Jason Collins inside the Colosseum.
by Jason Collins
A bit of good news has recently come out about the Colosseum, otherwise known as the Flavian Amphitheater if you want to use the ancient Roman name.
The uppermost level is now open to the public for the first time in many years. To access this section requires a guided tour and will have an additional cost over the normal entrance fee of €12. (Learn more here.)
This section of the amphitheater was used by the poor, slaves and women. The notable exception to the banishment of women to the upper reaches were the Vestal Virgins, who had prime seats at arena level, more than likely directly across the Imperial box reserved for the Emperor. They had two boxes in the lowest level surround by senators. Above them were citizens of the Equestrian class, wealthy citizens in their own right who at some point during the Republican time of Rome furnished their own horses for battle.
The next two sections were for plebians. Your wealth determined how close you sat to the action. This third section was previously the highest section a tourist could normally see. Finally, as mentioned above, the highest section constructed on wood bleachers was reserved for the poor, slaves and women. Above the poor stretched the awning that gave the Colosseum an almost modern retractable roof.
A visit to the Colosseum gives a good indication of the monumental size of the structures Romans erected. The Colosseum and the Pantheon (more info to come about this spectacular structure in a future blog post) demonstrate that Romans built things to last.
The Colosseum is almost 2000 years old and still mostly standing. Earthquakes have taken their toll on the building, as has the repurposing of building materials that was common in medieval Rome. The subterranean level is also clearly visibly. It held trap doors and elevators, springing wild beasts into the arena, making the bloody sport more interesting.
It is important to note that there is no historical evidence that Christians were killed in the Colosseum. While it is certainly possible, we just do not have the evidence for it. In fact, a few facts suggest to us that no Christians were ever killed there. First, we know of many other places in Rome where early Christians were killed that quickly became places of veneration. One is the location of St. Peter’s basilica, built over the remains of the saint, and close to a circus (or racetrack) built by Nero. Two other locations associated with St. Paul are St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica (where he was buried) and Tre Fontana (where he was beheaded). Secondly, going along with the first fact - the Colosseum was used for many different things after the games were stopped. It was used as a fortress and a quarry. This suggests that it was not as viewed as a sacred place. Thirdly, it was not named as a location where martyrs died until around the 16th century.
The Colosseum is a must-see spot for tourists, and for good reason. The sheer magnitude and longevity of this ancient building is awe-inspiring. I still remember my first time to Rome riding into the bustling city by taxi. We came around a corner and there in front of us was the Colosseum. At that point I finally felt like we had arrived in Rome!
