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.
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