Colosseum

enUK

col·os·se·um

C0475500 (kŏl′ĭ-sē′əm)n. Variant of coliseum.

colosseum

(ˌkɒləˈsɪəm) n (Architecture) a variant spelling of coliseum

Colosseum

(ˌkɒləˈsɪəm) n (Named Buildings) an amphitheatre in Rome built about 75–80 ad

Col•os•se•um

(ˌkɒl əˈsi əm)

n. 1. an ancient amphitheater in Rome, begun A.D. c70 by Vespasian, having the form of an oval 617 by 512 ft. (188 by 156 m). 2. (l.c.) coliseum. [< Latin, n. use of neuter of colossēus gigantic < Greek kolossiaîos, derivative of kolossós colossus]

Thesaurus

Noun

Colosseum - a large amphitheater in Rome whose construction was begun by Vespasian about AD 75 or 80Amphitheatrum Flaviumcapital of Italy, Eternal City, Italian capital, Rome, Roma - capital and largest city of Italy; on the Tiber; seat of the Roman Catholic Church; formerly the capital of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire

Translations

Colosseum

enUK

Colosseum

Coliseum

(both: kŏləsē`əm), Ital. Colosseo, common name of the Flavian Amphitheater in Rome, near the southeast end of the Forum, between the Palatine and Esquiline hills. Begun by Vespasian, c.A.D. 75, and completed by his son Titus in A.D. 80, it is the most imposing of Roman antiquities. The vast four-storied oval is 617 ft (188 m) by 512 ft (156 m), much of which is still standing; it had tier on tier of marble seats accommodating c.45,000 spectators. It encloses an arena measuring 250 ft (76 m) by 151 ft (46 m) where gladiatorial combats were held (see gladiatorsgladiators
[Lat.,=swordsmen], in ancient Rome, class of professional fighters, who performed for exhibition. Gladiatorial combats usually took place in amphitheaters. They probably were introduced from Etruria and originally were funeral games.
..... Click the link for more information. ) until 404. According to tradition, persecuted Christians were thrown there to beasts. The Colosseum has been damaged several times by earthquakes.

Bibliography

See J. Pearson, Arena: The Story of the Colosseum (1974).

Colosseum

(Amphitheatrum Flavium), a monument of ancient Roman architecture (A.D. 75–80).

The Colosseum is elliptical in plan, about 190 m long and 156 m wide. It includes an arena and four tiers of seats for spectators (about 50,000). The Colosseum was built for gladiatorial fights and other spectacles. Constructed of tufa, it had external walls faced with travertine. Inside, brick and concrete were used for the construction of the arched galleries, and the platforms were covered with marble. The statues and stucco decorations of the Colosseum have not been preserved. Outside, three tiers of arcades (Tuscan, Ionic, and Corinthian orders) and a crowning attic, articulated with flat pilasters, concealed the platforms and the labyrinth of the substructures of the arena. The majestic, grandiose Colosseum, with its powerfully rounded space and the rich plasticity of the arcades, is the most important of the Roman amphitheaters.

REFERENCE

Tsires, A. G. Arkhitektura Kolizeia. Moscow, 1940.

colosseum, coliseum

colosseum, 1 showing seating and plan at various levels 1.(cap.) The Flavian amphitheater in Rome. 2. Any large Roman amphitheater. 3. Now, any large sports arena, open or roofed.

Colosseum

col·os·se·um

colosseum

Colosseum

Col•os•se•um

Colosseum

Colosseum

Coliseum

Bibliography

Colosseum

REFERENCE

colosseum, coliseum

Colosseum

Synonyms for Colosseum

noun a large amphitheater in Rome whose construction was begun by Vespasian about AD 75 or 80

Synonyms

Related Words