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Classical Rome: The Flavian Amphitheatre

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Classical Rome: The Flavian Amphitheatre
Lecture 4: Classical Rome

The Flavian Amphitheatre (lat. Amphitheatrum Flavium, It. Anfiteatro Flavio ) or Colosseum (lat. Colosseum, It. Colosseo) – is the largest of the ancient Roman amphitheatre, - one of the most famous ancient monuments of ancient Rome and one of the most remarkable buildings in the world. The Colosseum is located in Rome; between the Caelian, Esquiline and Palatine hills southeast of the Forum, on the site that was once the lake and gardens of Emperor Nero’s Golden House.

Plan of ancient Rome Published by Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge;
Baldwin & Cradock, London, 1830 at the website of University of Berkely, Earth, Sience & Map Library

Colosseum was planned and started by Emperor Vespasian in 72CE,
…show more content…
Colosseum got its name from the Latin word «colossus», which means "giant". Emperors Vespasian and Titus, who visited the East and has been impressed by the enormity and greatness the pyramids of Egypt, decided to build an amphitheater, as magnificent and …show more content…
Flavian Amphitheatre was built on a concrete foundation, thickness of which is 13 meters. The walls of the Colosseum were constructed from the large pieces of blocks of the travertine stone or travertine marble that was mined in the nearby town of Tivoli. The blocks were connected together by the steel ties with a total weight of about 300 tons; for the internal parts were also used local tuff and brick. Holes visible today in different places –once were the existing mentioned bonds disappeared in the Middle Ages - an era in which the steel was greatly appreciated and very limited. A few of the original marble slabs can still be seen today around Colosseum, especially in the façade and the surrounding paving areas. Source from:

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