Colosseum - Archetecture

Question 1

Materials used

Answer 1

1. Tavertine (limestone)
2. Tuff or tufo (a type of stone)
3. Concrete
4. Bricks
5. Tiles
   6.Marble

Question 2

The purpose of Tavertine (Limestone)

Answer 2

Used for the main pillars, the ground floor and external walls

Question 3

The purpose of Tuff or Tufo (a type of stone)

Answer 3

Used for minor pillars and radial walls

Question 4

The purpose of Concrete

Answer 4

Used for the vaulted arches

Question 5

The purpose of Bricks

Answer 5

Used in the walls

Question 6

The purpose of Tiles

Answer 6

Used for the roof

Question 7

The purpose of Marble

Answer 7

Used to create the seating and other decorations like statues

Question 8

What type of columns did the first floor carry

Answer 8

Doric columns

Question 9

What type of columns did the second floor carry

Answer 9

Ionic columns

Question 10

What type of columns did the third floor carry

Answer 10

Corinthian columns

Question 11

What did the top floor carry

Answer 11

Corinthian pilasters and small rectangular windows

Question 12

How many entrances were there

Answer 12

80 in total, 76 of these were numbered and tickets were sold for each

Question 13

What were two of the special doors used for

Answer 13

The gladiators

Question 14

What was the name and purpose of the door named after the Roman goddess of death

Answer 14

Porta Libitina - the door through which the dead were removed from the arena

Question 15

What was the second gladitorial entrance’s name and purpose

Answer 15

Porta Sanivivaria - through which victors and those allowed to survive the contests left the arena

Question 16

What were the final two doors used for?

Answer 16

Reserved exclusively for emperor’s use

Question 17

What was a problem associated with the archetecture

Answer 17

How to build a structure capable of supporting its own weight and the weight of 50,000 spectators

Question 18

How did the architect chose the building materials?

Answer 18

Based on their strength

Question 19

What revolutionary method was used to lessen the weight in seating

Answer 19

The stepped seating was at a 37 degree angle

Question 20

What were the metrics of the concrete foundations

Answer 20

52m wide 12m deep

Question 21

What was the one that was directly surrounding the arena’s name

Answer 21

Ima Cavea

Question 22

What was the first floor’s name

Answer 22

Maenianum Primum

Question 23

What was the second floor’s name

Answer 23

Maenianum Secundum Imum

Question 24

What was the third floor’s name

Answer 24

Maenianum Secundum Summum

Question 25

What was the fourth floor’s name

Answer 25

Maenianum Secundum In Ligneis

Question 26

What was the first great invention that influenced Roman architecture and buildings

Answer 26

Concrete

Question 27

How was concrete made

Answer 27

Mixing a strong volcanic material (pazzolana) with rubble, sand and a mixture of limes

Question 28

What was the second great invention that influenced Roman architecture and buildings

Answer 28

Vaulted arches

Question 29

Description of the ceilings of passages and corridors that circled the arena on each tier

Answer 29

Consisted of vaulted arches made of concrete and with supports made of strong, heavy limestone. This made the ceiling much stronger than a flat ceiling would have been.

Question 30

What did the vaulted arches aid in not doing

Answer 30

Vaulted arches made of concrete added strength to the building without adding excessive weight

Question 31

What are vaulted ceilings and what do they do

Answer 31

They are extended arches and they are found on the inside of the Colosseum. They make the building even more stable and secure

Question 32

What is the underground area

Answer 32

The hypogeum - the vast network of rooms, cells, tunnels and passages under the Colosseum

Question 33

What was used to shade the crowd and how did it do it

Answer 33

The Velarium - a retractable shade sail or awning that protected spectators from the Roman sun. It could be rolled out on sunny days, or rolled back