PLACES OF INTEREST IN EUROPE |
|
|
 |
| In this section, you can find some of the most important places in Europe: monuments, museums or historical constructions.
Check the information below, and know more about the Colosseum. |
|
COLOSSEUM |
|
Rome,
Italy |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
The Colosseum measures
48 meters high, 188 meters long, and 156 meters wide. The wooden arena
floor was 86 meters by 54 meters, and covered by sand. Its elliptical
shape kept the players from retreating to a corner, and allowed the
spectators to be closer to the action than a circle would allow. The Colosseum
was ingeniously designed, and most modern stadiums share important
features with the Colosseum's structure. Seating (cavea) was divided
into different sections. The podium, the first level of seating,
was for the Roman senators (many of the last senators of the empire
still have their names carved into some of the seats); the emperor's
private, cushioned, marble box was also located on this level. Above
the podium was the maenianum primum, for the other Roman aristocrats
who were not in the senate. The third level, the maenianum secundum,
was divided into three sections.
The lower part (the immum) was for wealthy citizens, while the upper
part (the summum) was for poor citizens. A third, wooden section
(the maenianum secundum in legneis) was a wooden structure at the
very top of the building, added by Domitian. It was standing room
only, and was for lower-class women.After the Colosseum's
first two years in operation, Vespasian's younger son (the newly-designated
Emperor Domitian) ordered the construction of the hypogeum (literally
meaning "underground"), a two-level subterranean network
of tunnels and cages where gladiators and animals were held before
contests began.
Numerous trap doors in the floor provided instant access to the arena
for caged animals and scenery pieces concealed underneath; larger
hinged platforms, called hegmata, provided access for elephants and
the like. Today the arena floor no longer exists, though
the hypogeum walls and corridors are clearly visible in the ruins
of the structure. The entire base of the Colosseum covers an area
equivalent to 6 acres (160,000 m²). There are also tunnels,
still in existence, configured to flood and evacuate water from
the Colosseum floor, so that naval battles could be staged prior
to the hypogeum's construction. Recent archaeological research has
shown evidence of drain pipes connected to the City's sewer system
and a large underground holding tank connected to a nearby aqueduct.
Another innovative feature of the Colosseum was its cooling system,
known as the valerium, which consisted of a canvas-covered, net-like
structure made of ropes, with a hole in the center. This roof covered
two-thirds of the arena, and sloped down towards the center to catch
the wind and provide a breeze for the audience. Sailors, standing
on special platforms, manipulated the ropes on command.
The Colosseum incorporated a number of vomitoria - passageways
that open into a tier of seats from below or behind. The vomitoria
were designed so that the immense venue could fill in 15 minutes,
and be evacuated in as little as 5 minutes. Each entrance and exit
was numbered, as was each staircase.
There were 80 entrances at ground level, 76 for ordinary spectators,
two for the imperial family, and two for the gladiators. Spectators
were given tickets in the form of numbered pottery shards, which directed
them to the appropriate section and row. The vomitoria quickly dispersed
people into their seats and, upon conclusion of the event, disgorged
them with abruptness into the surrounding streets (giving rise, presumably,
to the name).
Spectators at the amphitheater were not segregated by sex. The poet
Ovid suggests that this makes it an excellent place for his male readers
to meet women. |
| |
|
| |
At TRAVEL WORLD EUROPE, you can find qualified information about the cities of Europe, such as population, language, history, places of interest and many more. In addition, we provide information about air and train tickets, accomodations, car rental and phone rental.
If you plan a trip to any place, or just want to get more information about Europe, TRAVEL WORLD EUROPE is your first destiny! |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bellow, you can find a listing with all the countries of Europe, their capitals and most relevant cities.
The cities in yellow are available to access. Into anyone, you can find a great amount of information referred to each destiny, such as population, language, history, places of interest and many more. |
|
|
|
| |
 |
Albania |
| Tirana |
| |
 |
Austria |
| Vienna |
|
|
 |
Andorra |
| Andorra
la Vella |
| |
 |
Azerbaijan |
| Baku |
|
|
 |
Armenia |
| Yerevan |
| |
 |
Belarus |
| Minsk |
|
| |
|
|
 |
Belgium |
| Brussels |
| |
 |
Croatia |
| Zagreb |
|
 |
Bosnia
and Herzegovina |
| Sarajevo |
| |
 |
Cyprus |
| Nicosia |
|
 |
Bulgaria |
| Sofia |
| |
 |
Czech
Republic |
| Prague |
|
| |
|
|
 |
Denmark |
| Copenhagen |
| |
 |
Finland |
| Helsinki |
|
|
 |
Estonia |
| Tallinn |
| |
 |
Georgia |
| Tbilisi |
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
Greece |
| Athens |
| |
 |
Republic of Ireland |
| Dublin |
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
Latvia |
| Riga |
| |
 |
Luxembourg |
| Luxembourg |
|
 |
Liechtenstein |
| Vaduz |
| |
 |
Republic of Macedonia |
| Skopje |
|
 |
Lithuania |
| Vilnius |
| |
 |
Malta |
| Valletta |
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
Monaco |
| Monaco |
| |
 |
Northern
Ireland |
| Belfast |
|
 |
Montenegro |
| Podgorica |
| |
 |
Norway |
| Oslo |
|
| |
|
|
 |
Poland |
| Warsaw |
| |
 |
San
Marino |
| San
Marino |
|
 |
Portugal |
| Lisbon |
| |
 |
Scotland |
| Edinburgh |
|
 |
Romania |
| Bucharest |
| |
 |
Serbia |
| Belgrade |
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
Slovenia |
| Ljubljana |
| |
 |
Switzerland |
| Bern |
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
Ukraine |
| Kiev |
|
 |
Vatican
City |
| Vatican
City |
|
 |
Wales |
| Cardiff |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
