History of colosseum

The Colosseum in Rome is one of the world’s most amazing buildings. The Colosseum in Rome was the largest and most advanced amphitheatre the ancient world had ever seen. In 75 CE, Emperor Vespasian started construction on the Flavian Amphitheater, known today as the Colosseum. Built over a 10-year period during the reign of Emperor Vespasian and completed in AD80. The Flavian Amphitheater received the name “Colosseum” from the nearby statue of Nero, called the “Colossus.”

The main purpose of the Colosseum was to house the gladiatorial games which had come to be a typical feature of Roman culture in the imperial capital and throughout the Roman world. Other events recorded here include mock naval battles, animal hunts, and the execution of criminals.

When the Colosseum was completed, it became the new center of ancient Roman amusement. When finished, the Colosseum’s dimensions were approximately 189 meters by 156 meters and it was 48 meters high.

It had a seating capacity for about 45,000 to 55,000 spectators. The amphitheater also had eighty arched openings that served as entrances and exits. Seventy-six numbered entrances allowed common spectators inside. The common spectators were given a numbered token that corresponded to one of the numbered entrances.

According to the 7th century prophecy by the Anglo-Saxon monk Bede: “As long as the Colosseum exists, so will Rome, and when the Colosseum falls, Rome too will fall; and when Rome falls, so will the world”. In the late 16th century, Pope Sixtus V, the builder of Renaissance Rome, tried to transform the Colosseum into a wool factory, with workshops on the arena floor and living quarters in the upper stories. But owing to the tremendous cost, the project was abandoned after he died in 1590.
History of colosseum

Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus

Cincinnatus was born in Rome in 519 BC. to a prominent aristocratic family. He was an aristocrat who was consul in 460 BC and dictator in 458 BC and later in 439 BC; he was widely regarded as a paragon of Roman virtus and rectitude.

His son Caeso Quinctius often drove the tribunes of the plesbians from the forum, preventing them from reaching decisions. Caeso’s actions brought a capital charge against him in 461.

Release on bail, Caeso fled Rome and sought refuge with Etrurians. He was then tried in absentia, convicted and sentenced to death. Also Cincinnatus was forced to pay an immense fine. He had to sell most of his property, and lived in greatly reduced circumstances on a small farm.

In 460 BC, Cincinnatus was elected consul. In 458 BC Rome was under attack. Cincinnatus left his farm to become dictator, lead an army, and save the city. Sixteen days later he gave up his power and went back to his family.
Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus

Early history of Roman Empire

According to the traditions, Rome was founded in 753 BC by Romulus and his twin brother Remus.

The archeological evidence shows that about 700 years before Christ was born a small settlement of farmers lived in mud huts near the River Tiber in an area of Italy called ‘Latium’.

Primitive Rome was centered around the Esquiline and Quirinal hills. Later Capitoline Hill emerged as the very heart of the Roman establishment, with its magnificent temples; the Palatine contained residences and eventually the homes of the emperors.

There were seven hills near the river and soon each had settlement built on it. Romulus completed his city on 21 April, 753 BC and it was named Rome in his honor.

Began as a minor people settled in the hills they progressively conquered the entire peninsula and then expanded into Greece.

Before part of the North Africa could be made a Roman Province in 46 BC the Romans had to fight many wars against North Africa powers: Egypt, Carthage, Numidia and Mauretania.

When the victorious Roman Empire had spread all over North Africa and taken Carthage’s place, Roman power extended all around the Mediterranean in the first three AD.  The Empire later extended to Middle East and into northwestern Europe as far as the British Isle.
Early history of Roman Empire

Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino

Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (April 6 or March 28, 1483 – April 6, 1520), known as Raphael, was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance.

His family name was Sanzio: he was born in the city of Urbino, in the pontificate of Sixtus IV. His father, Giovanni Sanzio, was a painter for court of Urbino but of no professional celebrity, he was considered to possess superior judgment.

In the court of Urbino, Raphael was exposed to some of the best artists and thinkers from around the world, Because of his father’s connections in the court, Raphael began training to be an artist.

The great fame of Michael Angelo Buonaroti, and Leonardo da Vinci, induced him to visit Florence and the careful examination of the works of those eminent artists enlarges his ideas and enabled him to improve his style.

After residence of some time at Florence Raphael, was recalled to Urbino by the death of his parents. He remained there to execute some works for the duke and the churches and then return to Florence where he continued his laborers and studies.

His reputation afterwards called him to Rome in 1509, where Pope Julius II, employed him in decorating with frescoes the chambers of the Vatican. Pope hired Raphael as scriptor brevium. It was here that he first displayed the full extent of his admirable genius; and his pictures of the doctors of the churches and the school of Athens are still regarded as some of the most wonderful production of the art.
Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino