Today, I awoke as the ship was heading into the port of Chivitavecchua, several miles north of Rome. It was an early wake up call because my excursion was leaving the ship at before 8 am.
The bus ride to the center of Rome took a little more than an hour. Our first stop was the Colosseum!!! As we approached, we first passed part of the aqueduct that had at one time, fed a man-made lake that was part of Nero's palace. The lake was used to feed the Colosseum with water for reenactments of Roman naval victories. It was later drained and the Colosseum had a subfloor created.
We came across Constantine's Triumphal Arch. It demonstrated the victory of Constantine over Maxentius at Ponte Milvio in 312 AD. It was built in 315 AD using pieces from other temples and buildings throughout the city. Pieces that were originally built for other emperors and gods. Their use in this arch protected them from destruction when Christianity became the state religion of the empire.
The bus ride to the center of Rome took a little more than an hour. Our first stop was the Colosseum!!! As we approached, we first passed part of the aqueduct that had at one time, fed a man-made lake that was part of Nero's palace. The lake was used to feed the Colosseum with water for reenactments of Roman naval victories. It was later drained and the Colosseum had a subfloor created.
We came across Constantine's Triumphal Arch. It demonstrated the victory of Constantine over Maxentius at Ponte Milvio in 312 AD. It was built in 315 AD using pieces from other temples and buildings throughout the city. Pieces that were originally built for other emperors and gods. Their use in this arch protected them from destruction when Christianity became the state religion of the empire.
We then got in line to enter the Colosseum. Due to the holy week and the preparations for the Pope to come on Friday to use the Colosseum for the Stations of the Cross, there was very tight security to enter the building. It took more than an hour to get in once we got in line due to baggage checks and metal detectors.
The Colosseum was built between 72-80 AD to give back a piece of Rome to the people after Nero had taken so much. Its actual name is Flavian Amphitheater. It was only used two or three times a month, but those included celebrations that could last for multiple days. Below is just inside the outer layer upon entering.
We entered from one of 80 gates at the base of the Colosseum. There were 76 for the people, one for the emperor, one for the nobles, and two for the gladiators - one for rhe victor and one for the defeated. Everyone who entered the Colosseum was given a ticket that could be made of wood or leather. This ticket told them which gate to use and on which level they should sit. The wealthy and nobles sat closer to the action and the poor sat farther up in the stands.
Me enjoying the view!
Gladiators did not always fight to the death because it was expensive to train a gladiator. They were famous throughout the city in a similar way to wrestlers today. They were entertainment for middle and lower classes.
They worked in the space below the arena floor. The word arena comes from the word sand. There subfloor was covered with wooden planks and sand which absorbed the mess left after the battles.
In addition to the gladiators, there were fighters with a variety of customs that were sent to fight each other and large animals brought into the city. Sometimes, they would turn the arena into a hunting ground with a variety of large animals including elephants, lions, and even hippos. The people living in the city would never have seen such animals and would consider them monsters.
In addition to the gladiators, there were fighters with a variety of customs that were sent to fight each other and large animals brought into the city. Sometimes, they would turn the arena into a hunting ground with a variety of large animals including elephants, lions, and even hippos. The people living in the city would never have seen such animals and would consider them monsters.
The Colosseum was damaged by earthquakes in 442 and 508 AD and one of the three layers of the structure began to collapse. The structure hosted its final event in 537 AD and then was basically abandoned until the poor of the city began living within the walls. They created small homes under the arches and grazed sheep in the arena.
The Pope declared the structure a holy site in the 18th century which required that the people living in the Coloseum move out and it began to be preserved. Friday, it will be be where the Pope will lead the Stations of the Cross.
According to my guide, they even had concerts within the Coloseum until recently when they discovered that the sound waves were damaging the ancient portions. Paul McCartney was the final artist to perform inside.
The Pope declared the structure a holy site in the 18th century which required that the people living in the Coloseum move out and it began to be preserved. Friday, it will be be where the Pope will lead the Stations of the Cross.
According to my guide, they even had concerts within the Coloseum until recently when they discovered that the sound waves were damaging the ancient portions. Paul McCartney was the final artist to perform inside.
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