The wonder of Rome: the Colosseum

A technical feat of ancient Rome, the Colosseum was commissioned by Emperor Vespasian in 72 AD. At the end of a ten-year construction period, his son Titus presided over the inauguration of this temple to the games with great pomp and ceremony.

At the very least, more than 50,000 spectators could be accommodated within its walls, which were opened up by multiple arcades. Built over 4 storeys, the amphitheatre was once almost 50 metres high. Shaped like an ellipse, the imposing monument has a circumference of over 500 metres. Nero's colossus, which stood nearby when it was built, gave the amphitheatre its late medieval name of Colosseum.

Now a veritable visual spectacle for tourists from all over the world, the Colosseum was originally built to host a variety of shows. From gladiatorial and animal fights to public events, hunting shows, re-enactments of famous battles and dramas based on classical mythology, the monument was a veritable hotspot of entertainment in Rome.

Thanks to the wooden pillars that held the arena together from the underground passages, the arena was also intended to host naumachia. These simulations of naval battles from Roman history were held within the confines of the site, which was completely flooded. The staging required many hours to set up... a minimum of seven! The shows then lasted an entire day.

The day before the fights, there was a dinner open to the public, given by the organiser to the gladiators. In the morning, the parade of gladiators in full regalia preceded the fight, while lunchtime was the time set aside for the execution of those condemned to death. Before the eyes of the public, they were burnt at the stake or devoured by wild beasts. In the afternoon, the gladiators would parade before the emperor, saluting him with the motto: "Ave caesar, morituri te salutant".

Today, visitors can only see part of the original construction. The passage of time, earthquakes and the practice of stripping monuments have all contributed to making the symbol of Rome as we see it today.

During your visit, you'll notice that one section of the façade has been stripped of its upper storeys... In the 14th century, when the Pope returned to Rome, ownership of the building was divided three ways, with one third going to an archconfraternity. The archconfraternity became remarkably wealthy by selling the stones that had fallen as a result of natural phenomena, as well as those still in place on the Colosseum! The absence of part of the monument is therefore not solely due to the ravages of time, and today it can be found scattered around many buildings in the city.

Outside, the terraces, the arena and the façade leave those who come to admire this wonder of the world speechless. Inside, it's the underground passages that arouse the curiosity of some. This hidden space, used as a backstage area for shows, was a series of corridors and rooms plunged into darkness.

At the foot of the Colosseum, the 21-metre-high Arch of Constantine stands in honour of Constantine. Located on the axis of the Route des Triomphes, it was built using fragments of earlier monuments, in a style that was very modern for its time. The most attentive and observant will notice reliefs showing Marcus Aurelius offering bread to the poor, statues of Trajan's Forum and a representation of his victory over the Dacians. These scenes are all inscribed on blocks of marble.