Go behind the scenes to discover why the Colosseum was the king of
amphitheaters in the Roman world--a paragon of Roman engineering
prowess.
Early one morning in 80 CE, the Colosseum roared to life with the
deafening cheers of tens of thousands of spectators as the emperor,
Titus, inaugurated the new amphitheater with one hundred days of bloody
spectacles. These games were much anticipated, for the new amphitheater
had been under construction for a decade. Home to spectacles involving
exotic beasts, elaborate executions of criminals, gladiatorial combats,
and even--when flooded--small-scale naval battles, the building itself
was also a marvel. Rising to a height of approximately 15 stories and
occupying an area of 6 acres--more than four times the size of a modern
football field--the Colosseum was the largest of all amphitheaters in
the Roman Empire.
In A Monument to Dynasty and Death, Nathan T. Elkins tells the story
of the Colosseum's construction under Vespasian, its dedication under
Titus, and further enhancements added under Domitian. The Colosseum,
Elkins argues, was far more than a lavish entertainment venue: it was an
ideologically charged monument to the new dynasty, its aspirations, and
its achievements.
A Monument to Dynasty and Death takes readers on a behind-the-scenes
tour of the Colosseum from the subterranean tunnels, where elevators and
cages transported gladiators and animals to the blood-soaked arena
floor, to the imperial viewing box, to the amphitheater's decoration and
amenities, such as fountains and an awning to shade spectators. Trained
as an archaeologist, an art historian, and a historian of ancient Rome,
Elkins deploys an interdisciplinary approach that draws on contemporary
historical texts, inscriptions, archaeology, and visual evidence to
convey the layered ideological messages communicated by the Colosseum.
This engaging book is an excellent resource for classes on Roman art,
architecture, history, civilization, and sport and spectacle.
