict's claim, nor is there even any evidence that anyone before the 16th century suggested this might be the case; theCatholic Encyclopedia concludes that there are no historical grounds for the supposition, other than the reasonably plausible conjecture that some of the many martyrs may well have been Christian.[29]
Interior of the Colosseum, Rome (1832) byThomas Cole, showing theStations of the Cross around the arena and the extensive vegetationEastern interior (viewed from west), 2023
Later popes initiated various stabilization and restoration projects, removing the extensive vegetation which had overgrown the structure and threatened to damage it further. The façade was reinforced with triangular brick wedges in 1807 and 1827, and the interior was repaired in 1831, 1846 and in the 1930s. The arena substructure was partly excavated in 1810–1814 and 1874 and was fully exposed underBenito Mussolini in the 1930s.[18]
The Colosseum is today one of Rome's most popular tourist attractions, receiving millions of visitors annually.[citation needed] The effects of pollution and general deterioration over time prompted a major restoration programme carried out between 1993 and 2000, at a cost of 40 billion lire ($19.3 million or €20.6 million at 2000 prices).[citation needed]
In recent years, the Colosseum has become a symbol of the international campaign against capital punishment, which was abolished in Italy in 1948. Several anti–death penalty demonstrations took place in front of the Colosseum in 2000. Since that time, as a gesture against the death penalty, the local authorities of Rome change the color of the Colosseum's night time illumination from white to gold whenever a person condemned to the death penalty anywhere in the world gets their sentence commuted or is released,[30] or if a jurisdiction abolishes the death penalty. Most recently, the Colosseum was illuminated in gold in November 2012 following the abolishment of capital punishment in the American state ofConnecticut in April 2012.[31]
Because of the ruined state of the interior, it is impractical to use the Colosseum to host large events; only a few hundred spectators can be accommodated in temporary seating. However, much larger concerts have been held just outside, using the Colosseum as a backdrop. Performers who have played at the Colosseum in recent years have includedRay Charles (May 2002),[32]Paul McCartney (May 2003),[33]Elton John (September 2005),[34] andBilly Joel (July 2006).
Physical description
Exterior
The exterior of the Colosseum, showing the partially intact outer wall (left) and the mostly intact inner wall (center and right)
UnlikeRoman theatres that were built into hillsides, the Colosseum is an entirely free-standing structure. It derives its basic exterior and interior architecture from that of two theatres back to back. It is elliptical in plan and is 189 meters (615 ft / 640 Roman feet) long, and 156 meters (510 ft / 528 Roman feet) wide, with a base area of 24,000 square metres (6 acres). The height of the outer wall is 48 meters (157 ft / 165 Roman feet). The perimeter originally measured 545 meters (1,788 ft / 1,835 Roman feet). The central arena is an ellipse 87 m (287 ft) long and 55 m (180 ft) wide, surrounded by a wall 5 m (15 ft) high, above which rose tiers of seating.
The outer wall is estimated to have required over 100,000 cubic metres (3.5 millioncubic feet) oftravertine stone which were set without mortar; they were held together by 300 tons of iron clamps.[18] However, it has suffered extensive damage over the centuries, with large segments having collapsed following earthquakes. The north side of the perimeter wall is still standing; the distinctive triangular brick wedges at each end are modern additions, having been constructed in the early 19th century to shore up the wall. The remainder of the present-day exterior of the Colosseum is in fact the original interior wall.
The surviving part of the outer wall's monumental façade comprises threesuperposed storeys surmounted by apodium on which stands a tallattic, both of which are pierced by windows interspersed at regular intervals. The arcades are framed by half-columns of theDoric,Ionic, andCorinthian orders, while the attic is decorated with Corinthianpilasters.[35] Each of the arches in the second- and third-floor arcades framed statues, probably honoring divinities and other figures fromClassical mythology.
Two hundred and forty mastcorbels were positioned around the top of the attic. They originally supported a retractableawning, known as thevelarium, that kept the sun and rain off spectators. This consisted of a canvas-covered, net-like structure made of ropes, with a hole in the center.[3] It covered two-thirds of the arena, and sloped down towards the center to catch the wind and provide a breeze for the audience. Sailors, specially enlisted from the Roman naval headquarters atMisenum and housed in the nearbyCastra Misenatium, were used to work thevelarium.[36]
Entrance LII of the Colosseum, withRoman numerals still visible
The Colosseum's huge crowd capacity made it essential that the venue could be filled or evacuated quickly. Its architects adopted solutions very similar to those used in modern stadia to deal with the same problem. The amphitheatre was ringed by eighty entrances at ground level, 76 of which were used by ordinary spectators.[3] Each entrance and exit was numbered, as was each staircase. The northern main entrance was reserved for theRoman Emperor and his aides, whilst the other three axial entrances were most likely used by the elite. All four axial entrances were richly decorated with paintedstucco reliefs, of which fragments survive. Many of the original outer entrances have disappeared with the collapse of the perimeter wall, but entrances XXIII (23) to LIIII (54) survive.[18]
Spectators were given tickets in the form of numbered pottery shards, which directed them to the appropriate section and row. They accessed their seats viavomitoria (singularvomitorium), passageways that opened into a tier of seats from below or behind. These quickly dispersed people into their seats and, upon conclusion of the event or in an emergency evacuation, could permit their exit within only a few minutes. The namevomitoria derived from the Latin word for a rapid discharge, from which English derives the word vomit.
Interior seating
The raked areas that once held seating
According to theCodex-Calendar of 354, the Colosseum could accommodate 87,000 people, although modern estimates put the figure at around 50,000. They were seated in a tiered arrangement that reflected the rigidly stratified nature of Roman society. Special boxes were provided at the north and south ends respectively for the Emperor and theVestal Virgins, providing the best views of the arena. Flanking them at the same level was a broad platform orpodium for thesenatorial class, who were allowed to bring their own chairs. The names of some 5th century senators can still be seen carved into the stonework, presumably reserving areas for their use.
Diagram of the levels of seating
The tier above the senators, known as themaenianum primum, was occupied by the non-senatorial noble class or knights (equites). The next level up, themaenianum secundum, was originally reserved for ordinary Roman citizens (plebeians) and was divided into two sections. The lower part (theimmum) was for wealthy citizens, while the upper part (thesummum) was for poor citizens. Specific sectors were provided for other social groups: for instance, boys with their tutors, soldiers on leave, foreign dignitaries, scribes, heralds, priests and so on. Stone (and later marble) seating was provided for the citizens and nobles, who presumably would have brought their own cushions with them. Inscriptions identified the areas reserved for specific groups.
Another level, themaenianum secundum in legneis, was added at the very top of the building during the reign ofDomitian. This comprised a gallery for the common poor,slaves and women. It would have been either standing room only, or would have had very steep wooden benches. Some groups were banned altogether from the Colosseum, notably gravediggers, actors and former gladiators.[18]
Each tier was divided into sections (maeniana) by curved passages and low walls (praecinctiones orbaltei), and were subdivided intocunei, or wedges, by the steps and aisles from the vomitoria. Each row (gradus) of seats was numbered, permitting each individual seat to be exactly designated by its gradus, cuneus, and number.[37]
Arena and hypogeum
The Colosseum arena, showing thehypogeum now filled with walls. The walls were added early in the Colosseum's existence when it was decided it would no longer be flooded and used for naval battles.
The arena itself was 83 meters by 48 meters (272 ft by 157 ft / 280 by 163 Roman feet).[18] It comprised a wooden floor covered by sand (the Latin word for sand isharena orarena), covering an elaborate underground structure called thehypogeum (literally meaning "underground"). The hypogeum was not part of the original construction but was ordered to be built by EmperorDomitian. Little now remains of the original arena floor, but thehypogeum 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, calledhegmata, provided access for elephants and the like. It was restructured on numerous occasions; at least twelve different phases of construction can be seen.[18]
A view of the interior of the Colosseum; clearing showing the hypogeum (Greek for "underground")
Thehypogeum was connected by tunnels to a number of points outside the Colosseum. Animals and performers were brought through the tunnel from nearby stables, with the gladiators' barracks at theLudus Magnus to the east also being connected by tunnels. Separate tunnels were provided for the Emperor and theVestal Virgins to permit them to enter and exit the Colosseum without needing to pass through the crowds.[18]
Substantial quantities of machinery also existed in thehypogeum. Elevators and pulleys raised and lowered scenery and props, as well as lifting caged animals to the surface for release. There is evidence for the existence of majorhydraulic mechanisms[18] and according to ancient accounts, it was possible to flood the arena rapidly, presumably via a connection to a nearby aqueduct. However, the construction of the hypogeum at Domitian's behest put an end to the practise of flooding, and thus also to naval battles, early in the Colosseum's existence. There is however wide debate over the practicality and logistics of this phenomenon which leads to speculation over its actuality. This is mostly because there is no physical evidence of naumachiae at the Colosseum remains.[38]
Supporting buildings
The Colosseum and its activities supported a substantial industry in the area. In addition to the amphitheatre itself, many other buildings nearby were linked to the games. Immediately to the east is the remains of theLudus Magnus, a training school for gladiators. This was connected to the Colosseum by an underground passage, to allow easy access for the gladiators. TheLudus Magnus had its own miniature training arena, which was itself a popular attraction for Roman spectators. Other training schools were in the same area, including theLudus Matutinus (Morning School), where fighters of animals were trained, plus the Dacian and Gallic Schools.
Also nearby were theArmamentarium, comprising an armory to store weapons; theSummum Choragium, where machinery was stored; theSanitarium, which had facilities to treat wounded gladiators; and theSpoliarium, where bodies of dead gladiators were stripped of their armor and disposed of.
Around the perimeter of the Colosseum, at a distance of 18 m (59 ft) from the perimeter, was a series of tall stone posts, with five remaining on the eastern side. Various explanations have been advanced for their presence; they may have been a religious boundary, or an outer boundary for ticket checks, or an anchor for thevelarium or awning.[18]
The Commodus Passage, named afterCommodus, was used by Roman emperors to enter the Colosseum discreetly. A failed assassination attempt against Commodus occurred in the passage. It was rediscovered in the 1810s. Restoration work which restored decorative stuccoes and added a walkway was conducted on the passage from October 2024 to September 2025. The passage will be opened to the public on 27 October 2025. Another restoration project is planned to begin in 2026.[39]
The Colosseum was used to hostgladiatorial shows as well as a variety of other events. The shows, calledmunera, were always given by private individuals rather than the state. They had a strong religious element but were also demonstrations of power and family prestige and were immensely popular. Another major attraction was the animal hunt, orvenatio. This utilized a great variety of wild beasts, mainly imported from Africa and the Middle East, and included creatures such asrhinoceros,hippopotamuses,elephants,giraffes,aurochs,wisents,Barbary lions,panthers,leopards,bears,Caspian tigers,crocodiles andostriches. Battles and hunts were often staged amid elaborate sets with movable trees and buildings. These events could be huge in scale;Trajan is said to have celebrated his victories inDacia in 107 with contests involving 11,000 animals and 10,000 gladiators over the course of 123 days. During lunch intervals, executionsad bestias would be staged. Those condemned to death would be sent into the arena, naked and unarmed, to face the beasts of death which would literally tear them to pieces. Acrobats and magicians would also perform, usually during the intervals.
During the early days of the Colosseum, ancient writers recorded that the building was used fornaumachiae (more properly known asnavalia proelia) or simulated sea battles. Accounts of the inaugural games held by Titus in AD 80 describe it being filled with water for a display of specially trained swimming horses and bulls. There is also an account of a re-enactment of a famous sea battle between theCorcyrean (Corfiot) Greeks and theCorinthians. This has been the subject of some debate among historians; although providing the water would not have been a problem, it is unclear how the arena could have been waterproofed, nor would there have been enough space in the arena for the warships to move around. It has been suggested that the reports either have the location wrong or that the Colosseum originally featured a wide floodable channel down its central axis (which would later have been replaced by thehypogeum).[18]
Sylvae or recreations of natural scenes were also held in the arena. Painters, technicians and architects would construct a simulation of a forest with real trees and bushes planted in the arena's floor, and animals would then be introduced. Such scenes might be used simply to display a natural environment for the urban population, or could otherwise be used as the backdrop for hunts or dramas depicting episodes from mythology. They were also occasionally used for executions in which the hero of the story — played by a condemned person — was killed in one of various gruesome but mythologically authentic ways, such as being mauled by beasts or burned to death.
Modern use
Aerial view of the Colosseum, 2021
Beneath the Colosseum, a network of subterranean passageways that were once used for transporting wild animals and gladiators to the arena, opened to the public in summer 2010.[40]
In 2011,Diego Della Valle, head of the shoe firmTod's, entered into an agreement with local officials to sponsor a €25 million restoration of the Colosseum. Work was planned to begin at the end of 2011, taking up to two and a half years.[43] Due to the controversial nature of using apublic–private partnership to fund the restoration, work was delayed and began in 2013. The restoration is the first full cleaning and repair in the Colosseum's history.[44] The first stage is to clean and restore the Colosseum's arcaded façade and replace the metal enclosures that block the ground-level arches. After three years, the work was completed on 1 July 2016, when the Italian minister of culture, Dario Franceschini, also announced that the funds have been committed to replace the floors by the end of 2018. These will provide a stage that Franceschini says will be used for "cultural events of the highest level."[45] The project also includes creating a services center and restoring the galleries and underground spaces inside the Colosseum.[46] Since 1 November 2017, the top two levels have been opened for guided visits. The fourth level held the marketplace, and the top fifth tier is where the poorest citizens, the plebeians, gathered and watched the show, bringing picnics for the day-long event.[47]
The Colosseum is generally regarded by Christians as a site of the martyrdom of large numbers of believers during thepersecution of Christians in the Roman Empire, as evidenced by Church history and tradition.[48][49][50] On the other hand, other scholars believe that the majority of martyrdoms may have occurred at other venues within the city of Rome, rather than at the Colosseum, citing a lack of still-intact physical evidence or historical records.[51][52][53] These scholars assert that "some Christians were executed as common criminals in the Colosseum—their crime being refusal to reverence the Roman gods", but mostChristian martyrs of theearly Church were executed for their faith at theCircus Maximus.[54][55] According toIrenaeus (died about 202),Ignatius of Antioch was fed to the lions in Rome around 107 A.D. and although Irenaeus says nothing about this happening at the Colosseum, tradition ascribes it to that place.[56][57][58][59]
In the Middle Ages, the Colosseum was not regarded as a monument, and was used as what some modern sources label a "quarry,"[60] which is to say that stones from the Colosseum were taken for the building of other sacred sites.[61] This fact is used to support the idea that, at a time when sites associated with martyrs were highly venerated the Colosseum was not being treated as a sacred site.[62] It was not included in the itineraries compiled for the use of pilgrims nor in works such as the 12th centuryMirabilia Urbis Romae ("Marvels of the City of Rome"), which claims theCircus Flaminius – but not the Colosseum – as the site of martyrdoms.[63] Part of the structure was inhabited by aChristian religious order, but it is not known whether this was for any particular religious reason.
Pope Pius V (1566–1572) is said to have recommended that pilgrims gather sand from the arena of the Colosseum to serve as a relic, on the grounds that it was impregnated with the blood of martyrs, although some of his contemporaries did not share his conviction.[64] A century later Fioravante Martinelli listed the Colosseum at the head of a list of places sacred to the martyrs in his 1653 bookRoma ex ethnica sacra. Martinelli's book evidently had an effect on public opinion; in response to Cardinal Altieri's proposal some years later to turn the Colosseum into a bullring, Carlo Tomassi published a pamphlet in protest against what he regarded as an act of desecration. The ensuing controversy persuadedPope Clement X to close the Colosseum's external arcades and declare it a sanctuary.[65]
Cross dedicated to the Christian martyrs, placed in 2000 byPope John Paul II.
At the insistence of St.Leonard of Port Maurice, PopeBenedict XIV (1740–1758) forbade the quarrying of the Colosseum and erectedStations of the Cross around the arena, which remained until February 1874.[66]Benedict Joseph Labre spent the later years of his life within the walls of the Colosseum, living onalms, before he died in 1783.[66] Several 19th century popes funded repair and restoration work on the Colosseum, and it still retains its Christian connection today. AChristian cross stands in the Colosseum, with a plaque, stating:
The amphitheater, one consecrated to triumphs, entertainments, and the impious worship of pagan gods, is now dedicated to the sufferings of the martyrs purified from impious superstitions.[56]
Other Christian crosses stand in several points around the arena and everyGood Friday the Pope leads aVia Crucis procession to the amphitheater.
Flora
Weed control
The Colosseum has a wide and well-documented history offlora ever sinceDomenico Panaroli made the first catalogue of its plants in 1643. Since then, 684 species have been identified there. The peak was in 1855 (420 species). Attempts were made in 1871 to eradicate the vegetation, because of concerns over the damage that was being caused to the masonry, but much of it has returned.[18] Two hundred forty-two species have been counted today and of the species first identified by Panaroli, 200 remain.
The variation of plants can be explained by the change of climate in Rome through the centuries, as well as bybird migration, flower blooming, and the growth of Rome that caused the Colosseum to become embedded within the modern city centre rather than on the outskirts of the ancient city. Deliberate import of animal species is another contributing cause, as seeds were unwittingly carried either on the fur or in the feces of animals brought there from all corners of the empire.[67]
ThePalazzo della Civiltà Italiana was very closely modelled on the Colosseum. It was built for Mussolini for the Universal Exhibition of 1942 but the exhibition never happened due to the outbreak of World War II. The architects were Giovanni Guerrini, Ernesto Bruno La Padula, and Mario Romano.
^William H. Byrnes IV (Spring 2005) "Ancient Roman Munificence: The Development of the Practice and Law of Charity".Rutgers Law Review vol. 57, issue 3, pp. 1043–1110.
^"The Coliseum".The Catholic Encyclopedia. New Advent. Retrieved2 August 2006.; the form quoted from the Pseudo-Bede is that printed inMigne,Pat. Lat94 (Paris), 1862:543, noted in F. Schneider,Rom und Romgedanke im Mittelalter (Munich) 1926:66f, 251, and in Roberto Weiss,The Renaissance Discovery of Classical Antiquity (Oxford:Blackwell) 1973:8 and note 5.
^Sear, David R. (2000).Roman Coins and Their Values – The Millennium Edition. Volume I: The Republic and The Twelve Caesars, 280 BC – 96 AD (pp. 468–469, coin # 2536). London: Spink.ISBN1-902040-35-X
^Alföldy, Géza (1995). "Eine Bauinschrift Aus Dem Colosseum".Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik.109:195–226.
^The repairs of the damages inflicted by the earthquake of 484 were paid for by the ConsulDecius Marius Venantius Basilius, who put two inscriptions to celebrate his works (CILVI, 1716).
^"MEDIVM AEVVM".The-Colosseum. The-Colosseum.Net. Retrieved1 November 2016. Names the order:Arciconfraternita del SS. Salvatore ad Sancta Sanctorum, akadel Gonfalone. Co-tenants: the Roman Senate and the Camera Apostolica. "In 1519 The Confraternita built the little chapel of Santa Maria della Pietà inside the Colosseum."
^Brockman, Norbert C. (2011).Encyclopedia of Sacred Places [2 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. p. 108.ISBN978-1-59884-655-3.Public executions were held there during the empire, and it is for these last events that the Colosseum became a Christian shrine. It is disputed whether many early Christian martyrs actually died in the Colosseum, since there is no mention of that in ancient Christian records.
^Brockman, Norbert C. (2011).Encyclopedia of Sacred Places [2 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. p. 108.ISBN978-1-59884-655-3.There seems little doubt that some Christians were executed as common criminals in the Colosseum-their crime being refusal to reverence the Roman gods. Most martyrs, however, died for their faith at the Circus Maximus. Some were even executed as members of what the Romans considered a Jewish sect, since both Jews and Christians refused to reverence the gods.
^Potter, David Stone (1999).Life, Death, and Entertainment in the Roman Empire.University of Michigan Press. p. 227.ISBN978-0-472-08568-2.The public execution of condemned offenders, including Christians, is associated above all with the amphitheater, although there were executions at various other venues. Gladiatorial games, hunting displays, and executions also took place at the Circus Maximus, even after the construction of the Colosseum (Humphrey 1987, 121).
^abLitfin, Bryan M. (2007).Getting to Know the Church Fathers: An Evangelical Introduction. Brazos Press. p. 44.ISBN978-1-4412-0074-7.But according to Irenaeus (who spent time in Rome not long after these events took place) Ignatius did in fact meet his end by being torn apart by wild animals for the amusement of the Roman masses, probably in the infamous Colosseum. The crowd there that day would have viewed the spectacle as a crushing defeat of this meek man's Christian religion. But Ignatius understood his death to be a shout of victory. Today a Christian cross stands in the Colosseum of Rome with a plaque that reads, "The amphitheater, one consecrated to triumphs, entertainments, and the impious worship of pagan gods, is now dedicated to the sufferings of the martyrs purified from impious superstitions."
^Flinn, Frank K. (2006).Encyclopedia of Catholicism. Infobase Publishing. p. 359.ISBN978-0-8160-7565-2.He was caught up in the general persecution of the church under the emperor Trajan (r. 98–117), brought to Rome, and fed to the lions in the Coliseum around 107 C.E. His feast day is 17 October. Before his execution, Ignatius wrote seven letters to the churches along his route, one each to Ephesus, Magnesia, Tralles, and Philadelphia, two to the church at Smyrna, and one to Smyrna's bishop, Polycarp. The letters are a rich source about early theology, liturgy, and church organization.
^Hopkins, p. 103: "It is likely that Christianswere put to death there and that those said to have been martyred 'in Rome' actually died in the Colosseum. But, despite what we are often told, that is only a guess. One of the possible candidates for martyrdom in the Colosseum is St. Ignatius, a bishop of Antioch (in Syria) at the beginning of the second century AD, who was 'condemned to the beasts' at Rome."
^Brockman, Norbert C. (2011).Encyclopedia of Sacred Places [2 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. p. 108.ISBN978-1-59884-655-3.The Christians who did die in the Colosseum often did so under dramatic circumstances, thus cementing the legend. The hero St. Ignatius of Antioch, a disciple of St. John the Beloved, was sent to the beasts by Trajan in 107. Shortly after, 115 Christians were killed by archers. When Christians refused to pray to the gods for the end of a plague in the latter part of the second century, Marcus Aurelius had thousands killed in the Colosseum for blasphemy.
^Hopkins, p. 160: "For most of the Middle Ages and early Renaissance the Colosseum was not so much a monument as a quarry. To describe this activity as 'robbery' is to give the wrong impression. For the most part, there was nothing illegal or unofficial about the removal of this stone."
^"The Coliseum".Catholic Encyclopedia. New Advent. Retrieved24 April 2014.In the Middle Ages, for example, when the sanctuaries of the martyrs were looked upon with so great veneration, the Coliseum was completely neglected; its name never occurs in the itineraries, or guide-books, compiler for the use of pilgrims to the Eternal City.
^"The Coliseum".Catholic Encyclopedia. New Advent. Retrieved24 April 2014.The "Mirabilia Romae", the first manuscripts of which date from the twelfth century, cites among the places mentioned in the "Passions" of the martyrs the Circus Flaminius ad pontem Judaeorum, but in this sense makes no allusion to the Coliseum.
^"The Coliseum".Catholic Encyclopedia. New Advent. Retrieved24 April 2014.Pope St. Pius (1566–72) is said to have recommended persons desirous of obtaining relics to procure some sand from the arena of the Coliseum, which, the pope declared, was impregnated with the blood of martyrs. The opinion of the saintly pontiff, however, does not seem to have been shared by his contemporaries.
^"The Coliseum".Catholic Encyclopedia. New Advent. Retrieved24 April 2014.The pamphlet was so completely successful that four years later, the jubilee year of 1675, the exterior arcades were closed by order of Clement X; from this time the Coliseum became a sanctuary.
^ab"The Coliseum".Catholic Encyclopedia. New Advent. Retrieved24 April 2014.At the instance of St. Leonard of Port Maurice, Benedict XIV (1740-58) erected Stations of the Cross in the Coliseum, which remained until February, 1874, when they were removed by order of Commendatore Rosa. St. Benedict Joseph Labre (d. 1783) passed a life of austere devotion, living on alms, within the walls of the Coliseum.
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