Rome: Apostles and Martyrs

6. Coliseum

Roma, Lazio

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When the Coliseum was first built on the filled in remains of Nero's lake, it was known as the Flavian Amphitheater, named after the Flavian dynasty founded by Emperor Vespasian. Some believed that Nero started the fire that destroyed much of the area surrounding the Coliseum so that he could clear the area to build a lake that he could look upon from his nearby palace. The Coliseum is considered the greatest accomplishment of Roman engineering and architecture. The elliptical stadium was the largest in the empire, spanning 188 meters at its widest point and could seat over 50,000 bloodthirsty spectators that could travel through one of the arena's 80 gates. Along with four-tier seating, protective canopies and VIP boxes, cages below ground housed wild animals, trap doors, and hoists that brought them to the surface. Over time, the Flavian Amphitheater was recognized by the massive, colossal statue of Nero that once stood nearby, lending to its new name as the Coliseum. All that remains of Nero's large bronze figure is the stone base on which the statue stood. While Nero is infamous for starting the wholesale state sponsored execution of Christians, the Coliseum did not host the initial events, as the stadium wasn't built until the year 80, long after Nero's death in 68. The first Christian Martyr at the Coliseum was believed to be Saint Ignatius, the Bishop of Antioch. In 107, Emperor Trajan forced the Christians in Antioch to choose between abandoning their religion for the Pagan Roman gods and death. When Ignatius refused, the emperor condemned him to death in the Coliseum by being eaten alive by wild beasts, called "damnatio ad bestia". Ignatius travelled to Rome under guard, but showed no fear of being devoured by lions. The wild beasts completely devoured him, leaving only a few bones. The bones were secretly retrieved from the Colosseum by Christians and returned Antioch until they were moved to the Church of St. Clement in Rome in 637. The next notable Christian Martyr was Telemachus, a Christian monk from Egypt who visited Rome in 404. He played a major role in the end of the gladiatorial games, which led to the decline of the Roman Coliseum. Telemachus was so shocked at the violence of gladiatorial combat he witnessed in the Coliseum that he stepped into the arena and proclaimed that the slaughter must cease. In response, the outraged crowd stoned him to death. Shortly after the death of Saint Telemachus, the Emperor Honorius was so deeply moved by Telemachus's martyrdom that he issued a ban on gladiatorial fights. In 1749, the Coliseum was designated as a sacred site in recognition of the number of Christians who lost their lives within its walls. Pope Benedict XIV decreed that it could no longer be used as a quarry, consecrated the building, and erected Stations of the Cross.