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The archæology of Rome, Part 7 cover

The archæology of Rome, Part 7

Chapter 48: Description of Plate XV.
By John Henry Parker
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The author reports on late 19th-century excavations that revealed extensive substructures beneath the arena, showing earlier origins than commonly supposed and multiple construction phases from Scaurus and Nero to the Flavian emperors. The work describes underground features such as a movable boarded arena with corbels, animal cages with vertical lifts and trapdoors, canals and reservoirs for staged naval displays, and wide passages for scenery, and examines reused timber and stone, masonry of tufa, brick, and concrete, plus coins and graffiti as documentary evidence. It also traces repairs from earthquakes and argues the amphitheatre evolved over more than a century rather than being completed in ten years.

THE COLOSSEUM.
PLATE XV.

SUBSTRUCTURES,
With probable Restorations of the Stagna, the Arena, &c.
Two Views.

COLOSSEUM—SUBSTRUCTURES

h.h. STAGNUM—l.l. ARENA

BRICK ARCHES OF NERO SUPPORTING THE TUFA WALL AND ARCH

Description of Plate XV.

SUBSTRUCTURES,
With probable Restorations of the Stagna, the Arena, &c.
Two Views.

A. Stagnum and Arena.

h, h. Stagnum.

i, i. Space between two canals, flooded at the time of the shows.

g, g, g. Passage under the canals.

A. The wooden framework.

F, F, F. Narrow platform and passage in front of the podium, and one of the dens.

I, I, I. The trap-doors for the lifts.

k, k. Smaller trap-door for lifts, (for dogs?).

B. Brick Arches of Nero supporting the Tufa Wall and Arch.

n, n, n. Level of the original pavement.

o. Passage.

p. Ancient tufa wall.

q. Brick arch of Nero, under an arch of tufa.

r. Segment of another brick arch of Nero, abutting against the centre of the tufa arch to support it, like an arch-buttress or flying-buttress of the Middle Ages. (For the Phototype of this arch, see Plate IX.)

s. Socket for a pivot to work in.