File:The life of the Greeks and Romans (1875) (14745848276).jpg

Identifier: lifeofgreeksroma00guhl (find matches)
Title: The life of the Greeks and Romans
Year: 1875 (1870s)
Authors: Guhl, E. (Ernst), 1819-1862 Koner, W. (Wilhelm), 1817-1887, joint author Hueffer, Francis, 1843-1889, tr
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Publisher: London, Chapman and Hall
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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(Joe. cit., III., 159) points out that theelliptical shape was chosen in preference to the circular as it held more spectatorson an equal space; the greater length of the arena, moreover, left more freedom tothe movements of men and animals than a circle would have done. Acousticconsiderations were out of the question, as there was nothing to be heard, but onlysomething to be seen. F F 434 THE COLISEUM. for the keeping of the wild animals, also for making the necessarypreparations for the performances. The Flavian amphitheatre, better known as the Coliseum,was begun by Vespasian, and completed by his successor Titus, onthe site of a large pond (stagna Neronis) in the Golden House of Nero. Augustus is said to have planned an amphitheatre tobe erected on the same spot. It is said to have contained87,000 seats (loco), and was, owing to its central situation, one ofthe most favourite places of amusement of the Roman people. Itsplan is shown in Fig. 438. The arena, underneath which vaulted
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Fig. 439. chambers have been discovered, has the form of an ellipse, thelarger diameter measuring 264, the smaller 156 feet. Thesurrounding edifice has a uniform depth of 155 feet, which givesa total diameter of 574 feet, or of 466 feet for the enclosing outerwall. The latter was interrupted by eighty arcades, forming theopenings of the numerous systematically arranged corridors andstaircases of the interior. The lowest row of these arcades(vomitoria) is adorned with Doric, the second story with Ionic,and the third with Korinthian semi-columns. The fourth storyconsists of a wall adorned with Korinthian pilasters, and inter- THE COLISEUM. 435 mpted by windows. The total height is 156 feet. Figs. 439 and441 show views of the exterior and interior of the Coliseum inits present state. In the upper story 240 small projections areconspicuous, to which answer as many openings in the chiefcornice. These were destined to carry masts, to which ropes werefastened, to support an awning (velarium)

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