The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1912-08-30
R0ME'S COLISEUM
Majestic Even In Its Ruins Is the
Historic Old Edifice.
ITS BLOOD SATURATED ARENA
On the Occasion Of Its !nauguratio,
Five Thousand Wild Animals and Ten
Thous and Captives Were Slain In an
Orgy That Lasted Hundred Days.

Thous and Captives Were Slain In g,
Orgy That Lasted a Hundred Days.
Second only to the Acropolis at Ath
ems in interest to the antiquarian an(
historian In his study Of ruins of Eu
, rope is the Coliseum at Rome. This
) historic editice was erected during tho
reigns of Vespasian and Titus and il
honor Of the latter. 1t is said that 60.
; 900 Jews were engaged in its erection
, for ten years.
1t was feudal fortress for Ions
time and finally a quarry from which
We're built churches and palaces unit
, by it's 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 81,
900 spectators and was inagurated A.
D. so. the same year in which Titus
died, Oh which occasion 5000 wild an
imals and 10000 captives We're slain
The Inauguration lasted 100 days. An
ecclesiastical tradition makes the archi
tect to have been a 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 it's 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.G41 feet, the height Of
the outer wall IS 1871, 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
fight the effect of size and massiveneSs
Is much increased. The ruins south Of
the Coliseum are supposed to have been
the Vivarlum. in which We're 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: 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 10000 spectators. Sixty-four
'vomitories' for by that name the doors
were very APPLY 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 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. o.
casionally drawn over their heads. The
air was continually refreshed by the
playing Of fountains and rrofusely i'm
pregnated by the grateful scent Of arc
matcs.
"1n the center Of the cdiice the arena
was strewed With the finest sand and
successfully assumed the most III Ser
ent forms. At one moment it seemed
to rise out Of the earth like tho garden
Of the Hesrer!des. and was nfterwarl
broken into the rocks and caveins of
Thrace. The subterranean pipes con-
veyed an ineXhaustible supply of
water. and what had just before an
pearel level plain might be suddenly
converted into Il vide lake. covered
with armed vessels and repenisheu
with the monsters of the deep.
''ln tue decoration Of these scenes
the Roman empcrors displayed their
wealth and liberality. and we read on
various occasions that the whole fur
nf:nre 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 magniicence ailirlns that the nets
designed us Il defense against the wild
BEASTS were Of gold wire. that the por
! tlNo' - WAY Sl!N!Su islltl llul tllC Deli VI
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
town in the Roman empire which had
not an amVhitheater large enough to
contain vast multitudes Of spectators.
and as specimens Of architecture the
amphitlieaters were more remarkable
adaptation to their purpose displayed
In them than for any beauty of shape
or Chicago News.
The Artiatie Tamneranen%