Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Commodus built his own mini-Colosseum

Archeologists have unearthed a private mini-Colosseum built by the notorious Roman emperor who featured in the Oscar-winning film Gladiator.

Commodus used the 2nd century ampitheatre on his estate in Genzano, southeast of Rome, to kill animals while dressed as a gladiator.

The oval arena, measuring 200ft by 130ft, was discovered accidentally by a team from an American university, as they excavated thermal baths at the estate known as the Villa of Antonines.

Using radar that showed foundations underground, the images revealed an imperial box and curving walls with yellow, red and purple floors made of marble.

The mimi-colosseum is located at the Villa of Antonines

In the movie he fought to the death in the Colosseum in Rome with fictional army general Russell Crowe. Historically, he was just 20 when he became emperor, reigning from AD180 to 192. He ordered the masses to worship him as a second Hercules on the ground that he had killed wild beasts in the Colosseum.

Daily Mail

1 comment:

Steven Lester said...

A good, informative article, sir. Most of what you wrote I did not know before. Thank you.