Amphitheatres - colosseum

What does amphitheatre mean

double theatre

what was it designed for

stage exhibition killings, such ‘games’ had originated as part of funerary customs but grew in popularity to become great public events

when was it completed?

70BC and is the earliest known permanent stone amphitheatre in Pompeii

who made it

An inscription suggest that two men, Quinctius Valgus and Marcius Porcius (who also built a theatre in Pompeii) paid for its construction

how many people can the amphitheatre seat? and what did it suggest

around 20,000 spectators, which was more than the population of Pompeii, suggesting many outsiders came to watch the games

how was it designed

• oval in shape

• seating was divided into 3 parts:

• ima cavea (5 rows of seats) closest to the arena

• media cavea (12 rows of seats) in the middle

• summa cavea (18 rows) was at the top

• Awning to protect the spectators from the elements

• Two main entrances (North + south gate)

• Narrow passage on the west side - the death gate- where the dead were dragged out

How were people seated in the amphitheatre (society)

The pompeian elite would sit closest to action

There were special boxes for the city’s magistrates

what happened to the Amphitheatre in AD 62

In AD 62, a massive earthquake wrecked large parts of the amphitheatre and they had to rebuilt it, there is evidence that certain sectors were still under repair at the time Vesuvius erupted

what events took place there

beast hunts, gladiatorial battles, athletics events

what happened in 59 AD

• there was a riot at the amphitheatre during a show at which the pompeians and local rivals from Nuceria were present

• The roman historian Tacitus tells us that fighting spilled out into the streets

• As a result, the amphitheatre was closed by the Roman senate for a decade

• This ban was lifted early through the influence of Poppae, Nero’s wife, whose family were wealthy

• even when gladiatorial games were banned adverts for beat hunts suggest other activities still took place

what is the large exercise area, containing a swimming pool used by the public and also probably for gladiators to warm up before a bout called?

palaestra

in what ways were some amphitheatres designed well to stage gladiatorial games

• tiered seating

• everyone can see from all around

• 2 exits for grand entrances

• barrier so no one got harmed in the audience

• pathways, separated blocks of seats so seating was accessible

colosseum

the most famous roman amphitheatre

when was the colosseum constructed and why

70s CE, it was ordered by the emperor Vespasian, although he was to die a few months before its opening in the spring of 80

What is the story behind the construction of the colosseum

• illustrates the political nature of munera

• In 64 CE, rome suffered a great fire

• the emperor Nero instead of reconstructing housing for the people, ordered a building of a magnificent palace, his ‘Golden House’

• By 68 CE, Nero became so unpopular, he was outlawed by the senate and took his own life

• The general Vespasian became emperor, he won the support of the people and built the colosseum

structure and design of the colosseum

• 80 entrances, 4 of which were for VIP

• circumference of 545 metres

• four storey walls rows to 57 metres

• held 50,000 people

feature(s) and designs of the colosseum

• retractable awning to protect 2/3 of guests from sun/rain

• sand arena to soak up blood of fights

beneath the arena

• hypogeum - ‘underground area’

• network of tunnels, cages and lifts

• where criminals and animals were held before sent to the arena

• slaves worked down there to provide special effects and send up animals through trap doors