Pillar 1
Rachel Pillar
Mr. Steven N. Rugare
Architectural History I
November 6, 2017
The Colosseum, Rome The Roman Colosseum is one of the largest amphitheaters ever built. It was once known as the Flavian Amphitheatre and is now an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome. It is made of concrete and sand and is located in Rome, Italy. The location of the Colosseum is very significant. It was built on the same site where Nero’s Golden House once stood, which is also considered the heart of the city of Rome. The construction of this building began in 72 AD under Emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 AD under Vespasian’s son, Titus. It was originally built as a gift to the Roman people, but was used for many things like executions, gladiator
…show more content…
It discusses the facade of the Roman Colosseum in a similar way as Bomgardner did in his book. According to Scientific American the, “immense outer wall consisted of four stories, of which three were of Vespasian's structure, and the fourth, a loftier and very different one, represented Gordian's addition” (Scientific American 2). “The lowest level next the arena was known ail the podium, and was protected from the animals by a low wall, and was reserved for the emperor, consuls, and other distinguished personages” (Scientific American 2). The next level up was the momianum which were seats for the equestrian order. The upper level was for those for the populace as well as women (Scientific American …show more content…
The website, Wikipedia.org published an article about the Colosseum. It discusses the history, appearance, and significance of the amphitheatre and also talks about the facade of the Colosseum as did the above sources. According to Wikipedia, “the surviving part of the outer wall's monumental façade comprises three stories of superimposed arcades surmounted by a podium on which stands a tall attic, both of which are pierced by windows interspersed at regular intervals” (wikipedia.org). The arches on the second and third floor arcades framed statues in which may have honored divinities and other figures pertaining to Classical mythology (wikipedia.org). There were 240 mast corbels arranged around the top of the attic that originally supported the velarium (wikipedia.org). All 80 entrances along with the exits and staircases were numbered like a lot of arenas today to ensure fast and easy entry for the spectators. The four exits in which were used for the Emperor and other elite people were decorated with painted stucco reliefs. Those stucco reliefs as well as entrances XXII to LIV still stand today
...y report I was a bit behind and couldn’t clearly find much information while I was due in to hand in my research. I couldn’t rely much on some sites as they could have been edited and stated information that wasn’t relevant to what I was focusing on. Overall I learnt a lot while doing this research and I have better understanding of the Roman buildings and how the Roman society was in that time.
"Roman Colosseum - Rome, Italy - Great Buildings Architecture." Architecture Design Architectural Images Drawings History and More - ArchitectureWeek Great Buildings. Web. 12 Feb. 2012.
When discussing the historical and cultural aspects it is important to take into consideration the culture, religion, political, social, economic and artistic aspects of the time period.The construction of the Colosseum occurred during the Flavian Dynasty, between 69 CE to 96 CE. The construction of this massive amphitheater began in 70 CE under the reign of emperor Vespasian and ended sometime around 80 CE under the reign of his son Titus (Vespasian, 2013). During this time period Vespasian was greatly known for his reorganization of the army and the expansion of the membership of the senate, which ultimately dealt with the political, economic and military aspect of the Roman history and culture.
Built to appease the Romans and as a promise of a new era of responsible and compassionate rule, it was a symbol for the power of the people over the emperor. It is precisely for this reason that the image of the Colosseum has been reiterated over time. During antiquity, as the Colosseum was nearing completion, the senatorial mint under Titus honoured the architectural wonder by representing it on a bronze sesterce coin. This coin, shown in figure 2.1, is highly detailed and accurately depicts the architectural structure and layout of the Colosseum. On close
seating and the easiest access to the Colosseum. Even though many people think that the
The engineering discoveries of ancient Rome have played a key role in the history of architecture and engineering. Many of Rome’s roadways, bridges, and aqueducts have been in use from the first century until the twentieth century. Many American buildings have used the Roman dome. Several major structures from early Rome still stand, including the Collosseum. These remnants of feats of Roman engineering stand as a monument to the ability of ancient Roman builders.
The foundation of Greek culture was balance, reason, and harmony which can be unveiled in their art. As the civilization heavily revolved around religion, massive temples were built to serve the Gods. Greeks believed in many Gods, meaning they had polytheistic views . This notion of polytheism passed down to the Romans who adopted nearly the exact same deities and built similar architecture as well. One of the most famous buildings of worship was the Greek Parthenon built around 447-432 B.C.E, worshipping the goddess Athena . While building these brilliant pieces of art, concepts regarding laws and the natural world from philosophers were being incorporated in the structure. Pillars were often built in temples and various buildings in both Greek and Roman cultures. Doric, ionic, and Corinthian stand as the main three pillars built; each of them becomes increasingly more elaborate by order. For example, the Corinthian was the most intricate. Romans quickly developed a taste for this form of architecture and incorporated into theirs later on. The Romans however were very inventive, and began to develop the arch, vault and dome to add to what they emulated from the Greeks. Using these elements the Romans built what is known as the Coliseum, built over a 10 year span from around 70 AD to 80 AD. The Coliseum was said to hold 50,000 spectators and was used for entertainment
The city of Rome delivers rich culture, influential architecture, and beautiful scenery that collectively demonstrate a course of great history and a prominent civilization. There are various structures from Imperial Rome that are highly recognized and mentioned within artistic research. Some examples include the Pantheon, Basilica Ulpia, Flavian Amphitheater, Arch of Titus, and Column of Trajan. Also referred to as Trajan’s Column, the iconic sculpture retains a prestigious appearance as it’s shown with characteristics of empowering height and intricate detail (Fig. 1). When analyzing such a remarkable piece of artwork one should consider the different elements that pertain to the subject matter and historical context. With that in mind, this paper presents the argument that the column is not only a portrayal of the Dacian Wars but also a funerary monument, paradigm of military inspiration, and tribute to Trajan’s reign.
The Circus Maximus is the largest stadium in ancient Rome. Circus Maximus can seat two-hundred and fifty thousand people in the stadium. Romulus was one of the seven kings in Rome to have chariot races. The Chariot races is the most popular sport entertainment in Rome. In the sixth century Tarquinius Priscus built the track in the hills of Aventine and Palatine. The first starting gates were built in 329 BC, but the gates were also rebuilt in 174 BC, and wooden eggs were made and placed on top of the spina, which was the central wall area in the stadium. There were seven laps total during the chariot races, therefore there was seven wooden eggs. The wooden eggs counted each lap upon each lap went by a wooden egg was removed. Later, the wooden eggs would be replace by seven
The Colosseum is one of the most well-known structures in Rome, Italy. The Colosseum was built almost two thousand years ago to host games for gladiators. The Colosseum provided for entertainment for the Romans, a form of punishment for those who did not obey the laws, and a place of great architectural beauty.
The Colosseum, one of Rome’s most famous structures, is located east of the Roman Forum in Piazza del Colosseo in Rome, Italy. As a gift to the Roman people, Emperor Vespasian of the Flavian dynasty commissioned the Colosseum around AD 70-72. Titus, Emperor Vespasian’s son and successor, opened it officially in AD 80. The Colosseum is able to hold roughly 50,000 spectators, making it the largest amphitheater in Rome. The Colosseum is a symbol of how advanced Romans were in architecture and building. This monument represents strength, power, cruelty and violence. Thousands of people, most commonly criminals and professional fighters, even animals, have been killed inside the walls of the Colosseum.
Tickets to the Colosseum were often free. The 5,000 plus Ancient Romans filing in for a show still followed a formal seating plan. In the modern day, workers restoring the famous landmark recently discovered traces of red painted letters and numbers engraved overhead the Colosseum’s entry gates to help event attenders find their allocated seats. The Colosseum has 4 diverse tiers. The 1st tier, called the Podium (meaning place of honour), was held in reserve for the most significant Romans including; the Emperor, the Vestal Virgins, key priests and members of the Roman Government including the Roman Senators. The Podium was like a flat platform measuring 15ft in width. The second Tier, called Maenianum primum, was seating allocated specifically
The Roman Arena amphitheater is probably the most significant site in Verona. Dating back to the 1st century B.C., it is now a vital theater for the opera. At the time, the Arena was built outside of the city walls. More than 30,000 spectators would travel to Verona to watch the ludii, or shows and games, in the Arena. The most popular of the ludii were the gladiator fights, often times against lions. Originally, the faûze was white and pink limestone from Valpolicella. During the Middles Ages, the theater lost its functionality, and people began to use it as a quarry for other buildings. It was not until the Renaissance that people began to intervene in order to return the Arena to its original purpose. There are other Roman monuments of the 1st century B.C. in Verona, such as the Roman Theater and the Arco dei Gavi, or the Gavi Arch. The Roman Theater, originally built during the Augustan age,...
The Roman Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, is perhaps the most famous ancient landmark in the world. The Colosseum was the host to thousands of gladiatorial shows, mock naval battles, executions, and animal hunts. Today, the Colosseum still stands in the center of Rome, Italy, however, not quite as it used to be. Still, today, the Roman Colosseum is a large tourist attraction, thousands of tourists from all over the world still come to view this marveled arena. The Roman Colosseum has a rich history, and remains a prized possession of the Roman citizens.
Starting with the Roman Colosseum, which is located in the center of Rome. It is a ginormous amphitheater of huge 80 arched entrance and seating arrangements for 55,000 spectators. The Colosseum was built over 2000 years ago, which was commissioned by Emperor Vespasian and completed by his son Titus. Originally it was known as Flavian Amphitheatre. The designs of sport stadiums all over the world are still influenced by the Roman Colosseum to this very day!