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The largest amphitheater in the Roman world
Colosseum This presentation begins with exterior views, continues with interior views, and concludes with images taken at night. The Pictorial Library of Bible Lands provides PowerPoint files in addition to individual jpg images. The PowerPoint files are organized in logical sequence and may provide a quicker option for copying slides into other presentations. The PowerPoint files also include annotations about the sites and images that are not available elsewhere. The images in the PowerPoints are approximately 1024x768 pixels, the maximum size displayed by many projectors. Users will particularly benefit from accessing the individual higher-resolution jpg images if (1) they have a projection system higher than 1024x768; (2) they want to zoom in on a particular portion of an image; or (3) they want to crop, edit, adapt, or print an image. The largest amphitheater in the Roman world
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Colosseum from Arch of Titus
The Colosseum was built during the years AD and the first games held in it in AD 80. Vespasian built the Colosseum over an earlier palace complex that Nero had erected, financing the construction by selling war spoils (probably from the Jewish victory). Vespasian’s son, Titus, finished the amphitheater, which was referred to as the Flavian Amphitheater, after Vespasian’s and Titus’ family name, Flavius. Not until the Middle Ages did anyone call it the “Colosseum,” a name taken from the Colisaeus, a large statue of Nero formerly standing beside the amphitheater. tb Colosseum from Arch of Titus
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tb Colosseum
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Colosseum from west tb
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Colosseum from west tb
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tb p Colosseum
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tb Colosseum
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tb Colosseum from east
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Colosseum from northwest
The travertine façade of the Colosseum was decorated with semi-columns in a different classical style for each tier: the lowest Doric, the middle Ionic, and the highest Corinthian. The travertine blocks were connected with iron clamps which were removed in the Middle Ages. tb Colosseum from northwest
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Colosseum from west tb
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Colosseum exterior arches showing construction
tb Colosseum exterior arches showing construction
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Colosseum exterior lowest level arch
The 80 arches at ground level served as entrances into the amphitheater. Marked with numbers, each arch was reserved for a different type of ticket, whose number matched the doorway. A special arch located on the northeast side was reserved for the emperor alone. tb Colosseum exterior lowest level arch
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Colosseum exterior second level arch
tb Colosseum exterior second level arch
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Colosseum exterior third level arch
tb Colosseum exterior third level arch
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Colosseum interior panorama
The final phase of the Colosseum’s construction allowed more than 50,000 spectators into the amphitheater, making it by far the largest in the history of the Roman empire. The interior was made of tufa (a brittle, sandy, volcanic rock) and brick-faced concrete. tb Colosseum interior panorama
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Colosseum interior panorama
tb Colosseum interior panorama
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tb Colosseum interior
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The arena was constructed of wood in the shape of an oval, measuring 280 by 170 feet (86 by 54 m), and then covered with sand (Greek arena, from which the word for this platform came). Under the arena were housed animals and gigantic stage props for battle scenes played out in the arena. When Titus officially opened the games in AD 80, games were held for the first hundred days, during which time thousands of animals were slaughtered. A wall originally surrounded the arena, which served to protect spectators from the wild animals. Gladiators competed in hand-to-hand combat until the 5th century. At times the arena was also flooded and mock sea battles were held, similar to those at the Circus Maximus. tb Colosseum arena
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Colosseum interior seating
The place where the spectators sat, called the cavea, was overlain with marble and composed of three tiers, or levels. The tier on which a spectator held a seat reflected his social standing, with the least respected (populace, women, and slaves) sitting at the top, Roman citizens in the middle, and the most respected (knights) at the bottom. Between the cavea and the arena stood a podium where emperors and other high officials took their seats. tb Colosseum interior seating
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tb Colosseum interior
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Colosseum Door of Death
The Door of Death gets its name from the fresh carcasses that were dragged out of the Colosseum this way. tb Colosseum Door of Death
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Colosseum interior seating base
tb Colosseum interior seating base
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Colosseum interior seating base and arches
tb Colosseum interior seating base and arches
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Colosseum interior reconstructed seats
tb Colosseum interior reconstructed seats
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Colosseum DMV Basilius Inscription with mistake
tb Colosseum DMV Basilius Inscription with mistake
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Colosseum at night tb
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Through the centuries fires and earthquakes destroyed some of the structure. Nobles and churchmen used the site as a quarry when looking for building materials, especially travertine. wk Colosseum at night
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Colosseum at night tb
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The Colosseum fell into disuse during the Christian era
The Colosseum fell into disuse during the Christian era. In the Middle Ages the Frangipani and Annibaldi families used it as a castle-fortress while battling with other families within the city. Emperor Henry VII presented the Colosseum to Rome in 1312, but by the 15th century, it had become a stone quarry. In 1749 it was dedicated to Christ’s Passion, because many Christians were thought to have been martyred in it; today the Pope visits annually on Good Friday to carry the cross in a reenactment of the Passion. In the 19th century, visitors like Lord Byron and Charles Dickens admired the structure for the romantic nature of its ruins. tb Colosseum at night
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Colosseum at night with full moon
tb Colosseum at night with full moon
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wk Colosseum at night
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Colosseum at night from below
tb Colosseum at night from below
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