Colosseum, Rome.

Located just East of the Roman Forum- the iconic symbol of Rome, the Colosseum can be spotted. The Colosseum or Flavian Amphitheatre is a massive arena measuring about 620 by 513 feet (190 by 155 meters).

The Colosseum was built in the first century CE under the emperors of the Flavian dynasty: Vaspasian (69-79 CE), Titus (79-81 CE) and construction was then finished under Domitian (81-96 AD). (1) The arena was used to host public entertainment such as gladiator fights, wild animal hunts and public executions from 80 CE to 404 CE. (1)After four centuries of active use, the magnificent arena fell into neglect, and up until the 18th century it was used as a source of building materials for the surrounding buildings. (2)

The construction begun in 72 CE on the location that was once the lake and gardens of the Emperor Nero. For precaution against earthquake damage, the lake was drained and filled with a concrete foundation 6 meters deep. The exterior envelope consists of 80 arched entrances stacked creating 3 stories and organized by order of the columns style- Doric on the bottom, then iconic and on the top Corinthian columns allowing for easy access to 55,000 spectators who would then be seated inside by ranking. Just outside the Coliseum is the Arch of Constantine (Arco di Costantino), a 25m high monument built in AD315 to mark the victory of Constantine over Maxentius at Pons Milvius. (2)

The top floor had Corinthian pilasters and small rectangular windows. There were no less than eighty entrances, seventy-six of these were numbered and tickets were sold for each. Encircling the arena was a wide marble terrace (podium) protected by a wall within which were the prestigious ring-side seats or boxes from where the Emperor and other dignitaries would watch the events. Beyond this area, marble seats were divided into zones: those for richer private citizens, middle class citizens, slaves and foreigners and finally wooden seats and standing room in the flat roofed colonnade on the top tier reserved for women and the poor. On top of this roof platform sailors were employed to manage the large awning (velarium) which protected the spectators from rain or provided shade on hot days. The different levels of seats were accessed by broad staircases with each landing and seat being numbered. The total capacity for the Colosseum was approximately 45,000 seated and 5,000 standing spectators.

One of the oldest depictions of the Colosseum appeared on the coins of Titus and shows three tiers, statues in the upper external arches and the large column fountain which stood nearby. Under the arena floor which is now visable is a maze of small compartment rooms, corridors and animal pens. Damaged by earthquake in 422 CE it was repaired by the emperors Theodosius II and Valentinian III.

Repairs were also made in 467, 472 and 508 CE.  The venue continued to be used for wrestling matches and animal hunts up to the 6th century CE but the building began to show signs of neglect and grass was left to grow in the arena. In the 12th century CE it became a fortress of the Frangipani and Annibaldi families. The great earthquake of 1231 CE caused the collapse of the southwest facade and the Colosseum became a vast source of building material - stones and columns were removed, iron clamps holding blocks together were stolen and statues were melted for lime.

Works Cited: http://www.ancient.eu/Colosseum/

http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/colosseum/videos/deconstructing-history-colosseum?cmpid=mrss_int_taboola_video_his

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/flav/hd_flav.htm

http://www.rome.info/colosseum/

The Theater of Priene

  The Theater of Priene

Centered View From Second Seating Tier

The horseshoe-shaped theater at Priene represents one of the best-preserved and earliest forms of Hellenistic theaters built in Turkey. Ten kilometers north of Miletus, the ancient site of Priene sits on the northern edge of the Meander River just outside the small city of Gullubahçe, Turkey.

Far Right View Towards Center

The city of Priene is estimated to have been established around 350 BC, and the theater is believed to be constructed soon after, 332-330 BC. The project is accredited to the architect Pytheos, the same designer of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. Although time, weather and varying political control has altered the ruins, they still retain many of features associated with the Hellenistic theaters. Since the Hellenistic Age formerly begins after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC the theater at Priene can be seen as a forefront design scheme that most likely greatly contributed to the Hellenistic age amphitheater archetype. The arching seating area excavated into the slope of a hill behind, while a two-story structure creating both a backdrop for the actors and chorus as the stage was placed directly at the base. It is also likely that the structure may have been used by the performers to enhance the experience of the theater as a sort of backdrop, backstage or as a set itself. The theater was relatively small in scale compared to later versions to come elsewhere, it could accommodate over 6000 people in its 47 rows of seating. Remarkably, the theater was in use for over five-hundred years.
It is also likely since Vitruvius mentions this technology that it was implemented in the Priene theater as well, that the theater hosted many large vessels filled with a certain volume of water and mathematically placed throughout the theatron (seating area) in order to assist the actor’s voices to resonate further.

The theatron supports forty-seven rows of seats. There are 25 in the lower division and 22 in the upper seating area, the pathway dividing the two areas is termed the diazoma and it navigates the length of the semicircular seating. The upper area is divided once more by were divided by 23 staircases vertically, klimakes. Archeologists suggest that square holes in the marble seating are in fact post-holes to suspend a shading canopy. The lower 22 rows of seating is divided by 13 klimakes, and these seats were most likely reserved for more distinguished guests; however, the lowest row of seating,nearest the stage, was assuredly reserved for important guests, patrons, public officials, etc.. This area is termed as the prohedria and many of the seats here were elegantly carved throne-like chairs.

It is also believed by many archeologists that the theater was also a host to political speeches and debates as the theater hosts a water timer that was commonly used for such events.




It is interesting to note how successful these early Hellenistic theaters are, that their design strategies are still in prolific use today in a vast variety of different scales as well. Pictured to the left is the Hollywood Bowl, an outdoor amphitheater constructed in the early twentieth century as a clear tribute to the Hellenistic Theaters, such as the Theater of Priene, to which it owes its design. 

Works Cited:Valière, Jean-Christophe, Bénédicte Palazzo-Bertholon, Jean-Dominique Polack, and Pauline Carvalho. "Acoustic Pots in Ancient and Medieval Buildings: Literary Analysis of Ancient Texts and Comparison with Recent Observations in French Churches." Acta Acustica United with Acustica99.1 (2013): 70-81. Web.
Heffernan, Amanda. "Priene.Theatre." Priene.Theatre. Whitman College, 2003. Web. 29 Oct. 2016.

Watkin, David. A History of Western Architecture. New York: Thames and Hudson, 1986. Print.