The archæology of Rome, Part 7 : $b The Flavian amphitheatre, commonly called the ColosseumParker, John Henry
History
The archæology of Rome, Part 7 : $b The Flavian amphitheatre, commonly called the Colosseum
Parker, John Henry
Rome -- Antiquities
In A.D. 357, the amphitheatre is described by Ammianus Marcellinus as
perfect, and as a marvellous work, from its great height, and its immense
size. He also mentions the massive walls of rough stone, or concrete
(_moles_), bound together by travertine (_lapis tiburtinus_)[134].
A.D. 445. The amphitheatre was much repaired by the Prefect Rufus Cecina
Felix Lampadius, under Theodosius II. He restored the seats, the arena,
and the _podium_, as appears from an inscription[135] dug up on the spot
in 1814, and fixed on the wall within the building to preserve it. These
repairs are supposed to have been required in consequence of the damage
done during the siege by the Goths under Alaric, or more probably from
the effect of the earthquake mentioned by Paulus Diaconus[136] as taking
place in that year, when he says that many of the great buildings in Rome
were damaged.
A.D. 508. The Prefect Venantius Basilius also repaired the arena and the
_podium_, which had been damaged by an earthquake[137].
It was again used for the show of wild beasts under Theodoric in A.D.
519[138], and under Anicius Maximus, A.D. 523. These were the last
occasions on which we have any mention of these savage exhibitions.
In the beginning of the eighth century it appears to have been still
perfect, from the well-known proverb preserved in Bede’s _Excerptiones
patrum, Collectanea_, &c.; that the Colosseum and Rome would stand or
fall together[139]; but during that century it was again seriously
damaged by an earthquake, and it was then so much in ruins that it was
not used until the eleventh, when it was converted into a fortress, and
the southern side is said to have been much damaged by Robert Guiscard
and his Normans, but more probably by the travertine stone being carried
away for building materials.
In 1130, it became the chief fortress of the Frangipani family, and Pope
Innocent II. took refuge here from the anti-pope Anacletus[140].
In 1142, the Roman people had driven out the barons, and had possession
of this with their other fortresses, as appears from the records of the
Roman Senate at that period[141]. But the Frangipani[142] soon recovered
it, and the pope of their party, Innocent III., A.D. 1180 (called by
the opposite party the anti-pope), was their guest; and from hence he
fulminated his excommunication against the emperors, but he was soon
afterwards captured and banished.
In 1160, Alexander III.[143] (Bandinelli of Siena, called the orthodox
Pope) in his second year, being besieged by the Emperor Frederic
Barbarossa, abandoned the Lateran Palace, and took refuge in the
stronghold of the Frangipani, with his brothers and their families. He
there held courts, treated causes, and also waited for opportunities.
At that time the Colosseum gave its name to the district around it. The
fortifications included part of the Palatine Hill, with the Arch of
Titus, on which was a large tower.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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