Photo Walk: Rome's Colosseum and Forum

The Colosseum was one of my most anticipated sites in 2013.  It was something I had long pictured in my head and could only imagine how grand it was. 

Also, it was something that was directly connected with my Roman History class I was taking at the time.  I was looking forward to the Forum even more because I had studied it in-depth in the course of the class. 

 We had been in the Vatican City that morning and took the bus across Rome for this tour.  I think one of the neatest things about Rome, and a lot of the old European cities, is the variety of architectural eras you will find represented as you drive down a street.

   I was eagerly looking out the window, waiting to spot the Colosseum looming over the city.  I was surprised to find that it doesn't loom quite as much as I anticipated.  

The Colosseum was built in the first century by the Emperors Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian.  There are 80 arched entrances in the base that would have admitted visitors during the games and events held there. 

Originally called the Flavian Amphitheater, it became the Colosseum because of a nearby statute, housed at one time in the alcove, that was known as the Colossus.  Therefore, the Amphitheater became the "House of the Colossus."  Today, there is a modern art installation in the alcove.  On our visit, it was a smaller statue surrounded by garbage.

On the upper level of the Colosseum, there is an exhibit of relics that have been saved and preserved from the past, like this piece of a column.

This carving would have been used to promote an event at the Colosseum.

These engravings announced the types of games that were scheduled for a particular event.

According to our guide, an archaeologist named Luka, no Christians were killed at the Colosseum.

Not the steps we used to get to the upper levels...

Time, earthquakes, weather, and vandals have done a lot of damage to the Colosseum.  The audience would have sat in the slanted areas.  They have reconstructed a small section to give visitors and idea what the seating would have looked like.

The floor covered the hypogeum, an underground of complex of tunnels and cages for gladiators and animals before performances.

Machinery also existed in the hypogeum to lift scenery and animals to the arena floor.  This included hydraulics and a system to flood the arena so that they could re-enact naval battles.

The dead gladiators would have been carried through these gates.

Like many of Ancient Rome's buildings, the Colosseum was cannibalized during the Middle Ages for iron and stones to be used in other buildings.  Parts of the Forum were re-purposed in St. Peter's Cathedral in the Vatican City.

The alcoves around the circuit probably housed stalls for the attendees to purchase food and drink.  Today, the alcoves store archaeological remains.

The circuit, a corridor surrounding the arena, allowed the attendees to move easily to their seats.

When Roman Emperors had won major victories, they would return to the city in Triumph.  A Triumph was a parade through the city to celebrate the victory.  Triumphs would have followed this modern road.

This is the Arch of Constantine, commemorating his victory in 312 at Malvina Bridge.

Cyprus trees line the roadway.

One of the seven hills of Rome, the Palatine Hill was the center of ancient Rome.   The city was founded on the hill.
 

The top of the Monument to Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of unified Italy, was completed in 1925.  The monument includes a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

A Forum in ancient times was the city center.  It would have held the government, religious, and financial buildings of the city.

The Basilica of Constantine, a center of government built by the emperor in the Forum area.

Remains of the Temple of Saturn

The double columns to the right of the Temple of Saturn are the remains of the Temple of Vespasian and Titus

The triple columns are the remains of the Temple of Castor and Pollux.

The Basilica Julia

The Curia, or Roman Senate House, one of the best preserved buildings of the Forum

The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina

Arch of Septimius Severus, commemorating a victory in Mesopotamia

The Column of Phocas, and in the distance, the round Temple of Vesta; looming at the top of the hill, the Arch of Titus

The Forum Augustan - built by Caesar Augustus when the old Forum had become too small for the growing city.