The Amphitheatre and The Colosseum

Question 1

Early gladiator fights

Answer 1

In forum or circus

Question 2

When were amphitheatres introduced

Answer 2

1st century BCE 
in Pompeii (70s BCE) 

‘A theatre on both sides’

First permanent amphitheatre in Rome (29BCE)

250 across empire

Question 3

Colosseum construction

Answer 3

70s CE
Vespasian
Opened in spring 80
Paid for by his sack of Jerusalem in 70CE
Largest amphitheatre
Built from hard travertine rock from Tibur
Oval circumference (57m)
80 entrances (4 reserved for VIPs)
Tickets used
Huge retractable awning (protected 2/3 of spectators from sun and rain) supported on poles fixed to the top of the building and hoisted into position with ropes tied to posts outside the stadium

Question 4

Origins of the Colosseum

Answer 4

64CE - terrible fire in Rome
Nero didn’t reconstruct people’s housing, but ordered a ‘Golden House’ surrounded by beautiful gardens which was turned into a lake

68CE - Nero outlawed by the senate- he fled and committed suicide

Vespasian demolishes lots and filled in the lake, building a magnificent amphitheatre so he was giving back the land

Question 5

Name

Answer 5

Amphitheatrum Flavium (Flavius was Vespasian’s family name)

Colosseum derives from bronze stature of Nero (35m in height) which stood nearby and wasn’t demolished but named after the Sun God

Question 6

What were the vomitoria

Answer 6

Entrance passages which opened out into the tiers of seats

‘To spew out’

Question 7

What was the podium

Answer 7

Terrace where the senators sat

Question 8

What were the pulvinares

Answer 8

Special boxes at the north and south ends for the emperor and the vestal virgins

Question 9

Describe the seating in the colosseum

Answer 9

50,000 seats (4m above arena) according to social class - higher status, closer to action

3 main seating tiers

1: equites
2: ordinary citizens
3: marginalised elements of society (women, slaves, poor)

Question 10

Describe the arena of the colosseum

Answer 10

86x54m in diameter
Ground covered in sand (to soak up blood) ; arena meant sand
Metal fence round outer limit
Archers stood by
Hypogeum underneath (network is tunnels, cages and lifts) where criminals and animals were held before being sent up through trapdoors
Special effects provided

Question 11

Describe sea battles

Answer 11

naumachiae

Popular with Julius Caesar, Claudius and Domitian

Some separate venues were created to host them

Condemned criminals were forced to fight from small boats (often re-enactions of historical or mythical sea battles)
Crocodiles were released