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Gallery of the Roman
Coliseum, arena of gladiators
by James Mayfield (Chairman, European Heritage Library)
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this Article • About
the Author • Bibliography/Sources
The Coliseum of Rome is among
the greatest structures to remain standing in the world today.
It reveals a time of what is today perceived as barbarism,
brutality, slavery, and wealth, as well as the architectural
genius of the pre-Christian Romans and their vassalized Christian
Byzantine successors. Massive and glorious, the Coliseum has
endured nearly 19 centuries of entropy, though it has undergone
international restoration efforts to alleviate its constant
collapse and decay. It is one of the world's most well-recognized
sites and tourist destinations, and can be enjoyed from local
restaurants with wine and cuisine as well as bustling street
traffic.
Built roughly around 70CE
for several years under the commission of Vespasianus and
future Roman emperors, it remained the largest amphitheatre
in the world, surpassing even the accomplishments of the Greek
tribes before them. It originally housed realistic theatrical
performances where actual deaths were known to have occurred
for storyline fatalities, artistic performances, imperial
and military parades, as well as the famous battles of the
"Gladiators" to the appeal of the thousands of spectators
high above. Thousands fought and died here in these pre-Christian
Roman times, with participants gathered not only from Rome's
massive slaveholdings but out of voluntary service for military
and social fame. The obliteration of the Roman military and
political power by the German, Hunnish, and Slavic nations
that accompanied the internal Roman collapse did not spell
the end of theatrical performance in the Coliseum, though
the brutality of the Gladiatorial games are known to have
come to a halt when the authority over southern Italy passed
from the German Odinists to the Byzantines (the Eastern Roman
Empire), and later to the Papal States after their creation
by the German Empire of Karl the Great (Charlemagne).
The interior and exterior
of the Coliseum alike offer breathtaking sights. Collapse
and entropy of the massive structure is blatant on every section
of the amphitheatre; much restoration was done over the centuries
to this very pagan and barbaric structure, and in many parts
oddly-colored stone and brick can be seen with steel bars
to support the imminent collapse of entire sides of the building.
Original Latin and Greek inscriptions can be seen all over
the Coliseum in compliment to the elaborate marble designs
and etchings on many of the walls. The distinct sections of
the seating arrangement is fascinating: royalty are segregated
in one area (the Senate and the emperor), the Praetorian guards
in another, paupers in another, and women in another. Today,
the entire floor of the Coliseum on which the Gladiators once
stood has collapsed; the center of the building is instead
a series of shack-like structures and supports. This is the
animal and slaveholding area to feed the battles and performances.
Food waste, urine, and feces were apparently tossed aside
into large pits to prevent forcing spectators from leaving
the glorious war games. Latrines are also visible, cordoned
off to visitors. A large number of rooms with original bars
can be seen for holding Christian and Jewish slaves to be
executed or used in the games. Other chambers held female
slaves for the alleged sexual pleasure of the visitors; some
guards are proported today to have raped female slaves before
murdering those not deemed "satisfying". At least
as reported today, the Italic culture was no sanctum of morality
at this time, as shown by Tacitus after his journey into the
Germanic world he viewed as a moral role model for the declining
world superpower to the south.
The upstairs sections of
the Coliseum can be visited today with original steps that
are notably very short both due to decay and the smaller size
of the foot some 19 centuries ago. The upstairs terraces offer
a full view of the massive Roman city: a commemorative temple
to the Greek Constantine the Great (the emperor who legalized
Christianity in the West and East for the first time in history
in the 4th century CE) hordes the eye. A massive and half-collapsed
pre-Christian "pagan" Roman temple can be seen atop
a mountain as well, quite similar to the Greek Hagia Sophia
in what is today Istanbul before the Jihad of the Turks converted
it into a mosque to signify the triumph of Islam over Christendom.
In the entrance to the Coliseum,
a massive Catholic cross can be seen that is visible from
all angles in the building. From the 18th century onward,
the history offered by the Coliseum of Christian martyrs received
notice. The thousands of Christians who died here became championed
as saints for many and heroes for others, and Pope John Paul
II began to carry a cross on his back throughout the Coliseum
to commemorate their sacrifice during this brutal pagan authority.
Tour guides were not allowed to teach clients visiting the
Coliseum that Christians were massacred here until recently,
possibly because of the great deal of pride affiliated with
Rome by the new Italian nation of today.
Below are a selection of
photos from my vacation to the Coliseum in Rome.
The Coliseum can be seen from the street and restaurants.
(click to enlarge)
the full Coliseum at its best angle. (click to enlarge)
the interior visible with a massive cross to commemorate the
fallen martyrs. (click to enlarge)
the full interior. (click to enlarge)
the seating for guards and royalty. (click to enlarge)
the collapsed animal and slave storage area. (click
to enlarge)
a latrine (left) and a cell for Jews and Christians (back
end). (click to enlarge)
the full interior. (click to enlarge)
The Italians pride themselves in their historical accomplishments.
(click to enlarge)
the pre-Christian Roman temple with a collapsed half of its
dome can be seen from the Coliseum. (click to enlarge)
a commemorative arch to Constantine the Great. (click
to enlarge)
a closeup of the arch. (click to enlarge)
the side of the magnificent arch.
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ABOUT
THE AUTHOR:
James Mayfield is the owner
and Chairman of the European Heritage Library. I am working
for a doctorate in history, with a specific emphasis on Islamic
and European histories. I am well versed in all world cultures,
ethnicities, religions, languages, politics, and historical
evolution in relation to and against each other.
BIBLIOGRAPHY/SOURCES
USED:
Personal photographs, observations.
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