Use Colosseum

pollice verso (thumbs down) jean-léon gérôme, 1872

the colosseum used host gladiatorial shows variety of other events. shows, called munera, given private individuals rather state. had strong religious element demonstrations of power , family prestige, , immensely popular population. popular type of show animal hunt, or venatio. utilized great variety of wild beasts, imported africa , middle east, , included creatures such rhinoceros, hippopotamuses, elephants, giraffes, aurochs, wisents, barbary lions, panthers, leopards, bears, caspian tigers, crocodiles , ostriches. battles , hunts staged amid elaborate sets movable trees , buildings. such events on huge scale; trajan said have celebrated victories in dacia in 107 contests involving 11,000 animals , 10,000 gladiators on course of 123 days. during lunch intervals, executions ad bestias staged. condemned death sent arena, naked , unarmed, face beasts of death literally tear them pieces. other performances take place acrobats , magicians, typically during intervals.

during days of colosseum, ancient writers recorded building used naumachiae (more known navalia proelia) or simulated sea battles. accounts of inaugural games held titus in ad 80 describe being filled water display of specially trained swimming horses , bulls. there account of re-enactment of famous sea battle between corcyrean (corfiot) greeks , corinthians. has been subject of debate among historians; although providing water not have been problem, unclear how arena have been waterproofed, nor there have been enough space in arena warships move around. has been suggested reports either have location wrong, or colosseum featured wide floodable channel down central axis (which later have been replaced hypogeum).

sylvae or recreations of natural scenes held in arena. painters, technicians , architects construct simulation of forest real trees , bushes planted in arena s floor, , animals introduced. such scenes might used display natural environment urban population, or otherwise used backdrop hunts or dramas depicting episodes mythology. used executions in hero of story – played condemned person – killed in 1 of various gruesome mythologically authentic ways, such being mauled beasts or burned death.

today

a panorama of interior of colosseum in 2016

the colosseum today major tourist attraction in rome thousands of tourists each year paying view interior arena, though entrance citizens of european union (eu) partially subsidised, , entrance free eu citizens under eighteen or on sixty-five years of age. there museum dedicated eros located in upper floor of outer wall of building. part of arena floor has been re-floored. beneath colosseum, network of subterranean passageways once used transport wild animals , gladiators arena opened public in summer 2010.

the colosseum site of roman catholic ceremonies in 20th , 21st centuries. instance, pope benedict xvi led stations of cross called scriptural way of cross (which calls more meditation) @ colosseum on fridays.

restoration

in 2011 diego della valle, head of shoe firm tod s, entered agreement local officials sponsor €25 million restoration of colosseum. work planned begin @ end of 2011, taking 2 , half years. due controversial nature of using public–private partnership fund restoration, work delayed , began in 2013. of 2014 restoration estimated complete 2016. restoration first full cleaning , repair in colosseum s history. first stage clean , restore colosseum s arcaded façade , replace metal enclosures block ground-level arches. project plans create services center , restore galleries , underground spaces inside colosseum, including recreating wooden floor once covered underground spaces.