Colosseum - Archetecture Flashcards
Materials used
- Tavertine (limestone)
- Tuff or tufo (a type of stone)
- Concrete
- Bricks
- Tiles
6.Marble
The purpose of Tavertine (Limestone)
Used for the main pillars, the ground floor and external walls
The purpose of Tuff or Tufo (a type of stone)
Used for minor pillars and radial walls
The purpose of Concrete
Used for the vaulted arches
The purpose of Bricks
Used in the walls
The purpose of Tiles
Used for the roof
The purpose of Marble
Used to create the seating and other decorations like statues
What type of columns did the first floor carry
Doric columns
What type of columns did the second floor carry
Ionic columns
What type of columns did the third floor carry
Corinthian columns
What did the top floor carry
Corinthian pilasters and small rectangular windows
How many entrances were there
80 in total, 76 of these were numbered and tickets were sold for each
What were two of the special doors used for
The gladiators
What was the name and purpose of the door named after the Roman goddess of death
Porta Libitina - the door through which the dead were removed from the arena
What was the second gladitorial entrance’s name and purpose
Porta Sanivivaria - through which victors and those allowed to survive the contests left the arena
What were the final two doors used for?
Reserved exclusively for emperor’s use
What was a problem associated with the archetecture
How to build a structure capable of supporting its own weight and the weight of 50,000 spectators
How did the architect chose the building materials?
Based on their strength
What revolutionary method was used to lessen the weight in seating
The stepped seating was at a 37 degree angle
What were the metrics of the concrete foundations
52m wide 12m deep
What was the one that was directly surrounding the arena’s name
Ima Cavea
What was the first floor’s name
Maenianum Primum
What was the second floor’s name
Maenianum Secundum Imum
What was the third floor’s name
Maenianum Secundum Summum
What was the fourth floor’s name
Maenianum Secundum In Ligneis
What was the first great invention that influenced Roman architecture and buildings
Concrete
How was concrete made
Mixing a strong volcanic material (pazzolana) with rubble, sand and a mixture of limes
What was the second great invention that influenced Roman architecture and buildings
Vaulted arches
Description of the ceilings of passages and corridors that circled the arena on each tier
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.
What did the vaulted arches aid in not doing
Vaulted arches made of concrete added strength to the building without adding excessive weight
What are vaulted ceilings and what do they do
They are extended arches and they are found on the inside of the Colosseum. They make the building even more stable and secure
What is the underground area
The hypogeum - the vast network of rooms, cells, tunnels and passages under the Colosseum
What was used to shade the crowd and how did it do it
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
