The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1912-03-08
ROME'S COLISEUM
Majestic Even In Its Ruins Is the
Historic Old Edifice.
ITS BLOOD SATURATED ARENA
On tho Occasion Of Its Inauguration
Five Thousand Wild Animals and Ten
Thousand captives Were Slain In an
Orgy That Lasted a Hundred Days.

Orgy That Lasted Hundred Days.
Second only 10 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 In
honor Of the latter. 1t is said that Co.
600 Jews were engaged In It's erection
for ten years.
II was a feudal fortress for long
time and finally quarry from which
were built churches and palaces until
by it's conservation as holy ground on
account Of the number Of martyrs sup
posed TO have been inundated there.
! further ravages were stopped
1t rs said to have given seats TO ST.
! 600 spectators and was inagurated y.
! 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 n martyr.
This structure was originally called
the Amphitheatrum Flavium. but since
the time Of Bebe It has been known as
the Coliseum, probably given 1t because
OF its enormous size.
The Roman Coliseum became the
spot where prince and people met to-
gethsr to witness those sanguinary ex-
hibidons 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 1T. 1t
covers an area Of six acres.
It 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 n general description Of the build
ing the following passage Of Gibbon Is
said to be perfect: "The outside OF the
| edince was incrusted with marble and
decorated with statues. The slopes OF
the vast concave which formed the IN
side were filed 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' for 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.
I'm the center Of the edlfce the arena
was strewed with the finest sand and
successfully assumed the most differ
ent forms. At one moment II seemed
10 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 ap-
peared level plain might be suddenly
! converted into a 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 liberality, and we read on
various occasions that the whole fur
! niture OF the amphtheatcr conSiStc'
either OF silver or Of gold or of amber
"The poet who describes the game o
| CarinuS I'm the character of ShephCr}
attracted TO the capitol 10y the fame oI
their magnihconce atlirmS that the not
designed as defense against the wilu
beasts were Of gold wire. that the por
ticocs were gilded and that the belt ol
circle which divided the several ranks
OF spectators from each other was stud
ded with a precious mosaic of beauti
ful stones"
In ancient times there was hardly a
town in the Roman empire which had
not an amphitheater large enough t.
contain vast multitudes Of spectators
and az specimens of architecture the
amphitheaters were more remarkable
for the mechanical skill and admlrahl,
adaptation to their purpose displayed
I'm them than for any beauty Of shape
or decoration.-C Chicago News.
The Artistin Temnerament