The Roman Colosseum

Arguably the most impressive piece of architecture and engineering from the days of the Empire of Rome, what we know today as the Colosseum, has stood amongst humanity for almost two thousand years. Originally it was known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, or in Latin Amphitheatrum Flavium, according to Willy Logan due to the fact it was built by emperors of the Flavian Dynasty; Vespasian, Titus and Domitian.

The Colosseum is the largest elliptical amphitheatre ever built and occupies a site in Rome just east of the Roman Forum, in the city centre, occupied previously by the Emperor Nero's residences; during Nero's reign, the burning of Rome had destroyed the main stone built arena, the amphitheatre of Statilius Taurus, as well as the wooden amphitheatre, the Amphitheatrum Neronis, and after the destruction of these buildings Nero had appropriated the land for his own use, building his own lavished quarters- the Domus Aurea, meaning ‘golden house' in Latin, and the Colossus statue, a self dedication. The common name of ‘Colosseum' is thought to be derived from the name of this enormous statue, a theory concurred by Alan Baker, though many disagree believing that the word ‘colosseum' was actually more derivative of the middle ages.

Back to Nero, upon his death and end of rule in 68 AD, Nero's reign had the morale of the Roman people extremely low. The purposes of the Colosseum are in counter to the acts of Nero, and can be simplified down to be an instilment of hope and pride for the people of the Empire, a gift to win the favour of the people, and as a specific place of entertainment and frivolity, all embroidered by the Emperor Vespasian.

Vespasian, the processor of Nero, felt it was his duty to the people of Rome to repair the damages made by the former Emperor, and to help him gain the favor and trust of his seemingly mentally and physically decimated followers, after the fires of 64 AD and the civil war of 69 AD. Also, the construction of the Colosseum includes an embodiment of Rome's power in a dedicatory monument, with its construction analogous to the Roman tradition of celebrating and promoting their military victories and empirical prowess.

Some elements of aid to these purposes come in the form of the positioning of the amphitheatre, as in contrast to many other amphitheatres which were located on the outskirts of cities, the Colosseum was constructed in the city centre; the Colosseum was both literally, and symbolically, at the heart of Rome, and also this is supported by a physical source; According to a reconstructed inscription found on the site, "the emperor Vespasian ordered this new amphitheatre to be erected from his general's share of the booty", which aids a theory of Amanda Claridge in her book, ‘Rome: An Oxford Archeaological guide', of how the Colosseum was commissioned from the vast quantities of treasure seized by the Romans in their victory in the Great Jewish Revolt of 70AD.

Within this ‘booty' it is said that Vespasian brought back from the Jewish War an estimated 100,000 slaves, and therefore had a massive workforce. Many of the slaves undertook the manual labour on the construction of the colosseum, while teams of professional Roman builders, engineers and decorators undertaking the more skilled tasks of design and adornment. The construction utilized a careful combination of concrete for the foundations, travertine for the piers and arcades, and a brown stone infill called tufa between piers for the walls of the lower two levels, with brick-faced concrete used for the upper levels and for most of the vaults.

The initial construction of the Colosseum took approximately ten years, being finalised in 80 AD, with its completion overseen