Rome, Italy

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Rome, Italy Destination Unknown
Us
November 10, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 52 °F
Here's a selfie that Kathy took of us together. She really enjoys taking those selfie pictures, especially since she got that nice selfie stick on our trip to China last year. I just wish that the sun wasn't creating such a glare. Maybe the lighting will improve as we work out way around the Coliseum.Read more
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The Coliseum
November 10, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 52 °F
The Coliseum has been a Roman landmark for nearly 2000 years but real conservation did not begin until the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. A law was passed in 1743 forbidding any further removal of stone. The east and west ends of the building were reinforced to stop them collapsing. But it was not until the nineteenth century that the first systematic excavations of the building began under Carlos Fea.Read more
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A Look Around
November 10, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 52 °F
Here's a look around the whole Coliseum. I don't care for that big steel and glass looking wall right up next to the Coliseum but I understand that it's necessary for it's restoration and preservation to take place.Read more
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So Big!
November 10, 2019 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 55 °F
The Colosseum is much bigger than I expected it to be. In fact, it's the largest amphitheater in the world! Oval in shape, it measures 189m long, 156m wide and 50m high (about the height of a 12 storey building). This ancient sporting arena could easily fit a modern day football pitch inside!Read more
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Sounds Like Fun!
November 10, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 52 °F
Unlike when visiting an arena for a sporting or music event nowadays, entry into the Colosseum was free for ancient Romans. Not only that, but they got fed throughout the event! It is said that the emperors did this in order to gain popularity throughout the Roman empire. Free entry and food were necessary, because events could last for up to 100 days at the Colosseum. Hours were spent there every day, enjoying the spectacles and catching up with friends.Read more
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The Ruins
November 10, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 54 °F
Although this may look like it’s just a pile of rubble, it’s so full of historical significance. I’m so glad that we were able to visit the Coliseum.
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Rome, Italy Destination Unknown
Looking Around
November 10, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 54 °F
Here’s a video that Kathy made looking completely around the Coliseum. I really need to start making more videos! It’s something different from photos all the time and really mixes things up.
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I am Groot!
November 10, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 54 °F
Of course, Groot came with us to see the Coliseum. This little guy always seems to photograph so well and seems to fit in everywhere. He’s definitely the best figure from my collection!
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An Arena of Many Uses
November 10, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F
This brilliant building had 80 entrances and could seat approximately 50,000 spectators who would come to watch sporting events and games. These events included gladiatorial combats, wild animal hunts and, believe it or not, ship naval battles!Read more
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Historic Research
November 10, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F
A lot of the Roman Coliseum looks like it’s still being excavated. That makes it seem even more interesting to me. I feel like I’m stepping back into history!
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Lots of Bricks
November 10, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F
The ancient Romans used a lot of marble to construct the Colosseum. It has been estimated that they used around 100,000 cubic meters of marble, transported in 200 bullock carts to the building site. They also used 1.1 million tons of concrete, stone and brick. To build the Colosseum today, it would cost around 39 million euros - the equivalent of almost 43 million dollars!Read more
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Arena of Death
November 10, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 54 °F
It is impossible to know with certainty, but it is believed that as many as 400,000 gladiators, slaves, convicts, prisoners, and a myriad of other entertainers, perished in the Colosseum over the 350 or so years during which it was used for human bloodsports and spectacles.Read more
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Regarding Gladiators
November 10, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F
Contrary to the popular vision of a gruesome free-for-all, gladiator fights were somewhat like contemporary boxing matches: fighters were divided into classes according to their size and fighting style, there were referees and doctors monitoring the fight, and the matches didn’t always end in death. Match-ups were decided based on the experience, the record, and the styles of the fighters, and successful gladiators could often become famous celebrities. Some gladiators even had long careers in which they lost many fights without dying. This doesn’t mean, however, that they were bloodless, they were simply less chaotic than is usually imagined. A very large number of gladiators perished in the arena.Read more
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Here in the Underground
November 10, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F
While it is certain that a lot of what went on at the Colosseum was underhanded and definitely dangerous, there is also a literal underground area of the Colosseum. Known as the Hypogeum, it was a two-level subterranean network of tunnels with 32 animal pens. There were also 80 vertical shafts which allowed for instant access to the arena - these were used for shifting animals and scenery during shows.Read more
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A Museum, Too!
November 10, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F
As if the Coliseum is not amazing enough, a big area is set aside as a museum. These displays explain a lot about the coliseum and gives us more information about all that we’ve seen here.
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Praise Dog!
November 10, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F
This statue, from the Coliseum museum, looks like a person with a dog’s head. I’m surprised to see something like this in Rome. I had thought that the Egyptians were the ones who went in for that sort of thing, having figures with the heads of animals.Read more
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Arch of Constantine
November 10, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F
Seen from inside the Coliseum, the Arch of Constantine is the largest of three triumphal arches in Rome.
It was erected in 315 AD by the Roman Senate to commemorate Constantine I’s victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 AD. It’s amazing how well preserved this arch is!Read more
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Arches
November 10, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F
The Coliseum is huge but it’s kind of hard to see that in photos of the Coliseum by itself. With some people in the photo, as seen here, it can be a very effective way to show a sense of scale.
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Ready to Go
November 10, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F
We’ve seen just about everything there is to see at the Coliseum and we’re about ready to leave and see else this area of Rome has to offer. I’m so happy that we came here!
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Lines
November 10, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F
It’s probably for the best that we came to the Coliseum early because, after taking another peek outside, I’m seeing that the lines to come in are horrific! If we had just arrived now, we’d be lined up for hours!Read more
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One Last Look
November 10, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F
With one last look back, we’re ready to move on from the Coliseum. I know that I’ll never forget coming here. Visiting such a historical and iconic place like this just takes my breath away! I’d like to come back again someday.Read more
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Those Lines!
November 10, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F
I’m still shocked at the long lines waiting to get into the Coliseum. I didn’t think that November was a big season for tourism but maybe I’m wrong. Maybe different parts of the world have different vacation seasons?Read more
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Onward!
November 10, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F
We’ve left the Coliseum and are now making our way to Palatine Hill, one of the most ancient parts of Rome. I’m very curious to explore these historical ruins.
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Following the Crowd
November 10, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F
It looks like we’re not the only ones going to Palatine Hill. I’m expecting that we’re going to have to be on a line but, hopefully, it’s not going to be as long as the queue for the Coliseum.
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The Queue
November 10, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F
I was right. There is a line. I’m guessing that the entrance is at that big arch I’m seeing in the distance. That isn’t too bad but I’m not sure how long this is going to take. So far, we haven’t moved forward at all.Read more
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