Places to See in Southern Europe - The Colosseum

Obvious preface that I am not a classicist nor an architect, nor a Roman citizen. I merely went on holiday.

If someone were to think of my blog as a travel blog (for some inexplicable reason) after this post, they would be rather confused to read about the thrills of a windmill. 

Obviously, the Colosseum (also known as the Flavian Amphitheare, referring to the Flavian Dynasty) is by far more well-known than that place, what with its rich history and depictions in countless media across many decades. Being situated in the centre of one of the biggest and most historically and culturally prominent cities in Europe (a capital city with an international airport, nonetheless), also probably helpful in attracting visitors.

You can tell the Colosseum is an ancient building from the outside, what with the worn, faded stone that makes up its structure, as well as the ornate decorations around it. Not just that - it's also near to the ancient Palantine Hill, forum and Arch of Constantine, other ancient structures. If it were built today, perhaps it would resemble a stadium like that of Tottenham Hotspur's or the nearby Stadio Olimpico, with a more sleek, glassy, but ultimately more soulless (for me) design. Thankfully (and unsurprisingly), the Colosseum isn't like that at all.

Inside, things are slightly different. There are lifts, a bookshop, and countless signs telling you not to vandalise the walls (whilst also showcasing chunks of rock that have ancient graffiti on them, albeit of actual historical value (in retrospect, perhaps)). The floors of the Colosseum are now full of exhibits, with models and stone placed in glass boxes for visitors to admire when not looking at the ancient ruins within. 

And they are magnificent ancient ruins, to say the least. The Colosseum guide that I purchased in the aforementioned bookshop has a quote from Martial, that 'all labour yields to Caesar's Amphitheatre'. The Colosseum is certainly one of the most prominent stadia in Ancient Rome, with probably only the Circus Maximus coming near it in scale. 52m in height, with a capacity of about 73,000 spectators  with a 100 day inauguration upon being built, the Colosseum was host to gladiatoral combat, possibly the most well-known ancient sport, which lasted for nearly 320 years until being banned by Emperor Honorius in 404. The stadium itself was also used for wild animal hunts, and was located near the Colossus of Nero, a nearby statue of the eponymous emperor, which hasn't stood there since the 4th century. However, as time went on, the Colosseum would soon go abandoned, and it would obtain different uses, such as:

• becoming a castle in the 13th century under the ownership of the Frangipani family;
• being used as a burial site;
  
• being used for religious purposes, such as through the Stations of the Cross being located at the stadium (the Stations of the Cross are still performed each year on Good Friday at the Colosseum);
  
  
• being used as a housing complex and
• as a local quarry. 

Today, the Colosseum has effectively become a large museum, undergoing frequent restoration to prevent further collapse. Upon visiting, I was handed a green label, seemingly given to "full experience" visitors to the Colosseum - seemingly other visitors got different colour labels - many of which were stuck onto a fence at the exit. I could describe how the stadium now looks, but pictures are probably more effective at showing its sheer size:

Rome itself is a magnificent historical city, one where (in its centre) there always seems to be a magnificent landmark, with even ornate sculptures hidden amongst shop fronts. There's even an independent country inside of it. But the Colosseum is perhaps the largest, most prominent structure in an already fascinating sea of structures.