Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1912-03-21
RoME'S COLISEUM
Majestic Even In Its Ruins Is the
Historic Old EdifiCe.
ITS BLOOD SATURATED ARENA

Five Thousand Wild Animals and Ten
Thousand Captives Were Slain In an
Orgy That Lasted a Hundred Days.
Second only to the Acropolis at Ath-
ems in interest to the antiquarian and
historian in his study of ruins of Eu-
rope is the Coliseum at Rome. This
historic ethfice was erected during the
regns of Vespasan and Titus and in
honor Of the latter 1t is said that CO.
600 Jews were engaged in its erection
for ten years.
1t was q feudal fortress for a long
time and finally quarry from which
were built churches and palaces until
by it's conservation rs holy ground on
account of the number of martyrs sup
posed to have been inundated there
further ravages were stopped.
1t is said to have given seats to ST.
600 spectators and was inagurated A.
d. 80. the same year in which Titus
died. on which occasion 5000 wild an
imals and 10000 captives were slain
The Inauguration lasted 100 days. An
|
tect to have been Christian, one
Gaudentius. afterward martyr.
This structure was originally called
the Amphitheatrum Flavium. but since
the time of Rebe it has been known as
the Coliseum. probably given it because
of its enormous size.
The Roman Coliseum became the
spot where prince and people met to-
gether to witness those sanguinary eX-
hibitions the degrading effect of which
on the Roman character can hardly be
overestimated. The circumference of
the building is 1.641 feet. the height of
the outer wall Is 157. the length of the
arena 27S feet and its width III. 1t
covers an area of six acres.
1t is only by ascending to the upper
terrace that the enormous size of the
Coliseum is fully seen. and by moon
| light the effect Of size and massiveness
is much increased. The ruins south Of
the Coliseum are supposed to have been
the Vivarium. in which were kept the
wild beasts for the combats.
AS general description Of the build
Ing the following passage Of Gibbon is
said to be perfect: 1.-THE outside of the
edifice was incrusted with marble and
decorated with statues. The slopes of
the vast concave which formed the in
side were filled and surrounded with
sixty or eighty rows Of seats, Of mar
BILE likewise. covered with cushions
and capable Of receiving with ease
about $4,000 spectators. Sixtyfour
'vomitories' flor by that name the doors
were very aptly distinguished poured
forth the immense multitude, and the
entrances, passages and staircases
were contrived with such exquisite
skill that each person, whether Of the
senatorial, the equestrian or the pie
beian order. arrived at his destined
place without trouble or confusion.
Nothing was omitted which in any re-
spect could be subservient to the con
venience and pleasure Of the specta-
tors. They were protected from the
sun and rain by an ample canopy oc-
casionally drawn over their heads. The
air was continually refreshed by the
playing Of fountains and profusely i'm
preenated by the grateful scent of arc
mates.
"In the center Of the edifice the arena
was strewed with the finest sand and
excessively assumed the most differ
ent forms. At one moment it seemed
to rise out Of the earth like the garden
Of the Hesperides. and was afterward
{,<0 o,,d %
Thrace. The subterranean pipes con-
veyed an inexhaustible supply of
water, and what had just before ap-
peared level plain might be suddenly
converted into wide lake. covered
with armed vessels and replenished
with the monsters Of the deep.
"In the decoration Of these scenes
the Roman emperors displayed their
wealth and liberaAty. and we read on
various occasions that the whole fur
nftnre of the amphitheater consisted
either Of silver or of gold or of amber.
1.-The poet who describes the game of
Carinus in the character of a shepherd
attracted to the capitol by the fame of
their magniticence affirms that the nets
designed as defense against the wild
beasts were of gold wire. that the por-
ticoes were gilded and that the belt or
circle which divided the several ranks
of spectators from each other was stud
ded with Il precious mosaic Of beauti
full stones"
In ancient times there was hardly a
town in the Roman empire which had
not an amphitheater large enough to
contain vast multitudes of spectators.
and as specimens Of architecture the
amphitheaters were more remarkable
for the mechanical skill and admirable
adaptation to their purpose displayed
in them than for any beauty of shape
or Chicago News.
The Artistic Temperament.
Milet. the painter Of 1.-The Angelus."
had standing agreement with firm
of art dealers who took all his work I'm