The Colosseum is the iconic symbol of Rome, Italy just as the Eiffel Tower is of Paris, France, Big Ben is of London, England, the White House is of Washington D.C., United States of America and The Golden Gate Bridge is of San Francisco. The elliptical building was built by Emperor Vespasian in 70 A.D. and finished in 80 A.D. by his son Titus. The Colosseum was the first structure to use "arches" as a Roman engineering phenomenon for strength and beauty. There was the "hypogeum" which were the underground passageways, tunnels and cages beneath the arena where gladiators and animals were held before the contests began. The base area of the arena was equal to 6 acres. It was so constructed that it could hold 50,000 to 80,000 spectators but could be vacated in 8 minutes flat. It was inaugurated by a series of shows, admittance free, which included gladiatorial contests and mock sea battles that lasted for 100 days. The Colosseum served to satisfy the insatiable desire for entertainment of the people of Ancient Rome. This seeming un-quenchable thirst to be lifted up from their mundane everyday existence was somehow capitalized by emperors in their scheme to subdew their subjects so they would regard them as deities or gods.
At the height of the persecution of Christians in the early centuries, the arena became the hallowed ground for the blood of the martyrs of "The Way" who were fed to lions, tigers and trained gladiators amid the incomprehensible shouts of joy and triumph of the emperor, his court and his people.
The Catholic Encyclopedia records that St. Ignatuis of Antioch (Syria), a disciple of St. John, the Beloved was condemned to the beasts at the Colosseum by Emperor Trajan in 107 A.D. The Church calendar has October 17 as the feast of St. Ignatius of Antioch.
In 1749, Pope Benedict XIV declared the Colosseum sacred site having been sanctified by early Christians who were martyred. He dedicated it to the Passion of Christ and installed the 14 Stations of the Cross which by now are gone having been taken by bounty hunters. Nonetheless, a large Cross has been erected at the Colosseum where the yearly celebration, "Good Friday Stations of the Cross Procession" is held with the Pope as principal celebrant.
Having had the opportunity of visiting the Colosseum before, I decided to stay by "The Cross" while Bobby, Carla, Michael and Christian went around and up to the second and third tiers of the amphitheater considered the largest in the world. In addition, the Colosseum has been declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and as of 2007, officially listed as one of the "New Seven Wonders Of The World."
After some time devoted to prayer, my attention got caught by the variety of visitors around who must have come from four to five continents of the world. Tour groups came in succession with commentaries in different languages of various tour guides holding their short sticks with an identifying banner. Chit-chats of admiring/puzzled visitors and feeble cries for food or rest of tired three or five-yr. old children filled the air. Then there was the temptation to look at the shorty-shorts and outrageous low cleavage of wearing apparel of those who gave justice to them and those who justly "hurt" the eyes of onlookers due to factors as heavy body mass or clearly defined chronological age. I surveyed my surroundings and the people, like us who are on a Roman Holiday and smiled at the thought that "freedom of choice" was the norm of the day! True to its essence, "freedom"gives every person unspeakable joy....to the extent that one's freedom does not encroach upon another's right or property.
Our walk outside the Colosseum included the Arch of Constantine which was/is a monument to his conquest of Jerusalem in 70 A.D, the Arch of Titus and the short "climb" up the Via Sacra ( Sacred Way) with its large stones, several sizes bigger than those on ordinary cobblestone streets which form the thoroughfare leading to the Forum. We decided to just take a look at the huge complex of the ruins of ancient government buildings and temples which comprise the Forum.
That was a wonderful day spent at the Colosseum of Rome!
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