Roman Colosseum

It is here that my imagination created a vision so real, I swear I was standing among ghosts.  I heard shouts of jubilation.  I heard men groaning in agony.  I smelled blood.  I felt the ground underneath me shake with the footsteps of thousands upon thousands of men and wild beasts.  It is here I understood the significance of what I was doing.  I buried once and for all any guilt over spending money on travel.  Travel brings history ALIVE.  It is here inside the guts of the Colosseum that I knew I would die poor.

Construction of this massive amphitheater began in 72 CE under Emperor Vespasian and was completed under Emperor Titus eight years later.   It was located in the center of Rome and built to be a masterpiece of Roman architecture and engineering  It must have been a thing of beauty during its prime.  There were statues of divinities and other figures from classical mythology placed under each travertine arch on the second and third floors.  Imagination is needed once again to visualize this wonder.

The Colosseum seated 50,000 spectators and was used solely for the entertainment of Rome's citizens.  There were gladiatiorial contests, mock sea battles, dramas based on the classics and one of Rome's most popular events, the venatio or animal hunt. These hunts were staged like a play with elaborate sets including trees and other flora,  Wild animals such as the Romans had never seen before were released into this mock forest.  These animals were transported back to Rome from Africa and the Middle East.  They included rhinoceros, hippopotamuses, elephants, giraffes, lions, bears, tigers and crocodiles.  I can't even begin to imagine how this was done.  To quote my son, "Those Romans were hard-core dudes!  No wonder they conquered the world."

I grew up believing that Christian martyrs had been executed here, but there is no historical evidence that this ever happened.  Once the Roman Empire collapsed, the colosseum was used for housing, workshops and a fortress.  It wasn't until the 16th and 17th centuries that it became a Christian site.  Pope Pius V (1566-1572) recommended that piligrims collect sand from the arena because it was impregnated with the blood of martyrs.  In 1653, a popular book by Fioravante Martinelli which listed the sacred sites, popularized the myth.  The story exploded.

Today, of course, the Colosseum is one of Rome's most popular tourist sites.  Just be prepared to see ghosts,  Your own imagination will decide whether its Vestal Virgins, Roman Senators or Christian martyrs!