Colosseum Capers
It was indeed a special moment in our brief visit to Rome to have the opportunity to see firsthand, the Colosseum. It stands defiantly, against the ravages rort by time and humanity. Ironically, at the precise time Vicki and I walked along its ramparts soaking in the history surrounding this majestic construction, thousands of kilometres away in access of 95000 people were assembled at a modern day colosseum to witness contemporary gladiators fight for the right to play in the AFL Grand Final. As we wandered within the walls of the Colosseum, we received updated scores. On this occasion, Geelong were the Christians…
In this ancient construction we saw many features of our modern sporting arenas. The tiered seating, segregated according to class. The senators and nobles had priority seating. Average Giuseppe sat in the cheap seats up high.
The Colosseum continues to draw vast crowds and tour guides do a roaring trade with informational tours across a range of languages. It is also possible to hire individual audio guides to help maximize the visit. We chose this option, rather than become part of a herd of humans, playing follow the leader.
Some things we discovered:
• It is estimated some 700,000 gladiators were killed during the operation of the Colosseum
• In one bloody month, it was recorded that up to 9000 lives were sacrificed in the name of ‘entertainment’
• A wooden platform covered the floor of the arena, and using pulleys and lifts, animals and ‘entertainers’ were hoisted up through doors and flaps to suddenly be in full view of the assembled crowd. One immediately thinks of Cirque de sole.
• Stairs and ramps were employed to quickly evacuate the crowd.
• The performances started early in the day when animals such as lions, tigers, leopards, hippopotamus, bears and so forth were brought into the arena and a simulated environment was set up. The animals would either be ‘hunted’ by gladiators or employed to attack unarmed slaves/christians who were placed in the arena as ‘sport’
• In the afternoon the gladiatorial events would take place. More blood and gore for the assembled masses.
• Eventually academics began to grow tired of this wholesale slaughter and so began a movement away from such barbarous action.
• Occasionally the Emperor of the day would wish to display his credentials as a ‘warrior’ and would enter the arena as a contestant. He was not to be killed and as a protected combatant was fully armed with sword, trident, or spear. His adversary was provided with a wooden sword!
• The gladiators lived in quarters close to the Colosseum and a tunnel was used to allow them to move to the arena, and back again (if they were fortunate to survive)
• Much of the marble that covered the walkways around the arena has disappeared over time. - Stolen by locals to build their own villas!
When we first arrived by taxi, two men dressed as Roman centurions immediately approached us, they asked for my camera and proceeded to take a series of photographs involving Vicki and myself in staged poses with each of them. We were a little unsettled by the rush of attention and began to disengage from them. At this point one of the men whispered to Vicki ‘Ten Euros each. As hawkers and touts they wanted twenty Euros ($26AUD) for the encounter. My wallet was conveniently secreted at the base of my bag and I now holding my camera. Vicki fortunately only had a smattering of coins. This did not impress the accoster. Coins were sneered at and a story about supporting a family was immediately invoked. Vicki displayed her wallet. ‘Sorry, no notes, look!’
‘You have notes. You find notes’ He replied.
‘I can give you an Australian five dollar note, said Vicki plaintively.
No, no’ came the instant response
‘Then that’s all I have’
‘Just bad luck, you got the tourists with no money.’ I added
At this point, he glumly accepted his fate and began to move away. The final score, Tourists 1, Centurions zip!
* I wanted to add some photos, but Italian technology has beaten me yet again. I will place them on Facebook.
In this ancient construction we saw many features of our modern sporting arenas. The tiered seating, segregated according to class. The senators and nobles had priority seating. Average Giuseppe sat in the cheap seats up high.
The Colosseum continues to draw vast crowds and tour guides do a roaring trade with informational tours across a range of languages. It is also possible to hire individual audio guides to help maximize the visit. We chose this option, rather than become part of a herd of humans, playing follow the leader.
Some things we discovered:
• It is estimated some 700,000 gladiators were killed during the operation of the Colosseum
• In one bloody month, it was recorded that up to 9000 lives were sacrificed in the name of ‘entertainment’
• A wooden platform covered the floor of the arena, and using pulleys and lifts, animals and ‘entertainers’ were hoisted up through doors and flaps to suddenly be in full view of the assembled crowd. One immediately thinks of Cirque de sole.
• Stairs and ramps were employed to quickly evacuate the crowd.
• The performances started early in the day when animals such as lions, tigers, leopards, hippopotamus, bears and so forth were brought into the arena and a simulated environment was set up. The animals would either be ‘hunted’ by gladiators or employed to attack unarmed slaves/christians who were placed in the arena as ‘sport’
• In the afternoon the gladiatorial events would take place. More blood and gore for the assembled masses.
• Eventually academics began to grow tired of this wholesale slaughter and so began a movement away from such barbarous action.
• Occasionally the Emperor of the day would wish to display his credentials as a ‘warrior’ and would enter the arena as a contestant. He was not to be killed and as a protected combatant was fully armed with sword, trident, or spear. His adversary was provided with a wooden sword!
• The gladiators lived in quarters close to the Colosseum and a tunnel was used to allow them to move to the arena, and back again (if they were fortunate to survive)
• Much of the marble that covered the walkways around the arena has disappeared over time. - Stolen by locals to build their own villas!
When we first arrived by taxi, two men dressed as Roman centurions immediately approached us, they asked for my camera and proceeded to take a series of photographs involving Vicki and myself in staged poses with each of them. We were a little unsettled by the rush of attention and began to disengage from them. At this point one of the men whispered to Vicki ‘Ten Euros each. As hawkers and touts they wanted twenty Euros ($26AUD) for the encounter. My wallet was conveniently secreted at the base of my bag and I now holding my camera. Vicki fortunately only had a smattering of coins. This did not impress the accoster. Coins were sneered at and a story about supporting a family was immediately invoked. Vicki displayed her wallet. ‘Sorry, no notes, look!’
‘You have notes. You find notes’ He replied.
‘I can give you an Australian five dollar note, said Vicki plaintively.
No, no’ came the instant response
‘Then that’s all I have’
‘Just bad luck, you got the tourists with no money.’ I added
At this point, he glumly accepted his fate and began to move away. The final score, Tourists 1, Centurions zip!
* I wanted to add some photos, but Italian technology has beaten me yet again. I will place them on Facebook.
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