Friday 2 September 2011

Interesting Facts About the Colosseum:

TheColosseum, which was originally named Flavian Amphitheater, is the mostimpressive building of the Roman Empire andthe largest building of the era. It is also considered as the greatest work of Roman architecture and engineering.

Here aresome interesting facts about the Colosseum.


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1.) The Colosseum was built by Emperor Vespasian, founder of theFlavian dynasty, for Titus, his successor.

2.) Colosseum is an elliptical building measuring 189 meterslong and 156 meters wide with a base area of 24,000 m² with a height of morethan 48 meter.

3.) It has about 80 entrances and can accommodate 50,000spectators.

4.) Construction of this huge edifice started in 72 CE and wascompleted in 80 CE.

5.) In 847, the southern side of the Colosseum collapsed becauseof a devastating earthquake.

6.) The marble façade and some parts of the Colosseum were usedfor the construction of St Peter’s Basilica and later monuments.

7.) The Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and publicspectacles such as animal hunts, mock sea battles, re-enactments of famousbattles, executions and dramas.

8.) During the inaugural games of the Colosseum in 80 CE held byTitus, some 9,000 wild animals were slaughtered.

9.) In 107 CE, Emperor Trajan is said to have celebrated hisvictories in Daciawith contests involving 11,000 animals and 10,000 gladiators within 123 days.

10.) It is estimated that the games played in theColosseum for hundreds of years have taken the lives of about 500,000 peopleand over a million wild animals.

11.) The last gladiatorial fights occurred in435 CE and the last animal hunts stopped in 523 CE. It was primarily due to thecost of procuring animals and gladiators and maintaining the expensivefacility.

12.) More than 100,000 cubic meters of travertine stone wereused for the outer wall of Colosseum which was set without mortar held togetherby 300 tons of iron clamps.

13.) Colosseum was built near the giant statue of Colossus whichwas part of the Nero’s Park. The current name was derived from the statueof Colossus.

14.) Based on historical evidences, it shows that 200 bullock cartswere used to transport marbles to the construction site.

15.) The total amount of marbles used for the construction ofthe Colosseum was estimated at 100,000 cubic meters.

16.) Receiving millions of visitors every year, the Colosseum isthe most famous tourist attraction of Rome.

17.) Elton John, Billy Joel, Paul McCartney and Ray Charles weresome of the few famous singers that performed at the Colosseum.

Thanks: factoidz.com










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