Ancient Rome: The Colosseum

MATT LAUER, anchor:

I’m down here on the floor of the Colosseum and no tourists are allowed down here so it’s a privilege to be standing here. Nancy Deconcilia has a degree in classical archaeology and she gives walking tours of Rome. Nancy, great to see you. Thank you very much for being here.

Ms. NANCY DECONCILIA: Thank you.

LAUER: Before we talk about where we’re standing here, give me an idea of why the architecture of this building, the Colosseum, is so significant?

Ms. DECONCILIA: Well, it’s one of the biggest spectacle buildings in the whole world. The way it was built was like a modern skyscraper with four different companies working at the same time, building up the stone structure and then filling in with brick. It’s like two Greek theaters turned face to face. So it’s a Roman invention, this kind of building.

LAUER: It was also very efficient, 80,000 people could be in here, 50,000 sitting and 30,000 standing, and they could get those people in and out of here in a big hurry.

Ms. DECONCILIA: Everybody that would come to the games, to the entertainments, would have a little ticket which told them exactly what entrance to go in, what staircase to go up, what section to head for, and where was there seat.

LAUER: I understand the ticket was actually a little chip of stone, which was kind of interesting.

Ms. DECONCILIA: Or–or ivory. Various materials were used.

LAUER: Now this is the kind of blueprint for today’s modern sports stadiums, isn’t it?

Ms. DECONCILIA: Yes.

LAUER: Everybody, obviously, with their gates and, obviously, we don’t have sky boxes here as Al just mentioned–but other than that, this is pretty much the precursor to the stadium?

Ms. DECONCILIA: Exactly. Exactly.

LAUER: Now, in about 80 AD, this building opened, and it’s my understanding that up to 5,000 animals were slaughtered during the opening ceremonies. Now, why was death so important in ancient Rome?

Ms. DECONCILIA: Well, there’s two various reasons for this. One is that death was all around you. People had very short life spans. Death was something you lived with on a daily basis. Sacrifice in temples. Sacrifice–killing animals was a part of the daily routine, also. And, plus, you have people like gladiators who are almost nonhumans. The fact that they die is of no consequence whatsoever.

LAUER: Take me back in a time machine. Now, the–OK. It’s 80 AD. We’re in this building. They’re about to have an event up top. Give me an idea of what the sights, the sounds, and the smells in this area right here would be.

Ms. DECONCILIA: Well, this must have been like an anthill. It must have been very dark, very gloomy with torches and oil lamps. There must have been people rushing backwards and forwards all over. Strange noises, animals roaring, machinery clanking, smells, just an absolute complete complication on all corridors on all sides.Discussion 1 Answer in 4 sentences

After viewing the video transcript below, what impact did the events at the Colosseum have on the Romans? Why did they occur? And what is still evident in our culture today from this historic era?

Discussion 2
Read 7.6 from Sources for the Cultures of the West Volume 1: To 1750 Second Edition answer questions in 4 sentences
1. How does Augustine describe the feeling of “love” in terms of actual deeds?
2. What is the style of this sermon, and how might have it appealed to an audience?

Discussion 3
Read 8.4 from Sources for the Cultures of the West Volume 1: To 1750 Second Edition and answer the questions in 4 sentences
1. Why does the king endorse the Christian mission in his territories, even before he himself converts?
2. How are the needs of the spirit and the body contrasted throughout Gregory’s life