03/01/2007 | The Coliseum

The quintessential picture of the Coliseum. Note the scaffolding. The day we were there a group of fire fighters were abseiling from the top of it as part of a public demonstration. That's right - abseiling off a 2000 year old building.

The Coliseum was originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre. Originally capable of seating 45,000-50,000 spectators, it was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. As well as the traditional gladiatorial games, many other public spectacles were held there, such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, reenactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology. The building eventually ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era. It was later reused for such varied purposes as housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry and a Christian shrine.

Although it is now in a severely ruined condition due to damage caused by earthquakes and stone-robbers, the Colosseum has long been seen as an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome and is one of the finest surviving examples of Roman architecture. It is one of modern Rome's most popular tourist attractions and still has close connections with the Roman Catholic Church, whose Pope leads a torchlit "Way of the Cross" procession to the amphitheatre each Good Friday.

10:45 Posted in Rome, May 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)