The Roman Colosseum

11 Pages 2813 Words

The Roman Colosseum Architecture of the ancient Roman Empire is considered some of the most impressive of all time. The city of Rome once was home to more than one million residents in the early centuries AD. The Romans had a fine selection of building monuments in the city of Rome including forums for civic services, temples of worship, and amphitheaters for recreation and play. The Romans pioneered and made great use of architectural mechanisms including arches, columns, and even early elevators. However, when one tends to think of great buildings, one building in Rome comes to mind. This building is the Flavian Amphitheatre, better known as the Colosseum. When discussing such a great monument such as the Colosseum, it is very important to realize the time, place, and culture in wish it stood to fully understand both its form and function. In the beginnings, Rome was both influenced by the Etruscans of the North and Greeks of Italy and South but had its basic roots from a long time of Samnite domination. The Etruscans were that of an interesting type .The Etruscans combined a passionate devotion to the ordinary pleasures of life with a haunting fear of death. They were cruel, too, and deeply superstitious, their victims would often be ordered to fight among themselves until the last had fallen. The Etruscans would have a strong impression in Roman lifestyles and philosophies. For example, the purple robe worn by Etruscan leaders would later be adopted by the Romans. They also were the influence which brought gladiatorial battles of sacrifice into the Roman culture. This was a time of blood thirsty humans who loved the site of battle. Even an early Christian named Alypius proclaimed that he ?took away with him a mad passion which prodded him not only to return (to gladatior events) with those by whom he had first been forced in, but even ahead of them and dragging in others.? This was also time of paganism, which meant sacrifice and de...