Introduction
The Colosseum is one of Italy’s most recognizable architectural monuments worldwide. For almost two thousand years, the majestic amphitheater in the heart of Rome has been attracting millions of visitors who want to see this iconic structure. The name Colosseum comes from the Latin word that can be translated as huge. It was such a building that seemed to the Romans at the dawn of the modern era, when the height of most buildings did not exceed ten meters.
Current tourists evaluate the size of the amphitheater differently, as skyscrapers have changed the sense of scale. It is significant to understand that the peculiarity of the Colosseum lies not in the height of its walls, but in the cultural and historical contributions it made to civilization. The place that was once nicknamed the location of death has now taken on an entirely different meaning. The Colosseum is a majestic arena that symbolizes the rich heritage of ancient Roman civilization, and its historical significance goes beyond the architectural monument to become part of the anti-death penalty movement.
The Construction of the Colosseum
The Colosseum is a magnificent amphitheater with a rich history and one of the most amazing architectural monuments in the world. Before one realizes the importance of this historical site, it is necessary to delve into the past and comprehend its significance to ancient Rome. The construction of the Colosseum was a grandiose project that took approximately nine years to complete and involved a massive amount of resources, including 100,000 enslaved people and talented architects and sculptors (De Magalhães, 2020).
Entertainment and Moral Perspectives in Ancient Rome
Erected for the herding of beasts and gladiatorial combat, the Colosseum was a monumental amphitheater that provided spectacles unlike those typical of Greek city-states. Unlike the Olympic Games, which stimulated the physical and spiritual culture of Greek citizens, the Romans enjoyed bloody and savage fights in the Colosseum.
The specificity of the Colosseum’s activities was horrifying, and all spectators treated such performances in their own way. The majority of Romans, characterized by violent morals, treated them with evident enthusiasm (Dowling, 2023). However, some people, such as Seneca, were disgusted by such events. Even Marcial, who devoted many lines of praise to gladiatorial games, hints that his praise does not entirely align with his views on what was happening in the Colosseum (Clark, 2021).
The Decline of Gladiatorial Games and Imperial Reforms
Except for the entertainment, there were executions, which caused Emperor Constantine I to stop using the Colosseum. Such bloody events generated another name for the Colosseum – the Temple of Death. However, in 405, the entertainment ended, and Emperor Honorius forbade gladiatorial fights, as it contradicted Christian teachings (De Magalhães, 2020). Despite this, animal baiting continued in the Colosseum for a long time, and as a result, it was almost destroyed.
Transformation and Destruction Through the Centuries
As time went on, new inhabitants appeared around the Colosseum. The first among them were religious fraternities adapted for living and household purposes. A church was erected in the arena, and one of the religious fraternities acquired part of the amphitheater for mysteries.
At the end of the 16th century, Pope Sixtus V planned to turn it into a cloth factory, but his death prevented the realization of this idea (De Magalhães, 2020). Instead, artisans settled in the theater, brewing bone glue and destroying the building. In a specific period, the Colosseum even served as a factory, which caused even greater destruction (Dowling, 2023).
A series of natural disasters, such as earthquakes and fires, as well as the looting of building materials from the Colosseum, led to the long-term destruction of the monument, leaving almost nothing of its former decorative richness. As a result, the Colosseum turned into a bare ruin, and almost nothing was left of its former decorative wealth.
Preservation Efforts and Modern Significance
Measures to preserve and reconstruct the monument began to be taken only at the beginning of the 19th century (Dowling, 2023). The Catholic Church resumed work around the amphitheater to preserve as many surviving elements as possible. Due to this shift in attitude towards the monument, the Colosseum began to attract the attention of historians, architects, and art historians, who, over a few decades, could transform the once-forgotten building into a symbol of European civilization. Nowadays, the Colosseum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a landmark of Italy (Clark, 2021). It actively receives tourists whose desire to see the famous monument does not depend on the time of year. Excursions into ancient times are conducted.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Colosseum, a majestic amphitheater, is a fantastic testimony to the history and culture of ancient Rome. Rising in the center of the city, it served as an arena for violent fights and entertainment, symbolizing the empire’s power and the Roman Empire’s cultural greatness. Over the centuries, the Colosseum has witnessed numerous events and undergone significant changes, from its glory and grandeur to destruction and decline.
However, the amphitheater still impresses with its splendor thanks to preservation and restoration efforts. It attracts millions of tourists seeking to learn from history and experience the spirit of that distant era. This majestic amphitheater, which witnessed brutal battles and executions, now symbolizes cultural and historical heritage, attracting tourists and serving as a reminder of the need to protect human rights and oppose cruelty.
References
Clark, M. (2021). The Phantom of the Colosseum. The Catholic Library World, 92(2), 149-157.
De Magalhães, M. (2020). Rome: Colosseum. Marcelo José da Silva de Magalhães.
Dowling, G. (2023). The Colosseum Critical Introduction to David Mason. Franciscan University Press.