Colosseum - Hypogeum

Underneath the Colosseum is the Hypogeum. This was a sort of staging area and extensive lift system for moving the gladiators, animals and scenery used in the shows put on in the Colosseum so they could be moved into place and pop up in many different places to surprise the audience. The floor of the Colosseum was wood, and the framing underneath initially was also. However, due to the weight above in many of the shows, this quickly was reinforced with masonry walls. These were added to over time as needed. This left a system of tunnels, corridors and rooms. This underground area also connected to areas outside the Colosseum, such as the Ludus Magnus where the gladiators trained.Read more