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Colosseum

Rome - Colosseum (photographer: Diliff)
Colosseum
Colosseum
Colosseum

General Information

Structural Type: Barrel vault
Function / usage: Amphitheater
Other name(s): Amphiteatrum Flavium
Built: 69 - 80
Status: in ruins

Geographic Information & Related Structures

Location: Rome, Roma, Lazio, Italy, Europe

Technical Information

Dimensions

width 156 m
height 50.1 m
length 188.1 m
seats 48 000

Quantities

stonework 100 000 m3

Materials

façade travertine
piers travertine
arches travertine
walls tuffa
vaults concrete

Chronology

64

The amphitheater of Taurus is destroyed by fire. It is replaced by Nero with a temporary wooden structure that was unsatisfactory for its intended uses.
69 - 79

Reign of Vespasian. Construction of the Coliseum begins in the first years of his reign, though no exact date is known. The amphitheater was actually inaugurated before it was completed and before Vespasian died.
80

The amphitheater is completed under Titus. For the final inauguration, a feast of 100 days is organized in which 5000 wild animals are killed.
217

On the Vulcanalia, the Coliseum is struck by lightning causing a large fire. Much of the arena is destroyed and rendered unusable for several years.
218 - 223

Possible period of reconstruction, perhaps works continue as late as 238 A.D.
250

Another severe fire damages the structure during the reign of Decius.
320

Again hit by lightning, but no specific damage is reported.
5th century

Inscriptions document the repair works necessitated by damage due to the earthquakes of 429 and 443.
523

The last recorded games are held in the Coliseum. The amphitheater is mostly abandoned afterwards and until the 11th century.
11th century

The Frangipane occupy the theater and convert it into a fortress.
October 1805

Beginning of modern restoration works. The debris accumulated over centuries is removed in order to be able to make necessary repairs.
1807

Work is suspended due to the political situation. Until then the outer ambulatories had been cleared, the passage of Commodus discovered, the drainage system was found and a large buttress constructed facing the Caelian.
1810 - 1814

Archeological works resume under French occupation. The excavations are overseen by M. Daru while restoration is the responsibility of the Accademia di San Luca under A. Canova. The architects are G. Valadier and G. Camporese.
December 1811

Excavation of the arena reaches 3.5 meters deep but is halted as water seeps in and the drainage system cannot be cleared to cope with this.
1814

The substructures are backfilled as the water problem cannot be solved.
1814

As the French occupation ends, Pope Pius VII continues the works with the same architects.
March 1816

Repair works resume as many parts are in grave need of repair.
1822

Under Pope Leo XII, Valadier designs a buttress to support the dilapidated façade wall and ambulatories at the W entrance. The reconstructed part was to be built in brick for economical reasons.
December 1823

Designs for the buttress are finally approved.
1826

Completion and inauguration of the buttress at entrance W.
1874 - 1875

Another attempt at excavation of the arena under P. Rosa is made. The ancient ground level is reached, though water infiltration is still a problem. The arena is backfilled again.
1939

The arena is finally excavated in its current state.

Participants

Currently there is no information available about persons or companies having participated in this project.

Relevant Web Sites

Relevant Publications

Internal Information

Structure-ID: s0001048
Created: 03/10/2000
Last Updated: 05/03/2013