Italy Is Rebuilding The Colosseum Floor To Bring Back Famous Arena To Modern Day
Image via Shutterstock
The Italian government is hoping to renovate the floor of the Colosseum in Rome and restore it back to when its arena was at its prime.
When that happens, modern-day spectators will be able to revisit the ancient entertainment site and take in its architecture and inner workings through replica trap doors and secret elevators.
A budget of €18.5 million (US$22.6 million) will be dedicated to the project. The government is currently looking for bids from engineers interested in fulfilling the vision.
According to Culture Minister Dario Franceschini, reviving the Colosseum floor will “allow the public to fully understand the use and function of this icon of the ancient world” while “standing in the center of the arena.”
There’s a possibility that the new floor will be a holding site for cultural events like concerts and theaters.
Back in its day, workers of the Colosseum would surprise spectators with the seamless introduction of caged wild animals, transported to staging areas via elevators, pulleys, ramps, and other mechanisms. Such systems will be recreated for the new site.
One key improvement the government plans to make, however, is the arena’s ability to escape the elements. The revamped floor, along with its hidden contraptions, should be designed to close quickly so as to keep the rain away.
[via Smithsonian Magazine and BBC News, cover image via Shutterstock]
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