The Roman Collosseum: Contribution To The Ultimate Design Of The Architecture

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Function, Religious or otherwise of Colosseum were Irrelevant to the Ultimate Design of the Architecture

The Roman Colosseum, was starting to build began between 73 – 75 A.D during Vespasian’s Emperor, and about to complete in 79 A.D where Vespasian was death at this time. Colosseum was completed and inaugurated by Vespasian’s son, Titus in 80 A.D. The Colosseum are elliptical in shape and 189 X 156 metres across in size with 45 metres high. It can hold up between 50000 to 80000 spectators and was used for gladiatorial contest and public spectacles such as mock sea battle, animal hunt, execution, re-enactments of famous battles, and drama based on Classical mythology. The Colosseum was previously called Flavian amphitheatre which is a large ellipsoid arena built in the first century CE under the Roman emperors of Flavian Dinasty. (Hopkins 2011) Colosseum was built to stage various form of entertainment and it also as a gift from Flavian Dynasty to the citizens. Apart from that, Roman intend to showcase their engineering technique to the word. (Smith 2013)

Colosseum are divided into 4 level which is ground floor, first floor, second floor and top floor which does not include the underground level. Underground level are 18ft high which consist of series of room to keep animals, medic, gladiators, and general supply. Elevation system are founded to elevate animal from underground to the arena. There are also central ramp to allow larger size animal for example elephant to get access to the area. (Milani-Santarpia n.d.) Each of the surface level wall attached by different orders of columns. The ground floor are attached by Doric half column support on the attached architrave. Ground floor are 34ft high. First floor are attached ion...

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... ornament which lost their function as supporting structure. In addition, it is not origin from Roman itself whereby was an imitation from Greek architecture. The seating of the auditorium does not provide comfortable to the spectator in terms of size. Moreover, the shading device, Valerium are not able to provide its most function to shade all the spectators where the higher social status people could not get the full shade from it. This suppose not to be happen since the seating are emphasized on the social status, the facility and comfortable of higher social status people for example nobles should get full shade during hot day and raining day instead of poor and woman that sit on the upmost level. Last but not least, Colosseum was designed oval and large size. This reduce the visibility of the spectator which sit on the upper level and located at the longer end.

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