Peter Kun Frary, Professor of Music • University of Hawaii, Leeward
Peter Kun Frary, Professor of Music • University of Hawaii, Leeward
Photo by Peter Kun Frary • Canon EOS 40D and EF-s 17-55 2.8 IS USM • Next Image
The Flavian Amphitheater or Coliseum, is among the most infamous ruins of the ancient world. Constructed in the 1st Century AD, this Roman monstrosity was capable of seating 50,000 spectators, and was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. Its bloody legacy continued for nearly 500 years with the final spectacles held in the 6th century.
The Coliseum struck me as cheaply commercial and was a patchwork of repairs modern and ancient. Sadly, most of the structure was not very photogenic due to herds of tourists, persistent signage, railing and large modern platforms.
The slave and gladiator quarters were once below the Coliseum floor, and today bare silent testimony to the suffering of its inhabitants. They were also the most pristine and hauntingly beautiful area of the amphitheater.
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