Colosseum_0556 . . . . . . . press L key
Completed in AD 80, the Roman Colosseum stands as a monument to the human capacity for regarding bloodlust and brutality as an entertainment. Routinely up to 50,000 spectators would fill the seats to watch the games in which men were pitted against men, men against beasts, and beasts against beasts. The main event could consist of contests to the death between gladiators or between gladiators and wild animals. These events could be huge in scale; Trajan is said to have celebrated his victories in Dacia in AD 107 with contests involving 11,000 animals and 10,000 gladiators over the course of 123 days. During breaks criminals condemned to death would be sent into the arena unarmed to be torn apart by wild animals.
The elliptical arena measured 83 metres by 48 metres and consisted of a heavy wooden floor covered with sand. Underneath was an elaborate network of tunnels and cages where gladiators and animals were held while waiting for the contests to begin.
© Irwin Reynolds, all rights reserved. If you are interested in using one of my images or would like a high-quality fine art print, please send an email to irwinreynolds@me.com.
Colosseum_0556 . . . . . . . press L key
Completed in AD 80, the Roman Colosseum stands as a monument to the human capacity for regarding bloodlust and brutality as an entertainment. Routinely up to 50,000 spectators would fill the seats to watch the games in which men were pitted against men, men against beasts, and beasts against beasts. The main event could consist of contests to the death between gladiators or between gladiators and wild animals. These events could be huge in scale; Trajan is said to have celebrated his victories in Dacia in AD 107 with contests involving 11,000 animals and 10,000 gladiators over the course of 123 days. During breaks criminals condemned to death would be sent into the arena unarmed to be torn apart by wild animals.
The elliptical arena measured 83 metres by 48 metres and consisted of a heavy wooden floor covered with sand. Underneath was an elaborate network of tunnels and cages where gladiators and animals were held while waiting for the contests to begin.
© Irwin Reynolds, all rights reserved. If you are interested in using one of my images or would like a high-quality fine art print, please send an email to irwinreynolds@me.com.