Research Paper On The Colosseum

Words: 660
Pages: 3

Wonders Essay - The Colosseum

The Seven Wonders of The Ancient World, when one thinks of this, many images may come to mind; The Pyramids of Giza, The colossus of Rhodes and many others. What one does not think of, is what made these constructions 'Wonders', while others were left off the list. What was the criteria that many of these great feats failed to meet? Specifically, the Colosseum in Rome should be an Ancient Wonder of The World.
When comparing size, it rivaled all Ancient Wonders, with a total area of 6 acres, a height of 50 metres and a circumference of 545 metres. (tribunesandtriumphs.com) This extravengent size should more than qualify. It has been made quite clear that the selection process for the 'Wonders' was quite biased, not accounting for it's monumental size and the precision required to undertake it.
The Colosseum, one of the greatest spectacles
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The Colosseum's engineering is greater than all but one Ancient Wonder, the Pyramid of Giza. The Colosseum's structual integrity is that to be marveled at, reportedly holding upwards of 50,000 people. (bbc.co.uk) To put it in perspective, it could hold the weight of five hundred full grown elephants. This was all accomplished with the use of mortar, Roman Cement and stone. (the-colosseum.net) The sheer weight of the materials, compiled with the colossal weight of some 50,000 spectators, would put immense pressure on the foundation, further proving it's great feat of engineering. The Colosseum also withstood a significant amount of natural disasters in the region, most notably, the great earthquakes of 1231 and 847 CE. Not