The Colosseum, Rome, Italy

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Introduction

In the last decade of Vespasian’s rule, uprisings and disasters around Rome and the Roman Empire were bringing his fame as a ruler down to levels that he did not like. To help get the Roman peoples admiration and votes back, he decided to give them a present like no other with the money and riches gained from the Siege of Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple. A feat that would last over 2 millennia and rival the biggest stadiums in today’s “modern” world. He gave them the Colosseum or otherwise known as the Flavian Theatre. A political statement, as well as a statement of the astounding technology that Roman builders possessed the Colosseum has stood for nearly 2,000 years, and although not nearly in the perfect state it was in when built, it has not fallen prey to the elements. Today, very few architects, and engineers can actually replicate, or even describe the very complex techniques that went into the building of the structure. Part of the reason for this is because the actual architects and engineers that designed the building are unknown. Whoever it was used techniques refined over hundreds of years, and learnt from different cultures such as the Greeks, Egyptians and Eastern Europe the architect and engineers for the Colosseum made a structure that we as humans might never see again.

The Design and Engineering

The Colosseum as a whole is an absolute masterpiece of design, and has set a sort of standard for arena design today. What looks like a simple oval shape, it is actually as very carefully planned out and thought of design. It was thought to be originally designed by combining two semi-circle theaters (like a classic Roman/Greek amphitheater) facing each other, However ...

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...w-Hill Higher Education, 2009. Print.

 Whittock, Martyn J. The Colosseum & the Roman Forum. Chicago, IL: Heineman, 2003. Print.

 Adam, Jean Pierre. Roman Building: Materials and Techniques. London: Batsford, 1994. Print.

Websites

 "Roman Empire & Colosseum." Roman Colosseum. Tribunes and Triumphs, 01 Jan. 2008. Web. 20 May 2014. .

 Johnson, Samuel, and Andrea Prepe. "T H E R O M A N C O L O S S E U M." The-Colosseum.net: The Resourceful Site on the Colosseum. The Colosseum Museum, 01 Jan. 2012. Web. 20 May 2014. .

 Colosseum." Soprintendenza Speciale per I Beni Archeologici Di Roma. Web. 20 May 2014. .

People

 Cella, Michelle

 Costabile, Patsy

 Steinschneider, Padriac (Paddy)

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