Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1912-08-01
R0ME'S COLISEUM
Majestic Even In Its Ruins Is the
Historic O.d Edifice.
ITS BLOOD SATURATED ARENA

On the Oeoav;sn 81 lts Inauguration
Five Thous arA Wild .AHasnais and Tea
Theusana capti~ss Mvro Slain In ~
oruy That Lasted hundred Days.
Second only to the Afropolis at Ath-
ems In interest to the amt Quarian and
historian in his study of ruins OF Eu-
rope Is the coliseum at Rome. This
historic edifice 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 its erection
for ten years.
II was a feudal fortress for a long
time and finally a 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 We're stopped.
1t is said to have given seats to ST..
600 spectators and was inagurated A
d. 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 a Christian. one
Gaudentius. afterward martyr
This structure was originally called
the Amphitheatrum Flavium. but since
the time OF Bebe II 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 ey-
hibitions the degrading effect of which
on the Roman character can hardly he
overestimated. The circumference of
the building Is ilG41 feet. the height Of
the outer wall Is 157. the length of the
arena 27s feet ard its width 1T 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 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: 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 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' flor by that name the doors
were very aptly distinguished poured
forth the immense multitude. and the
entrance 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 arcs
mates.
.'In the center Of the ediflce the arena
was strewed with the finest sand and
successfully assumed the most differ,
ent forms. At one moment 1t seemed
to rise out Of the earth like the garden
Of the Hesperides. and was afterward
broken into the rocks and caverns o.
Thrace. The subterranean pipes con
veyed an inexhaustibic supply -
water. and what had just hefore ~,
peared level plain might be snadp'
converted into II Nide lake. eoy". 4
with ara.td vessels ana repleni So
vrith the transfers IF t,t. CpeIi