The Colosseum of ancient Rome is known throughout the modern world as perhaps the most famous and greatest example of Roman engineering and architectural design. Constructed under the emperors Vespasian and Titus, it remains standing today in the city of Rome.
The aesthetics of Roman buildings were heavily influenced by those of the Greeks; the traditional Roman theater borrows many of its design characteristics from Greek theaters, and the Colosseum itself is essentially two Roman theaters placed back-to-back, although it is freestanding rather than being built into a hillside. The Colosseum was the largest theater in the Roman empire at the time of its construction, which illustrates the extent of Greek influence on the Romans. Rather than utilizing their own style in the construction of the building, they chose to model it on the Greek amphitheater.
Although the Colosseum was the centerpiece of ancient Rome, it held no religious significance for Rome’s people. Even the addition of a small church in the 500s A.D. had no effect on the building’s religious designation. The shows provided for the public in the arena, although they were often of an overtly religious nature, were put on by individuals, rather than the state. This indicates that religion was not of tremendous significance to the Roman government, at least not to the point of sponsoring religious shows. Scientific advancements, such as the city’s famous aqueducts, were seen as being more important and beneficial to the people as a whole.
-Team Dragon (Alex, Laurel, Clair, Yee-Lum, Jodi)