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  The amphitheatre (that is to say, the doubling of the Greek theatre, which was semicircular in shape and was used for the performance of tragedies), is elliptical in shape, that is to say, virtually an elongated circle. It differs from the Greek theatre, of which it is the logical development, in having a double circumference, as the semicircle is repeated, and in addition, it is free-standing (while the Greek theatre rested on the hillside as its natural support). In fact, one encounters in this building, as in others of considerable importance, the absolute predominance of the curved line, which the Romans got from the Etruscans, but which they succeeded in exploiting, in order to achieve a new, grander and more solemn sense of space. Although the Colosseum is today partly in ruins, its four orders of columns can still be clearly seen (in the four storeys): the first three consist of arcades separated by columns in the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian style respectively; the fourth is a solid wall pierced by windows. The top storey, higher than the others, more solid but less open, admirably crowns the whole building, as it were gathering together the spatial expansion of all its curves in the interior, the tiers could hold some 50.000 people. The greatest gladiatorial shows of antiquity were held in the amphitheatre. They were the favourite entertainment of the Romans, who had slaves specially trained to fight one another. But that was not the only diversion popular in that civilisation: in addition to combats between men, they also organised fights between men and animals, and these were certainly among the most cruel. The latter were skillfully organised: the arena was made to look like a hill, a wood, or some other natural setting in order to afford the illusion of an actual hunt. In fact, shows of this kind were called "hunts". But the technique and imagination of the Romans did not stop here. In fact, the Colosseum was alsoused for staging naval battles in miniature. For this purpose, the arena was filled with water by carefully devised methods, and fierce battles were fought to the bitter end on this artificial lake. The history of the Colosseum is, however, bound up with still more atrocious events, for here the first Christians were martyred, and the time when the Christian religion was still prohibited by the laws of the state. Accordingly, all those sentenced to death for belonging to this religion were killed in this arena, providing the Roman public with a new sensation and new emotions. Hence the Colosseum was an ideal place of entertainment, attracting enormous crowds from the whole of Rome as well as from neighbouring towns. It should, moreover, be remembered that the large amphitheatre possessed the most up-to-date installations for the rapid performance of the games. The underground passages and tunnels, by which men and beasts were introduced inta4he arena, can still be seen, as well as the devices for transforming the arena into a lake, etc. In addition, the Colosseum was provided with a special means of covering against bad weather, no longer to be seen; it was a particular device to spread a large awning above the building when need arose. The present ruined state of the Colosseum is due not only to natural causes, but also to the plundering by noble families and art lovers, who carried off large amounts of valuable material to adorn their villas and palaces. | |
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