This set of photos are from Rome. The first picture is the outside of the colosseum. The second picture shows the arches around the base. There was another walkway and wall about 30 feet out from the present outside wall. The third picture shows an overview of the inside of the colosseum that could seat 50,000 people. Closest to the action were the important people like the senators who were protected from wild beasts by a safety net and guards. As you scaled the heights your rank in society was lower. At the top were women, slaves and prostitutes. The emperor paid for everything including balls of clay that contained food or coins which 100 servants would throw to the spectators. "Welfare in action"!
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The next two photos give the detail of the space below the stage where the animals and prisoners were kept for the gladiators to fight. In one season over 5000 animals were killed. The understage network of tunnels terminated in 48 elevators with trapdoors above that would lift the animals or new fighters onto the stage. The gladiators on the stage had no idea what creature they would be fighting next or where it might be coming from. The last picture in this series shows part of the wooden floor being reconstructed. One time the emperor had the area flooded and on two ships the prisoners fought a battle to the death for the spectators. Another time to recreate the mythology of Icarus, feathers were attached to a slave and this person was dropped from a great height to his death.
