COLOSSEUM |
The Roman
emperor Vespasian (AD 9–79)
(order) the Colosseum to be built in about AD
70. In this vast stadium, Romans
(can) watch gladiators and wild animals
fight to the death. The huge oval structure
(take) about 10 years to build and
(can) hold some 50,000 spectators, shaded from the sun by an enormous canvas
canopy.
Inside (be) the arena, where the combats (take) place. Its wooden floor (be) covered with sand to absorb any spilled blood. The arena (can) be flooded with water so that mock sea battles (can) be held. Below the ground (be) a maze of rooms, cages, and corridors. Here the gladiators and animals would wait before entering the arena. Lifts operated by pulleys (hoist) the caged animals through a trapdoor into the arena. |
Text and pictures from: Eyewitness History of the World 2.0 (Dorling Kindersley, 1998)