Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-03-13
R0ME'S C0L|SEUM
Majestic Even In Its Ruins is the
Historic Old Edifice.
ITS BLOOD SATURATED ARENA
On the Occasion of Its inauguration
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 ediflce was erected during the
reigns of Vespasian and Titus and I'm
honor of the latter. 1t is said that Co.
600 Jews Were engaged in its erection
for ten years.
II was feudal fortress for n long
time and finally quarry from which
were built churches and palaces until
| by its conservation as 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.
| 900 spectators and was inaGurated A
ID. so. 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
ecclesiastical tradition makes the archi
tect to have been n Christian, one
Gaudentius. afterward a martyr
This structure was originally called
the Amphitheatrum Flavium. but since
the time Of Bebe 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
no hi 4, 1
the outer wall is 157. the length of the
arena 2TS feet and its width III. Ii
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 Nivarium. in which were kept the
wild beasts for the combats
As a general description Of the build
ing the following passage OF Gibbon Is
said TO be perfect; THE outside of the
edifice was incrusted with marble and
decorated with statues. The slopes Of
the vast concave which formed the in
side We're 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. Sixty-four
'vomitories' 0or 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
pregnated by the grateful scent of aro-
mates.
''In the center Of the edifice the arena
was strewed with the finest sand and
successfully 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
broken into the rocks and caverns Of
Thrace. The subterranean pipes con
veyed an inexhaustible supply of
water. and what had just before APP
peared a level plain might be suddenly
converted into a wide lake, covered
with armed vessels and replenished
with the monsters Of the deep.
I'm the decoration Of these scenes
the Roman emperors displayed their
wealth and liberality. and we read on
various occasions that the whole fur
niture OF the amphitheater consisted
either Of silver or of gold or Of amber.
THE poet who describes the game Of
Carinus In the character of Il shepherd
attracted to the capitol by the fame of
their magnificence affirms that the nets
designed as defense against the wild
beasts were of gold wire, that the Dor
ucoes were gilded and that the belt or
! circle which divided the several ranks
or spectators from each other was stud
ded with precious mosaic of beauti
full stones"
In ancient times there was hardly
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 decoration.-Chicago News.
The Artistic Tsnaneranosn1
Millet, the painter of 1.-THE Angelus -
had a standing nnraonnor,t xuIah a. g.