THE FLAVIANS – Rome’s First Family 69-96AD VespasianTitusDomitian Achievements: Brought stability to Rome after the disastrous reign of Nero and the following.

THE FLAVIANS – Rome’s First Family 69-96AD

Vespasian Titus Domitian

Achievements:

• Brought stability to Rome after the disastrous reign of Nero and the following ‘Year of 4 Emperors’

• Built the Colosseum and other public works

• Unfortunately, Domitian was a megalomaniac

THE COLOSSEUM (FLAVIAN AMPHITHEATRE)Date: 70-82AD

Flavian: After the family of Emperors that built it.

Colosseum: After neighbouring statue of Nero (‘The Colossus’)Location: * Rome, on the former site of Nero’s private lake

* Chosen to show Flavians were Emperors ‘for the people’, by using Emperor’s land for public facility.

Preparation of the site: Draining lake – deep foundations could be dug and water supply used for flooding arena for naval battles

Height: 48.5m

Capacity: 50,000-70,000 spectators

Materials: Travertine foundations, façade and stairways, concrete sub-structure, marble (to 3rd level) and wood (4th level) seating.

THE FLAVIANS’ CONTRIBUTIONS

Vespasian:

Responsible for design most of construction

Titus:

Finished the Colosseum and held 100 days of Games to celebrate

Domitian:

Added high wall for fourth level.

THE COLOSSEUM - EXTERIOR

80 entrances – ‘tickets’ would have number of entrance and seat on them

Arches on 2nd and 3rd levels decorated with statues

Poles to hold ropes for velarium (awning)

4TH LEVEL: Corinthian pilasters (rectangular engaged columns)

THE EXTERIOR FACADE

3rd LEVEL: Engaged Corinthian Columns

2nd LEVEL: Engaged Ionic Columns

1st LEVEL: Engaged Doric columns

Fourth floor had just one corridor in the form of a colonnaded gallery.

Pier bases were 2 cubic metres thick.

Radial barrel-vaulted corridors to seating

Bollards around buildings held ropes supporting the internal awning.

Two sets of circular barrel-vaulted corridors on the first three levels

ELEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTION

(Right Side and Below)

Exterior

THE COLOSSEUM - INTERIOR

The sub-structure under the arena floor – a system of passages that allowed trainers to move ‘performers’ to points of entry.

Once in position, hidden gangplanks and pulleys allowed entry to the arena floor at different points.

Arena floor was made of wood and covered with sand.

Interior

Velarium provided shade or rain protection

5m wall to separate classes of seating

Circular barrel-vaults

Entrances from vomitoria (corridors under seating)

Colonnaded gallery

ASSISTING THE TRAFFIC FLOW

The circular barrel-vaulted corridors were both strong weight-bearers and enhanced mobility

76 of the exterior archways were public entranceways - formed radial corridors to stairways and seating. Also extra strong.

This is a barrel-vaulted ceiling

4th LEVEL: colonnaded gallery with standing room. Wooden seats for women underneath.

3rd LEVEL: Marble seating – ordinary citizens/ plebians

2nd LEVEL: Marble seating. ‘Knights’ / Upper Classes

1st LEVEL: Imperial family, Vestal Virgins and Senators

THE SEATING AND ROMAN SOCIETY

What fun is it for a civilised person to watch either a helpless man being torn apart by a powerful animal, or some magnificent beast to be stabbed over and over with a spear? Even if this was something to behold, you’ve seen it often enough already, and I, who was watching there, saw nothing new. The last day was for the elephants. The huge crowd was genuinely impressed, but didn’t really enjoy it much.”

- Cicero, Letters to his friends

Homework Exercise

“How does the form (design) of the Colosseum reflect its function?” Answer on a piece of paper using the same layout as your booklet did for the theatre of Leptis Magnus.

Points to cover:• Entertainment features• Access for spectators• Seating for all classes• Designed for strength