File:Curious questions in history, literature, art, and social life. Designed as a manual of general information (1890) (14762539514).jpg

Identifier: curiousquestions00kill (find matches)
Title: Curious questions in history, literature, art, and social life. Designed as a manual of general information
Year: 1890 (1890s)
Authors: Killikelly, Sarah H. (Sarah Hutchins), 1840-1912
Subjects: Questions and answers
Publisher: Philadelphia, Keystone
Contributing Library: Getty Research Institute
Digitizing Sponsor: Getty Research Institute

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rant reful-gent with rays as the god of the sun. The Colosseum is, without doubt, the most celebratedbuilding in the world. It is in the form of an ellipse, measuring eighteenhundred and forty-eight feet in circumference, and isbuilt in a series of three arcades, one above another,with an attic over all, the total height being one hun-dred and sixty-five feet. The seats, which range up fromthe arena, are of massive stone, and could accommodateeighty-seven thousand persons. The seats were pro-tected from the sun by an awning of canvas stretchedacross the building. It was commenced by the Emperor Vespasian aboutthe year A.D. 72, and completed at the end of thefourth year after the laying of the corner-stone. Thelast two rows were finished by the Emperor Titus, sonof Vespasian, after his return from the conquest -ofJerusalem. It is said that twelve thousand captiveJews were employed in building the Colosseum, andthat the external walls alone cost a sum equal to seven-teen million francs.
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CURIOUS QUESTIONS. 313 It was dedicated by Titus in the year 80, with gamesthat lasted one hundred days, during which time ninethousand animals were slain to gratify the thirst forblood of the savage populace, while eighty thousandspectators crowded from day to day the marble seatsand corridors of this magnificent structure. Designed originally for exhibitions of wild beasts,which were made to fight in the arena, gladiatorial com-bats were soon introduced; and, during the era of thepersecutions of the Christians, many of them sufferedmartyrdom by being thrown to the wild beasts withinthe arena. The arena could on occasions be filled withwater, for the sake of naval combats. There is an ancient prophecy concerning the Colos-seum : — While stands the Colosseum, Rome will stand;When falls the Colosseum, Rome will fall;And when Rome falls, the world! 242. BRAZEN SERPENT OF MOSES. The history of the brazen serpent shows how evena legitimate symbol, retained beyond its time and afterit ha

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