The first thing that comes to most peoples’ minds when they hear about the Colosseum is gladiator fights. While it’s true this was the most popular event held in this classical amphitheater, many other activities were hosted there. Today, we’ll list some of the things the Colosseum has been used for.
1. Greek Plays
In Ancient Rome, Greek plays were very popular. The Romans loved watching them, and the wealthy sponsored these performances, which significantly boosted the output. During Greek plays, the Colosseum would be decorated with stunning backgrounds depending on the nature of the performance. The actors would also show up dressed according to their roles.
The plays at the Colosseum would be based on comedy, drama, or action. In other cases, pantomimes were also held there. The Romans would bring their kids to see mimes do the weirdest things.
Besides plays, the Colosseum also hosted music performances where singers could perform alone or combine it with a play. Greek plays were a way for the Romans to distract themselves from everyday life. Also, they were an excellent source of entertainment for those who could not read.
2. Gladiator Fights
Every year, the Colosseum held gladiator fights. This was the most popular sport in Ancient Rome, and both royalty and regular folk enjoyed it. Gladiator fights in the Colosseum differed depending on the type of armor.
Some warriors wore heavy armor, whereas others dressed lightly. Whichever the case, this sport was ruthless. Contrary to popular belief, gladiators never fought to death. Even so, many of them never exceeded the age of 25.
The Colosseum was filled with sand, which could easily absorb the blood of gladiators. Beneath the seats were smaller compartments where the gladiators would wait their turn. Gladiator fights in the Colosseum were equivalent to modern-day stadium football matches.
3. Opening Parades
Before every Roman game, the Colosseum would host an opening parade known as the Pompa, where several activities were performed. For instance, the gladiators would match inside the Colosseum to show off their armor and physique. Some music would also be played to create the ideal mood for the upcoming activity.
Another crucial activity held at the Colosseum during the opening parades was offering sacrifices. This was done to honor the gods and also wish luck to the fighters or participants. During opening parades, the royal class would communicate with the attendees. This event was mainly done to excite the crowd and prepare them for what was coming.
4. Animal Hunts
Another interesting activity held at the Colosseum was animal hunting. The Romans would capture exotic wild animals, bring them to the Colosseum, and have the best hunters pin them down. During the opening parade discussed earlier, these animals would be displayed and taken back to the cells until it was time for the hunt.
Animal hunts were taken very seriously in Ancient Rome. The emperors paid handsomely for exotic animals to be hunted as far away as possible. Some animals brought to the Colosseum for hunting included giraffes, rhinos, lions, and panthers. These were animals that were not native to Rome, and most of the locals would flock to the Colosseum to see them.
During the battle, the hunters would use arrows or swords to kill the creatures. Sometimes, things would go incredibly wrong, and hunters would wind up dead or severely hurt. Successful hunters would gain recognition from the locals and royalty. While animal fights often came after gladiator fights, they sometimes came first.
5. Chariot Racing
Because the Colosseum was big enough, it was also used for chariot racing. This was very different from modern-day races. Different chariots would race inside the Colosseum, each with a unique paint for identification purposes.
Still inside the Colosseum, the locals would wager bets on their favorite chariot racers. Most races ended with severe injuries and sometimes death because they were pretty rough. They would spice up this race by changing the number of charioteers or horses. For instance, Emperor Nero once participated in a chariot race with ten horses. He was unfortunately knocked out of his chariot.
6. Public Executions
The other lesser-known activity that the Colosseum was used for was public executions. Emperors would publicly execute wrongdoers inside the Colosseum to send fear to the locals and establish dominance. Some of the victims included usurpers, traitors, runaway slaves, and even Christians.
The mode of execution was different depending on the type of crime and origin of the wrongdoer. For instance, Romans were killed through beheading. As for enslaved people, they were burnt alive or crucified.
Various rulers enjoyed different execution methods. For instance, Emperor Augustus loved executing people by throwing them inside a den of exotic animals like lions. Funny enough, the people would cheer when someone was being devoured by wild beasts. One of the reasons executions were being done in the Colosseum was to involve the public in delivering justice.