The Interior of the Colosseum in Rome, Italy

The interior of the Colosseum (or Flavian Amphitheater) in Rome, Italy included a basement area or hypogeum which held the staging area for the events in the Colosseum and the cages for the wild animals used in some of the spectacles. Over this area was a wooden floor covered with sand (the English word arena derives from the Latin word for sand). Today, part of the wooden floor at the eastern side of the Colosseum has been reconstructed. The upper parts of the Colosseum once held seating for 50,000 spectators and included awnings for protection from the sun. Now, most of the seats are gone, part of the damage due to earthquakes and the removal of stone to build other structures in Rome. Triangular structures at the ends of the remaining high exterior walls were installed to reinforce the wall.

Colosseum Interior - East

Colosseum Interior – East

SOURCE:  Colosseum Interior – East (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Colosseum Interior - North

Colosseum Interior – North

SOURCE:  Colosseum Interior – North (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Colosseum Interior -Northwest

Colosseum Interior -Northwest

SOURCE:  Colosseum Interior – Northwest (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Colosseum Interior - Hypogeum

Colosseum Interior – Hypogeum

SOURCE:  Colosseum Interior – Hypogeum (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko

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