The Colosseum: The Symbol of Rome
History:: The building of the Colosseum started in AD 72 and took 8 years to complete. With over 80 entrances, the Colosseum could seat 55,000 to 73,000 people! Christians fought Lions; Gladiators, each other, and at the end, if you lost, the emperor gave a thumbs up, meaning you lived, or a thumbs down, meaning you were put to death. In AD 404 Honorius banned combat and parts of the Colosseum were carted off to build many other sites in Rome, including the St. Peter’s Cathedral. Pope Benedict XIV stopped the destruction in 1744 and dedicated the site to the Christians who had lost their lives.
Our Experience:: Getting to the Colosseum was a pure NIGHTMARE! We left at the time Jake wanted, 8:00, rather than at 7:15 like I wanted. When we asked the front desk the best way to get there, she said it would take approximately 45 minutes via public transit. We didn't have to be there until 9:40, so we thought, “Oh ok we do have time”. And we did, had we of gotten on the bus going the correct direction! We ended up taking nearly the entire bus route, to get to the Metro station, to take the Metro A to the main terminal to get on Metro line B to Colosseum. Despite our roundabout way of traveling, and making mistakes, we managed to get there right at 9:40! When we finally reached our stop on the Metro line, we found our way to the exit, and as we topped the stairs, THERE IT WAS! Right in front of us! THE COLOSSEUM!! I was in pure Amazement! We found our tour group, and started our first Roman adventure!
 |
| Me and the girls waiting at the bus stop! |
 |
| Lexi riding the bus |
 |
| Colosseo |
 |
| Jake in front of the Colloseumn |
 |
| The holes in the top had wooden boards in them, they were used to put a canopy type top for when there was bad weather. |
 |
| This was all that was left of a metal gate after the great fire in Rome in AD 64 |
 |
| Alanea and I inside the Colosseum |
 |
| This area was actually covered by a wooden floor. It was where all the lions and tigers and bears and other fighting animals were kept. It was completely dark under the flooring, the only lighting was carried by lanterns. Slaves were the ones that worked underneath, and it is said that most of the small fires that occurred here, before the "Great Fire", was caused by slaves and the lanterns. |
