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THE FLAVIANS – Rome’s First Family 69-96AD
Vespasian Titus Domitian
Achievements:
• Brought stability to Rome after the disastrous reign of Nero and the following ‘Year of 4 Emperors’
• Built the Colosseum and other public works
• Unfortunately, Domitian was a megalomaniac
THE COLOSSEUM (FLAVIAN AMPHITHEATRE)Date: 70-82AD
Flavian: After the family of Emperors that built it.
Colosseum: After neighbouring statue of Nero (‘The Colossus’)Location: * Rome, on the former site of Nero’s private lake
* Chosen to show Flavians were Emperors ‘for the people’, by using Emperor’s land for public facility.
Preparation of the site: Draining lake – deep foundations could be dug and water supply used for flooding arena for naval battles
Height: 48.5m
Capacity: 50,000-70,000 spectators
Materials: Travertine foundations, façade and stairways, concrete sub-structure, marble (to 3rd level) and wood (4th level) seating.
THE FLAVIANS’ CONTRIBUTIONS
Vespasian:
Responsible for design most of construction
Titus:
Finished the Colosseum and held 100 days of Games to celebrate
Domitian:
Added high wall for fourth level.
THE COLOSSEUM - EXTERIOR
80 entrances – ‘tickets’ would have number of entrance and seat on them
Arches on 2nd and 3rd levels decorated with statues
Poles to hold ropes for velarium (awning)
4TH LEVEL: Corinthian pilasters (rectangular engaged columns)
THE EXTERIOR FACADE
3rd LEVEL: Engaged Corinthian Columns
2nd LEVEL: Engaged Ionic Columns
1st LEVEL: Engaged Doric columns
Fourth floor had just one corridor in the form of a colonnaded gallery.
Pier bases were 2 cubic metres thick.
Radial barrel-vaulted corridors to seating
Bollards around buildings held ropes supporting the internal awning.
Two sets of circular barrel-vaulted corridors on the first three levels
ELEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTION
(Right Side and Below)
Exterior
THE COLOSSEUM - INTERIOR
The sub-structure under the arena floor – a system of passages that allowed trainers to move ‘performers’ to points of entry.
Once in position, hidden gangplanks and pulleys allowed entry to the arena floor at different points.
Arena floor was made of wood and covered with sand.
Interior
Velarium provided shade or rain protection
5m wall to separate classes of seating
Circular barrel-vaults
Entrances from vomitoria (corridors under seating)
Colonnaded gallery
ASSISTING THE TRAFFIC FLOW
The circular barrel-vaulted corridors were both strong weight-bearers and enhanced mobility
76 of the exterior archways were public entranceways - formed radial corridors to stairways and seating. Also extra strong.
This is a barrel-vaulted ceiling
4th LEVEL: colonnaded gallery with standing room. Wooden seats for women underneath.
3rd LEVEL: Marble seating – ordinary citizens/ plebians
2nd LEVEL: Marble seating. ‘Knights’ / Upper Classes
1st LEVEL: Imperial family, Vestal Virgins and Senators
THE SEATING AND ROMAN SOCIETY
What fun is it for a civilised person to watch either a helpless man being torn apart by a powerful animal, or some magnificent beast to be stabbed over and over with a spear? Even if this was something to behold, you’ve seen it often enough already, and I, who was watching there, saw nothing new. The last day was for the elephants. The huge crowd was genuinely impressed, but didn’t really enjoy it much.”
- Cicero, Letters to his friends
Homework Exercise
“How does the form (design) of the Colosseum reflect its function?” Answer on a piece of paper using the same layout as your booklet did for the theatre of Leptis Magnus.
Points to cover:• Entertainment features• Access for spectators• Seating for all classes• Designed for strength