Vastu / Fengshui View The Colosseum At Rome / Italy

The Colosseum, located in Rome and also known as the Flavian amphitheatre, is the largest amphitheatre ever built. The construction began between 70 and 72 AD during the reign of Emperor Vespasian and was inaugurated in 80 AD by his son, Titus. It is located just east of the Palatine Hill, on the grounds of what used to be Nero’s Golden House . This 50,000-seat Colosseum was clad in travertine and covered by a huge canvas awning held aloft by 240 masts. A freestanding structure of stone and concrete, measuring 620 by 513 feet (189 by 156 metres), the Colosseum has a complex system of barrel vaults and groin vaults. Spread over 6 acres, its vaults span between eighty radial walls to support tiers of seating, passageways and stairs. Its façade is 48.5 m. high and the outer walls have three levels of arches, framed by decorative columns topped by capitals of the lonic (at the bottom), Doric and Corinthian (at the top) orders. The upper level, with windows and slender Corinthian pilasters, had supports for the masts that held the awning over the arena, protecting the spectators from sun and rain. The 80 entrance arches, known as vomitoria, allowed the spectators to enter and occupy their seats in a matter of minutes. The Colosseum’s interior was divided into three parts: the arena, cavea and podium. The arena had a wooden floor covered in sand to prevent the combatants from slipping and to soak up the blood. The cavea, for spectator seating, was divided into three tiers: magistrates and senior officials sat in the lowest tier, wealthy citizens in the middle and the plebs in the highest tier. The podium, a broad terrace in front of the tiers of seats, was reserved for emperors, senators and VIP’s. With the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century, the Colosseum was abandoned. In the Middle Ages, it became a fortress occupied by the powerful Frangipani family. Later, it was robbed of its precious travertine, and the marble stripped from Colosseum was used to decorate notable buildings such as the Palazzo Venezia, Palazzo Barberini and Palazzo Cancelleria. Though two-thirds of the original Colosseum has been destroyed over time, this amphitheatre remains an iconic symbol of Rome and its long, tumultuous history. This, the most recognisable of Rome’s classical buildings, is also one of the new seven wonders of the world.