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The Colosseum... the Roman Empire
summed up in stone
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Never has such a civilized
culture
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poured so much of its wealth
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into engineering
spectacles of death
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for the entertainment
of its people
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In the morning you had
wild beast shows
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At around the lunchtime,
crucifixions
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In the afternoon,
the pièce de la résistance,
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two men, fighting to the death
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Ancient Roman accounts document
the Colosseum's repertoire
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in chilling detail
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They depict an orgy of
outrageous spectacles...
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Costumed gladiators cast in
battles to the death,
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exotic animals unleashed
on unsuspecting victims,
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even sea battles with thousands
of people killed
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Were the Romans as bloodthirsty
in their theatrics
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as ancient authors report?
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To investigate, a subterranean
archaeologist explores
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tunnels beneath the Colosseum
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to discover how it could be
flooded for naval battles
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A forensic scientist gives voice
to gladiators
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whose battle-bruised bones bear
witness to their own deaths
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We had in our hands
for the first time
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remains of real gladiators
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And an architect pieces together
clues of an elaborate system
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of ancient special effects
machines
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Then, with a team of engineers
and builders,
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they reconstruct it,
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and for the first time in
1,500 years release an animal
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into the Colosseum
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Now, can scientists and scholars
unlock the secrets
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of how and why
the Romans engineered
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such bloody spectacles?
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Right now on NOVA, "The
Colosseum: Roman Death Trap"
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If one building best symbolizes
the gore, glory
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and genius of the Romans,
it is the Colosseum
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It is a spectacle of design
and engineering,
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the biggest building
they ever constructed
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It spans nearly 2,000 feet
around,
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soars over 160 feet high,
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and soon after it opened in
the year 80, it was decorated
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in gleaming bronze shields
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and 16-foot statues
of gods and heroes
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To this day, the Colosseum
stands as a powerful landmark
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on the skyline of Rome
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When the Colosseum was built,
it had an enormous effect
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because of its size, status
and presence in Rome
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The echo of its 50,000
spectators
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cheering bloody theatrics
continues to haunt imaginations
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Gladiators fighting to
the death, mass crucifixions,
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elaborate animal hunts
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Over four centuries,
the Colosseum was witness
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to an estimated
million human deaths
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And with up to 11,000 animals
killed in a season,
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some species,
like the Balkan lion
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and a North African elephant,
were driven to extinction
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Yet the Colosseum was much more
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than a spectacular
slaughterhouse
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It was a carefully engineered
entertainment complex
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designed to reinforce
Roman world order
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Watching fighting
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on a regular basis
for entertainment
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gave the Romans a sense of who
they were and infused them
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with a kind of military ethos
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that was instrumental
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in creating and maintaining
the empire
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Ancient Roman authors,
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such as Martial
in his Book of Spectacles,
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describe how that world order
played out on the arena's stage
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They cast the emperor
as master illusionist
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On his command a menagerie of
ostriches, crocodiles, rhinos,
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bears and tigers
magically appear
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to be dispatched by hunters
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A condemned criminal
is dressed in wings
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and catapulted across the arena
to play out a Greek myth
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And fantastical sea battles
take place
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where thousands of prisoners
of war are either slaughtered
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or drowned
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Can these astonishing accounts
of elaborate executions be true?
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Or has the boundary
between history and myth
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been blurred over time?
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Most recently the Colosseum
was brought back to life
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in the film Gladiator,
where tigers spring
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from out of nowhere
to maul Russell Crowe
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But that's Hollywood effects
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The Romans were doing it
for real
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Parts of the movie Gladiator
are based on events portrayed
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in ancient texts and mosaics
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They depict gladiators locked
in combat
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and wild beasts mauling people
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But none of these accounts
describe
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how the Romans made these
animals magically appear
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Some scholars suspect the secret
may be hidden
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in the Colosseum's basement
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The hypogeum, the Greek word
for "underground,"
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is a maze of corridors
and collapsed walls
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Architect Heinz Beste thinks
that here,
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hidden from the spectators
above,
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is where the Romans engineered
their murderous magic
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We have to imagine
this being covered
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by the wooden arena floor above
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It was dark down here, lit only
by torches and small lamps
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Today, the arena floor has been
partially rebuilt for tourists
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The original was made of wood
and covered in sand
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to absorb blood
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The floor and all its wooden
supports are long gone,
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but etched into the walls
of the hypogeum
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Beste finds deep cuts
and grooves
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To decipher
these fossil-like remains,
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he drew every stone
on every wall
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After more than two years,
he began to make sense
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of the mysterious markings
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Through these drawings
it was possible
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to connect these clues
and turn the whole puzzle
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into a system
that can be explained
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Here he finds impressions made
by wooden beams
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And evenly spaced along
the floor are a series
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of round holes in concrete
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Here is another piece
of the puzzle
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This is a base for a capstan
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A capstan is a large round pole
that could be turned by workers
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to lift something
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Ah, interesting
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Up here we see an indentation
for a ramp
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Another mark reveals where
a ramp might have led
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to the arena
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In Beste's mind, the pieces
come together
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Support framing from the floor
of the hypogeum
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to the floor of the arena
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Halfway up, a horizontal beam
for workers to stand on
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A capstan with poles
for workers to turn
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A channel where a cage could fit
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And finally, a trap door that
could lower to become a ramp
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leading to the arena floor
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Together they form
what could be a device
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to lift and release animals
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I believe, given the evidence,
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there must have been an ancient
lift system here
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Throughout the hypogeum,
Beste finds evidence
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of ancient backstage machinery,
a total of 28 lifts
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Has Heinz Beste discovered
the secret
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to how the Romans made wild
animals magically appear
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in the arena?
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To find out,
he wants to construct
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a lift and trap door system...
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Install it right here
in the Colosseum
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and raise an animal into
the most famous amphitheater
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on earth
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But why did the Romans
build the Colosseum
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to stage these bloody
spectacles?
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Part of the answer is hiding
in plain sight
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For years, a cast aside stone
was used as a place
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for visitors to rest, its
importance completely unnoticed
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In the 1800s, an inscription
was discovered on its surface
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It ended up here
in the Colosseum museum,
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where it became, once again,
largely unnoticed
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But hidden beneath these 5th
century letters may be another,
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much earlier inscription
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Rosella Rea is director
of the Colosseum
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and one of the leading experts
on the building
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Mixed within
the engraved letters
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she sees a series
of strange holes
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You can see with the naked eye
that the holes are arranged
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in a regular pattern
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By studying their layout,
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it was found that the holes form
a series of letters
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The holes are where bronze
letters had once been fastened
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to the stone
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This was the hole
for the first letter
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The letter "I" for "imperator"
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Or "emperor"
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Connecting all the dots reveals
the original inscription
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The Emperor Vespasian ordered
this new amphitheater
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to be constructed from the booty
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Vespasian Flavius becomes
emperor in the year 69
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The following year he orders
construction of the Colosseum
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to begin
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The stone is the plaque
from its dedication
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And the letters spell out how
the Colosseum was paid for,
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with booty
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But booty from where?
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Vespasian's son left a clue
on the nearby Arch of Titus
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On it, Katherine Welch finds
depictions
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of Romans sacking
the Temple in Jerusalem
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One of the panels depicts
the menorah, the Torah,
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and the sacred table,
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carried by elite young Roman men
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This is quintessential
war booty,
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the things that meant the most
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to the people from whom
they were seized
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Following his son's conquest
of Judea in the year 70,
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Vespasian is rich
with gold and slaves
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He can build anything he wants
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So why the Colosseum?
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Vespasian needs a building
that makes a bold statement...
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That he, Vespasian Flavius,
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is nothing like the emperor
before him, the infamous Nero
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Emperor Nero's rule is marked
by extravagance
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and much of Rome burning
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He confiscates land and builds
a pleasure palace
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with gardens and a manmade lake
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Nero is driven from the throne,
commits suicide,
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and Rome is engulfed
in civil war
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After a ghastly year of civil
war and the suicide of Nero,
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Vespasian did everything
in his living power
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to ingratiate himself
with the Senate
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and consolidate
his personal power
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After fighting his way to the
throne, Vespasian casts himself
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as the anti-Nero
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He buries Nero's palace,
fills in his lake
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and on top builds the opposite
of a pleasure garden...
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A public building
for blood sports
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In building the largest, most
expensive building in Rome,
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a building for popular
entertainment,
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it celebrated military power
and put it into a frightening,
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exciting, chastening context
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The Colosseum is the perfect
symbol for how Vespasian
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and Rome came to power
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And to enhance the blood sports,
Vespasian builds in
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some deadly surprises, releasing
wild animals into the arena
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But reconstructing the lift
that could have done this
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is an audacious plan
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If Heinz Beste is to succeed,
he'll need to find
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an ally on the inside
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Umberto Baruffaldi is
an engineer, inventor
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and GoPro enthusiast
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He too is captivated by how
the Romans released wild animals
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into the arena
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Umberto also happens to be
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director of health and safety
for the Colosseum
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Beste shares his drawings
with Umberto
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The drawing is beautiful,
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but how are we going
to make it work?
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Beste's drawings provide
a skeleton of the system,
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but it's not clear how the lift
actually works
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Umberto brings in structural
engineer Giovanni Squillacioti
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and material engineer
Flavia Campanelli
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We have to create a system
of pulleys and counterweights
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that works perfectly
and synchronizes
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Giovanni translates Beste's
two-dimensional drawing
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into a three-dimensional
computer model
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The trap door is one
of the big challenges
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On one hand it has to open
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to release the animal
into the arena
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But when it's closed,
it has to support the weight
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of gladiators, charioteers
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and heavy animals trampling
on it above
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Giovanni puts the pieces
together and connects them
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in his computer model with
pulleys, ropes and hinges
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Perfecto.
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Then, based on Giovanni's
3D wizardry,
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Heinz and Umberto build
a scale model
253
00:17:09,161 --> 00:17:12,188
At the heart of the system is
the capstan,
254
00:17:12,899 --> 00:17:15,733
a large central pole
255
00:17:15,801 --> 00:17:21,297
As this is turned,
it wraps a rope around it
256
00:17:21,374 --> 00:17:24,208
The animal is placed
in this cage
257
00:17:24,277 --> 00:17:28,078
It's connected to the capstan
through a series of pulleys,
258
00:17:28,147 --> 00:17:32,016
so as the capstan is turned,
the cage rises
259
00:17:34,353 --> 00:17:39,815
Two large hinged arms support
the trap door when it's closed,
260
00:17:40,526 --> 00:17:42,358
and then swing down to open it
261
00:17:45,131 --> 00:17:49,728
As the cage rises,
the door automatically opens,
262
00:17:50,436 --> 00:17:53,133
releasing the animal
onto the ramp
263
00:17:57,510 --> 00:18:01,311
The model is essential to
experimental work of any kind,
264
00:18:02,014 --> 00:18:04,313
because it is the model that
allows you to understand
265
00:18:04,383 --> 00:18:05,383
all the mechanics
266
00:18:06,686 --> 00:18:09,383
And building the lift
and trap door system
267
00:18:10,089 --> 00:18:14,720
will provide a window into
a uniquely Roman pastime,
268
00:18:14,794 --> 00:18:20,256
in a uniquely Roman building,
the amphitheater
269
00:18:24,837 --> 00:18:27,739
Mark Wilson Jones is an
architect with an expertise
270
00:18:28,441 --> 00:18:31,104
in Greek and Roman buildings
271
00:18:31,177 --> 00:18:33,078
He's here in Arles
in southern France,
272
00:18:33,145 --> 00:18:35,546
at an amphitheater constructed
about 20 years
273
00:18:35,615 --> 00:18:37,584
after the Colosseum
274
00:18:37,650 --> 00:18:39,828
In general, the Romans took
their building forms
275
00:18:39,852 --> 00:18:40,945
from the Greeks
276
00:18:40,987 --> 00:18:43,252
But this is not the case
for the amphitheater
277
00:18:43,322 --> 00:18:45,882
The amphitheater was a definite
Roman invention
278
00:18:45,958 --> 00:18:49,588
And they created it for
the special circumstances
279
00:18:49,662 --> 00:18:52,393
of gladiatorial fights
280
00:18:52,465 --> 00:18:57,028
Amphi means "double" in Greek,
281
00:18:57,103 --> 00:19:01,302
and amphitheater translates
as "double theater"
282
00:19:01,374 --> 00:19:05,539
But if a Greek theater were just
doubled, it would be round
283
00:19:05,611 --> 00:19:09,207
The Roman amphitheater is
actually a stretched circle,
284
00:19:09,281 --> 00:19:10,374
or an oval
285
00:19:12,018 --> 00:19:14,578
Wilson Jones believes
the Romans' innovation
286
00:19:15,287 --> 00:19:18,257
of the oval shape may be
a direct result
287
00:19:18,324 --> 00:19:24,161
of the building's function...
A place for gladiator combat
288
00:19:25,064 --> 00:19:26,784
Most buildings are rectangular
289
00:19:27,166 --> 00:19:28,293
And that's a bad thing
290
00:19:28,367 --> 00:19:30,167
because you can get action stuck
in the corner
291
00:19:30,236 --> 00:19:38,236
If a gladiator gets stuck in a
corner, he gets killed quickly
292
00:19:38,344 --> 00:19:41,371
The oval shape helps
prolong the action
293
00:19:41,447 --> 00:19:43,973
for maximum entertainment value
294
00:19:44,050 --> 00:19:48,784
So this shape has
a dynamic quality, no corners
295
00:19:48,854 --> 00:19:50,618
Everything's smooth
296
00:19:50,690 --> 00:19:53,216
So the action can move around
297
00:19:53,292 --> 00:19:56,854
And I think that really helps it
maintain its excitement
298
00:19:59,231 --> 00:20:04,260
An amphitheater for gladiator
combat is uniquely Roman
299
00:20:04,970 --> 00:20:07,337
in form and function...
300
00:20:07,406 --> 00:20:10,433
Exactly the symbol
Emperor Vespasian needs
301
00:20:10,509 --> 00:20:15,174
to project his power
and inspire Roman pride
302
00:20:18,884 --> 00:20:21,564
There's this strong connection
between the unique shape
303
00:20:21,687 --> 00:20:25,590
of the amphitheater and
gladiatorial performances,
304
00:20:25,658 --> 00:20:29,993
the link with the military,
the conquest of empire
305
00:20:30,062 --> 00:20:33,055
The great crowds of 50,000 that
came together in the Colosseum
306
00:20:33,132 --> 00:20:36,261
were celebrating all of that
307
00:20:36,335 --> 00:20:39,499
It's really a sort of great day
out to feel a Roman citizen
308
00:20:39,605 --> 00:20:41,164
and feel at the center
of the world
309
00:20:50,049 --> 00:20:52,780
In a forest northeast of Rome,
310
00:20:53,486 --> 00:20:55,921
Umberto is in search
of the perfect tree
311
00:20:55,988 --> 00:20:56,988
for making the lift
312
00:20:59,425 --> 00:21:02,259
The tree will be used for one
of the key parts of the lift,
313
00:21:02,962 --> 00:21:04,487
the capstan
314
00:21:09,969 --> 00:21:13,838
To fell the tree, the team
uses the same tools
315
00:21:14,540 --> 00:21:21,947
as the ancient Romans: the ax,
the two-man saw and a wedge
316
00:21:23,215 --> 00:21:27,277
Carmelo Malacrino, an expert
on ancient Roman building,
317
00:21:27,987 --> 00:21:32,049
knows what tools to use from
images on the Trajan Column,
318
00:21:32,124 --> 00:21:36,653
erected just 30 years after
the opening of the Colosseum
319
00:21:36,729 --> 00:21:41,565
This column shows a fantastic
series of tree cutting
320
00:21:41,667 --> 00:21:43,761
It depicts the deforestation
process
321
00:21:43,803 --> 00:21:46,830
for constructing new roads and
the creation of campsites
322
00:21:46,906 --> 00:21:49,705
as part of a military campaign
323
00:21:51,243 --> 00:21:53,371
After an hour of chopping
and sawing,
324
00:21:54,079 --> 00:21:57,709
the tree comes crashing down
325
00:22:08,027 --> 00:22:15,560
Now, the tree begins its
transformation into the capstan
326
00:22:16,268 --> 00:22:17,759
But Umberto leaves a little bark
327
00:22:17,837 --> 00:22:20,204
as a reminder of where
it came from
328
00:22:21,373 --> 00:22:24,901
The team uses
their scale model as a guide
329
00:22:25,611 --> 00:22:28,638
for building the lift
330
00:22:28,714 --> 00:22:30,992
The move from the model
to the real thing
331
00:22:31,016 --> 00:22:32,644
was a little traumatic
332
00:22:32,718 --> 00:22:36,780
Working in a dimension
four times bigger
333
00:22:36,856 --> 00:22:38,984
really amplifies the problems
334
00:22:40,893 --> 00:22:44,660
The cage itself will weigh
over 800 pounds
335
00:22:45,364 --> 00:22:49,529
It needs to be strong to keep
wild animals inside
336
00:22:50,903 --> 00:22:54,772
We have to pay attention
to the sturdiness of the cage
337
00:22:55,474 --> 00:22:57,636
since it's supposed to hold
lions and tigers
338
00:22:59,612 --> 00:23:03,549
Seeing the lift at full scale,
Umberto starts to have
339
00:23:04,250 --> 00:23:07,015
some concerns
340
00:23:07,086 --> 00:23:09,297
The most difficult part will be
getting the lift in
341
00:23:09,321 --> 00:23:10,653
without touching the Colosseum
342
00:23:10,723 --> 00:23:12,589
Because if we damage
the Colosseum,
343
00:23:12,658 --> 00:23:14,388
I'll be chased
out of the Colosseum
344
00:23:20,900 --> 00:23:24,860
Today, the Colosseum is
a majestic ruin
345
00:23:25,571 --> 00:23:26,800
Over the centuries,
346
00:23:26,872 --> 00:23:31,105
everything of value was stripped
from its walls
347
00:23:31,176 --> 00:23:34,340
But coins minted for its opening
348
00:23:34,413 --> 00:23:35,813
and carvings on tombs
349
00:23:35,881 --> 00:23:39,682
show how the Colosseum was
likely decorated
350
00:23:39,785 --> 00:23:46,453
In its arches stood 160 bronze
statues 16 feet tall,
351
00:23:46,492 --> 00:23:49,428
representing gods and heroes
the Romans borrow
352
00:23:49,495 --> 00:23:51,464
from the Greek pantheon
353
00:23:51,530 --> 00:23:56,195
At its top layer were
gleaming bronze discs
354
00:23:56,268 --> 00:23:59,363
symbolizing captured shields
355
00:23:59,438 --> 00:24:02,067
Finally, framing the arches
356
00:24:02,141 --> 00:24:06,579
were columns of various
architectural orders:
357
00:24:06,645 --> 00:24:09,706
Greek capitals on the upper
three layers,
358
00:24:09,782 --> 00:24:11,944
but on the street level
are Roman capitals
359
00:24:13,452 --> 00:24:16,320
Vespasian is giving the people,
the plebs Romana,
360
00:24:17,022 --> 00:24:23,053
exactly what they want...
Greek orders, Greek statues,
361
00:24:23,128 --> 00:24:24,858
but all with a Roman twist
362
00:24:24,930 --> 00:24:28,264
and pressed into the service
of the conquering Roman state
363
00:24:34,239 --> 00:24:36,970
The Colosseum's decorations
amplify the message
364
00:24:37,676 --> 00:24:41,807
of the building's
monumental scale:
365
00:24:41,914 --> 00:24:44,884
We Romans love
Greek art and culture,
366
00:24:44,917 --> 00:24:47,250
but we have surpassed them
367
00:24:47,319 --> 00:24:51,017
Rome is the new superpower
368
00:24:55,461 --> 00:24:57,020
As a final touch,
369
00:24:57,730 --> 00:25:00,427
there was a bronze chariot above
the entry arch
370
00:25:00,499 --> 00:25:02,092
on the north side,
371
00:25:02,167 --> 00:25:04,466
where the emperor could make
his grand entrance
372
00:25:06,739 --> 00:25:10,938
But Vespasian will never walk
beneath it
373
00:25:11,643 --> 00:25:17,583
He dies just months before
the Colosseum is completed
374
00:25:17,649 --> 00:25:20,744
He does leave a lasting legacy
though:
375
00:25:20,819 --> 00:25:26,156
the largest building in Rome
and an imperial dynasty
376
00:25:26,225 --> 00:25:28,751
For the first time
in Roman history,
377
00:25:28,827 --> 00:25:33,765
an emperor is directly succeeded
by his natural son
378
00:25:33,832 --> 00:25:38,463
In the year 80, Titus holds
the inaugural games
379
00:25:38,537 --> 00:25:40,768
in honor of his father
380
00:25:45,544 --> 00:25:48,981
Roman author Martial
in his "Liber Spectaculorum"...
381
00:25:49,681 --> 00:25:55,211
The Book of Spectacles...
Describes the inaugural games
382
00:25:55,287 --> 00:26:01,488
A hundred days of crucifixions,
wild beast shows,
383
00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:05,088
gladiator combat
and, for the first time,
384
00:26:05,164 --> 00:26:07,326
the acting out of Greek myths
385
00:26:07,399 --> 00:26:11,461
with elaborate scenery
and actual death
386
00:26:11,537 --> 00:26:13,648
What happened with the
inauguration of the Colosseum
387
00:26:13,672 --> 00:26:16,232
is that these Greek
mythological executions
388
00:26:16,308 --> 00:26:19,608
entered the arena repertoire
389
00:26:19,678 --> 00:26:22,375
Except in the theater
they were bloodless,
390
00:26:22,448 --> 00:26:23,848
they were just actors
391
00:26:23,916 --> 00:26:26,943
In the amphitheater they were
condemned criminals
392
00:26:27,019 --> 00:26:32,151
who were forced to dress up
as Greek mythological characters
393
00:26:32,224 --> 00:26:34,318
and killed in the Colosseum
394
00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:38,028
The Romans would reenact
well-known Greek myths,
395
00:26:38,730 --> 00:26:43,566
such as Icarus flying too close
to the sun and falling to earth
396
00:26:43,635 --> 00:26:47,538
But in the Colosseum, there was
a gruesome twist
397
00:26:47,606 --> 00:26:50,542
The criminal playing Icarus
would be catapulted
398
00:26:50,609 --> 00:26:53,602
across the arena to his death
399
00:26:53,679 --> 00:26:54,679
This is not a myth
400
00:26:54,713 --> 00:26:55,713
It's real
401
00:26:57,015 --> 00:27:00,110
Martial goes on to describe
a mass execution
402
00:27:00,819 --> 00:27:06,588
so cruelly choreographed it
surpasses even Roman standards
403
00:27:06,658 --> 00:27:10,720
Naumachiae... mock sea battles
where ships are sunk
404
00:27:10,796 --> 00:27:13,095
with hundreds of prisoners
on board
405
00:27:16,034 --> 00:27:19,596
What astonishes Martial is not
the mass murder by drowning,
406
00:27:20,305 --> 00:27:23,707
but rather how it was pulled off
407
00:27:23,775 --> 00:27:26,267
How could the Colosseum be
flooded for sea battles
408
00:27:26,345 --> 00:27:29,179
in the morning, then drained
quickly enough
409
00:27:29,248 --> 00:27:32,776
for gladiator combat
in the afternoon?
410
00:27:40,025 --> 00:27:43,757
The Romans were masters
of moving water
411
00:27:44,463 --> 00:27:48,161
A network of 11 aqueducts
carried clean water to Rome
412
00:27:48,233 --> 00:27:53,103
from mountain springs,
some over 50 miles away
413
00:27:53,172 --> 00:27:58,042
The aqueducts provide the means
to get water into the Colosseum
414
00:27:58,110 --> 00:28:01,274
And new discoveries are
revealing a system
415
00:28:01,346 --> 00:28:03,781
to get water out
416
00:28:10,222 --> 00:28:14,318
Adriano Morabito, director
of Subterranean Rome,
417
00:28:15,027 --> 00:28:19,465
has spent ten years mapping the
city's underground water system
418
00:28:19,531 --> 00:28:23,024
One day while surveying
for a new metro line,
419
00:28:23,101 --> 00:28:26,196
he took an unexpected turn
420
00:28:26,271 --> 00:28:30,174
We were mapping all the sewage
system and suddenly we went
421
00:28:30,242 --> 00:28:33,610
into an older drainage system
and we saw light at the end
422
00:28:35,681 --> 00:28:38,617
To his great surprise, the light
at the end of the tunnel
423
00:28:39,318 --> 00:28:42,914
was the Colosseum
424
00:28:43,021 --> 00:28:48,426
Morabito had stumbled into an
ancient drain or "collector"
425
00:28:48,460 --> 00:28:52,761
This is the only collector
still working today
426
00:28:52,831 --> 00:28:57,235
In ancient times we had all
four collectors getting rid
427
00:28:57,302 --> 00:28:58,998
of the water out of the monument
428
00:28:59,071 --> 00:29:03,736
Beneath the arena, Morabito
finds evidence of four drains
429
00:29:03,809 --> 00:29:07,041
that emptied water
from the Colosseum
430
00:29:07,112 --> 00:29:10,014
And climbing to the top
of the hypogeum,
431
00:29:10,082 --> 00:29:15,316
Morabito finds 40 channels
that may have fed water in
432
00:29:15,387 --> 00:29:16,898
Some archaeologists speculate
433
00:29:16,922 --> 00:29:21,917
that this could have been used
to flood the arena
434
00:29:21,994 --> 00:29:24,429
Morabito believes
the 40 input channels
435
00:29:24,496 --> 00:29:27,091
and four drains
provide the plumbing
436
00:29:27,165 --> 00:29:29,725
to stage naval battles
437
00:29:29,801 --> 00:29:32,862
To put his theory to the test,
438
00:29:32,938 --> 00:29:36,306
he investigates how much water
the Romans would need
439
00:29:36,375 --> 00:29:40,540
to flood the arena
440
00:29:40,612 --> 00:29:45,141
He finds four passageways
leading into the hypogeum,
441
00:29:45,217 --> 00:29:47,516
wide enough to launch
flat-bottomed boats
442
00:29:47,586 --> 00:29:50,385
into the arena
443
00:29:50,455 --> 00:29:51,766
When the arena was flooded
444
00:29:51,790 --> 00:29:53,759
the water was coming in here
445
00:29:53,825 --> 00:29:57,819
and then the boats were starting
floating up to this level,
446
00:29:57,896 --> 00:29:59,865
because otherwise the water
would have gone
447
00:29:59,931 --> 00:30:02,230
into other rooms
448
00:30:02,301 --> 00:30:05,135
Morabito reasons the water could
have been no higher
449
00:30:05,203 --> 00:30:07,934
than about five feet or it would
spill over
450
00:30:08,006 --> 00:30:10,498
into other areas
of the Colosseum
451
00:30:10,575 --> 00:30:14,910
Multiplying that depth
by the area of the arena,
452
00:30:14,980 --> 00:30:17,848
he calculates, with
the floor removed it can hold
453
00:30:17,916 --> 00:30:20,681
a million and a quarter
gallons of water,
454
00:30:20,752 --> 00:30:24,746
equal to about two Olympic
swimming pools
455
00:30:24,823 --> 00:30:28,316
But can the drains empty
that much water fast enough
456
00:30:28,393 --> 00:30:32,387
to stage sea battles
and gladiator fights
457
00:30:32,464 --> 00:30:37,732
all in one day, as author
Martial describes?
458
00:30:39,838 --> 00:30:42,672
One night a thunderstorm puts
Morabito's theory
459
00:30:42,708 --> 00:30:48,113
and the surviving drain
to the test
460
00:30:49,781 --> 00:30:54,242
The storm dumps 800,000 gallons
of water into the Colosseum,
461
00:30:54,953 --> 00:30:58,947
filling the hypogeum halfway
462
00:31:02,060 --> 00:31:05,997
That rainwater,
with just one drain,
463
00:31:06,698 --> 00:31:10,692
empties in under two hours
464
00:31:10,769 --> 00:31:14,103
Morabito calculates that with
all four drains working,
465
00:31:14,172 --> 00:31:18,075
the Colosseum could be emptied
in less than an hour
466
00:31:18,143 --> 00:31:20,374
It was therefore
technically possible
467
00:31:20,445 --> 00:31:23,745
for the emperor's engineers
to flood the arena
468
00:31:23,815 --> 00:31:28,253
for its opening games
469
00:31:28,320 --> 00:31:32,223
Morabito believes the Romans had
the plumbing and enough water
470
00:31:32,290 --> 00:31:35,727
to stage mock sea battles
in the Colosseum,
471
00:31:35,794 --> 00:31:39,162
just as the ancient texts claim
472
00:31:42,634 --> 00:31:46,503
But could they really lift
animals into the arena?
473
00:31:51,777 --> 00:31:54,906
After months of constructing
the lift and trap door system
474
00:31:55,614 --> 00:32:00,643
in the workshop outside of Rome,
today the pieces finally arrive
475
00:32:01,486 --> 00:32:04,388
The 440-pound trap door,
476
00:32:05,090 --> 00:32:10,859
the 2,000-pound frame
and nearly 1,000-pound cage
477
00:32:10,929 --> 00:32:14,923
And the capstan,
weighing in at 500 pounds
478
00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:18,164
Originally the pieces were built
479
00:32:18,236 --> 00:32:21,764
right into the walls
of the hypogeum
480
00:32:21,840 --> 00:32:25,038
But today those fragile walls
481
00:32:25,110 --> 00:32:28,080
are a part of a protected
World Heritage site
482
00:32:28,146 --> 00:32:30,877
that can't be altered
483
00:32:30,949 --> 00:32:36,047
So their idea is to pre-assemble
the lift outside the Colosseum
484
00:32:36,121 --> 00:32:42,027
and then drop it into place as
one self-contained unit
485
00:32:43,462 --> 00:32:46,398
Assembling the lift is a tricky
process,
486
00:32:47,098 --> 00:32:48,566
almost as tricky as the design
487
00:32:48,633 --> 00:32:49,931
It's big and bulky
488
00:32:50,001 --> 00:32:52,061
And then lowering
into the Colosseum
489
00:32:52,137 --> 00:32:53,696
is the most difficult part
490
00:32:53,772 --> 00:32:58,403
Umberto has hired
a 200-foot crane
491
00:32:58,477 --> 00:33:00,776
for this delicate operation
492
00:33:00,846 --> 00:33:05,409
Giovanni Cirillo is
behind the controls
493
00:33:05,484 --> 00:33:07,361
The only issue today is the wind
494
00:33:07,385 --> 00:33:09,945
And the later it gets in the
afternoon the windier it gets
495
00:33:10,021 --> 00:33:13,651
That might shake the structure
and make my job less exact
496
00:33:16,228 --> 00:33:20,188
After hours of assembling,
the team is finally ready
497
00:33:20,899 --> 00:33:22,800
to raise the lift
498
00:33:28,006 --> 00:33:33,343
The crane hauls the machine to a
standing position, and then
499
00:33:34,045 --> 00:33:35,445
stops
500
00:33:38,650 --> 00:33:39,811
There's a problem
501
00:33:40,519 --> 00:33:43,648
The crane has a built-in scale,
502
00:33:43,722 --> 00:33:48,922
and Cirillo discovers
the lift is too heavy
503
00:33:51,730 --> 00:33:53,810
The load is 600 kilos overweight
504
00:33:54,099 --> 00:33:57,228
Over this distance
that's a problem
505
00:33:59,237 --> 00:34:01,729
The crane has the power
to raise the lift,
506
00:34:02,440 --> 00:34:05,672
but when its arm extends
out over the Colosseum,
507
00:34:05,744 --> 00:34:09,840
too much weight could cause
the crane to tip over
508
00:34:09,915 --> 00:34:13,147
We don't know if we can get
the lift inside
509
00:34:13,218 --> 00:34:16,746
The main issue is the crane
might topple over
510
00:34:16,821 --> 00:34:20,690
The team does some quick math
to try to save the project
511
00:34:23,194 --> 00:34:25,390
According to our calculations,
512
00:34:26,097 --> 00:34:28,965
the cage weighs around 450 kilos
513
00:34:29,034 --> 00:34:31,594
Once we take that away, the load
will be lighter for the crane
514
00:34:31,670 --> 00:34:38,372
They remove the cage, but
they're still 150 kilos...
515
00:34:38,443 --> 00:34:40,139
Or about 300 pounds... over
516
00:34:43,682 --> 00:34:50,555
Umberto confers with Cirillo
and takes a calculated risk
517
00:34:51,256 --> 00:34:55,091
He green-lights the raising
of the lift
518
00:35:00,632 --> 00:35:03,500
The crane hauls the lift up,
519
00:35:04,202 --> 00:35:08,697
nearly 200 feet and over
the walls of the Colosseum
520
00:35:08,773 --> 00:35:14,371
Umberto holds his breath as
the crane's arm stretches out
521
00:35:14,446 --> 00:35:15,846
over the hypogeum
522
00:35:17,482 --> 00:35:20,646
This shifts the crane's center
of gravity
523
00:35:23,989 --> 00:35:28,757
If the lift is still too heavy,
the crane could topple over,
524
00:35:29,461 --> 00:35:31,259
crashing into the Colosseum
525
00:35:31,329 --> 00:35:33,662
and smashing the lift
into the hypogeum
526
00:35:41,840 --> 00:35:44,776
To make it even more
challenging,
527
00:35:45,477 --> 00:35:46,843
Cirillo has to maneuver the lift
528
00:35:46,911 --> 00:35:50,245
without even being able
to see it,
529
00:35:50,315 --> 00:35:51,943
guided only by radio contact
530
00:35:58,189 --> 00:36:01,125
Rosella Rea, director
of the Colosseum
531
00:36:01,826 --> 00:36:04,694
and perhaps the person with the
most riding on the success
532
00:36:04,763 --> 00:36:09,258
or failure of the lift project,
arrives at the critical moment,
533
00:36:09,334 --> 00:36:11,200
as the team steers the lift
534
00:36:11,269 --> 00:36:14,433
between the narrow, fragile
walls of the hypogeum
535
00:36:14,506 --> 00:36:16,839
with almost no wiggle room
536
00:36:23,915 --> 00:36:30,219
To everyone's immense relief,
the lift slides in perfectly
537
00:36:41,132 --> 00:36:44,034
After flying the three-ton lift
into place,
538
00:36:44,736 --> 00:36:47,706
the half-ton cage is a breeze
539
00:37:05,090 --> 00:37:08,686
Well, when you look at it as a
drawing, when you imagine it
540
00:37:09,394 --> 00:37:11,488
in your mind's eye, or when you
write about it,
541
00:37:11,563 --> 00:37:13,429
that's one thing
542
00:37:13,498 --> 00:37:16,434
But then to see it full scale,
543
00:37:16,501 --> 00:37:20,268
and to really be able to touch
it, that's a whole other thing
544
00:37:20,338 --> 00:37:25,470
It's really amazing, and for me
it's especially fantastic
545
00:37:28,680 --> 00:37:34,642
With the lift in place,
the team pops the Prosecco
546
00:37:35,353 --> 00:37:37,049
But they may be celebrating
too soon
547
00:37:37,756 --> 00:37:39,987
They still have to turn
all these parts
548
00:37:40,692 --> 00:37:42,490
into a working machine
549
00:37:49,501 --> 00:37:52,369
But why did the ancient Romans
go to such lengths
550
00:37:53,071 --> 00:37:57,202
to make death theatrical?
551
00:37:57,275 --> 00:38:01,110
Some answers are coming
from the victims themselves,
552
00:38:01,179 --> 00:38:04,115
or at least their bones
553
00:38:04,182 --> 00:38:10,088
In 1993, Austrian archaeologists
uncovered a cemetery
554
00:38:10,155 --> 00:38:14,217
in a Roman city
in what is today Turkey
555
00:38:14,292 --> 00:38:17,956
Fabian Kanz of the Medical
University of Vienna
556
00:38:18,029 --> 00:38:22,933
was brought in to analyze
the human remains
557
00:38:23,001 --> 00:38:24,993
It was a mass grave
558
00:38:25,069 --> 00:38:27,937
We found the remains
from 68 people
559
00:38:28,006 --> 00:38:32,637
And 66 have been young males,
aged between 20 and 30
560
00:38:32,710 --> 00:38:37,341
Unusual injuries offer a clue
to who was buried here
561
00:38:37,415 --> 00:38:41,079
The distance is about
five centimeters
562
00:38:41,186 --> 00:38:44,281
These holes in the head,
surely the cause of death,
563
00:38:44,322 --> 00:38:48,020
were almost certainly the result
of a trident...
564
00:38:48,092 --> 00:38:52,325
A weapon unique
to gladiator combat
565
00:38:52,397 --> 00:38:54,025
The Roman author Suetonius
566
00:38:54,098 --> 00:38:56,397
describes seven gladiator
characters,
567
00:38:56,467 --> 00:39:01,269
each with different costumes
and weapons
568
00:39:01,339 --> 00:39:04,503
One of the most famous pairings
is a Secutor,
569
00:39:04,576 --> 00:39:09,446
equipped with a short sword,
shield and helmet;
570
00:39:09,514 --> 00:39:11,847
and a Retiarius,
"the fisherman,"
571
00:39:11,916 --> 00:39:15,216
who fought with a net
and trident
572
00:39:15,286 --> 00:39:18,620
From the forensic evidence, it's
obvious who won this battle
573
00:39:21,159 --> 00:39:24,425
It was the first known
gladiator cemetery
574
00:39:25,129 --> 00:39:27,030
We had in our hands
for the first time
575
00:39:27,098 --> 00:39:29,624
remains of real gladiators
576
00:39:29,701 --> 00:39:34,264
Among many of the gladiator
bones, Kanz finds something
577
00:39:34,339 --> 00:39:40,040
even more remarkable...
Evidence of healing
578
00:39:40,111 --> 00:39:41,977
What was quite surprising for us
579
00:39:42,046 --> 00:39:45,016
was the high number
of well-healed injuries,
580
00:39:45,083 --> 00:39:48,884
which indicates there must be
excellent health care
581
00:39:48,953 --> 00:39:50,148
for these gladiators
582
00:39:52,257 --> 00:39:56,524
Ancient Roman texts offer a clue
to one possible treatment,
583
00:39:57,228 --> 00:40:00,721
a special potion made from ash
584
00:40:00,798 --> 00:40:05,930
And this might have been leaving
traces in the bones
585
00:40:06,004 --> 00:40:08,644
To find out if there's any truth
to this gladiator potion,
586
00:40:08,706 --> 00:40:12,700
Kanz grinds a bone sample
into a powder
587
00:40:12,777 --> 00:40:15,713
and processes it into a liquid
588
00:40:15,780 --> 00:40:20,218
that he puts into an instrument
called an emission spectrometer
589
00:40:20,285 --> 00:40:24,188
Here he sprays the liquid
into an argon gas torch,
590
00:40:24,255 --> 00:40:28,886
where it burns with
a distinctive flame
591
00:40:28,960 --> 00:40:30,451
The color of the flame changes,
592
00:40:30,528 --> 00:40:32,656
depending on the elements
in the liquid
593
00:40:32,730 --> 00:40:35,962
And therefore, we can find out
about the mineral composition
594
00:40:36,034 --> 00:40:37,525
of the bone
595
00:40:37,602 --> 00:40:42,131
The flame turns from blue
to a bright yellow,
596
00:40:42,240 --> 00:40:45,540
indicating that the gladiator
bone has a high concentration
597
00:40:45,576 --> 00:40:48,045
of strontium
598
00:40:48,112 --> 00:40:49,774
Strontium is a natural element
599
00:40:49,847 --> 00:40:52,442
with properties similar
to calcium,
600
00:40:52,517 --> 00:40:55,681
a crucial mineral for building
strong bones
601
00:40:55,753 --> 00:40:57,915
It was mentioned
in the historic texts
602
00:40:57,989 --> 00:41:03,929
that a kind of ash drink was
substituted to the gladiators
603
00:41:03,995 --> 00:41:06,055
to remedy their pain
after fighting
604
00:41:06,130 --> 00:41:08,497
And this would perfectly fit
605
00:41:08,566 --> 00:41:12,503
to explain this high strontium
content of the gladiators
606
00:41:18,142 --> 00:41:21,010
Kanz believes gladiators were
given the Roman equivalent
607
00:41:21,713 --> 00:41:26,981
of calcium supplements
to strengthen their bones
608
00:41:27,051 --> 00:41:30,579
But why go to this trouble
to save gladiators?
609
00:41:30,655 --> 00:41:34,615
Although slaves,
gladiators were trained
610
00:41:34,692 --> 00:41:36,388
in special fight schools
611
00:41:36,461 --> 00:41:40,262
The remains of one,
the Ludis Magnus,
612
00:41:40,365 --> 00:41:43,563
are right in the shadow
of the Colosseum
613
00:41:43,601 --> 00:41:46,036
The gladiators have been
a big investment
614
00:41:46,104 --> 00:41:48,505
for the owner
of the gladiator school,
615
00:41:48,573 --> 00:41:52,510
comparable to modern football
or soccer teams
616
00:41:52,577 --> 00:41:55,137
And they wanted to save
their investment
617
00:41:55,213 --> 00:41:58,206
And therefore, they engaged
the best available doctors
618
00:41:58,282 --> 00:42:00,114
at the time
619
00:42:00,184 --> 00:42:04,588
It would have been
extremely expensive
620
00:42:04,655 --> 00:42:08,592
if half the gladiators were
killed at every event
621
00:42:08,659 --> 00:42:10,890
To protect their investment,
622
00:42:10,962 --> 00:42:14,990
the Romans began to provide
gladiators with medical care,
623
00:42:15,066 --> 00:42:18,161
so they could live to fight
another battle
624
00:42:18,236 --> 00:42:21,331
And perhaps to compensate
the audience for a reduction
625
00:42:21,406 --> 00:42:23,238
in the number of deaths,
626
00:42:23,307 --> 00:42:25,333
the emperor added
entertainment value
627
00:42:25,410 --> 00:42:30,110
by ordering
more elaborate stagecraft
628
00:42:36,954 --> 00:42:40,550
Now, all the major parts
of the lift are in place:
629
00:42:41,259 --> 00:42:46,220
the cage, capstan and trap door
630
00:42:48,132 --> 00:42:50,932
Now that it's in place,
we have to make it work
631
00:42:51,402 --> 00:42:54,895
The first task is installing
all the missing pieces
632
00:42:56,174 --> 00:43:01,374
They place wheels on the cage
633
00:43:02,080 --> 00:43:05,778
handles on the capstan
634
00:43:05,850 --> 00:43:09,685
and above the capstan,
Umberto and Tullio install
635
00:43:09,754 --> 00:43:10,778
a spool for rope
636
00:43:12,190 --> 00:43:14,989
We attach this rope here
and as it turns,
637
00:43:15,693 --> 00:43:17,559
the rope wraps around it
and pulls the cage up
638
00:43:21,699 --> 00:43:26,262
The team connects the capstan
to the cage with enough rope
639
00:43:26,971 --> 00:43:30,533
to stretch the length of two
football fields
640
00:43:30,608 --> 00:43:35,239
Their earlier model is starting
to feel very small indeed
641
00:43:36,047 --> 00:43:38,710
We only tested the model
642
00:43:39,417 --> 00:43:42,046
That was just 50 kilograms
643
00:43:42,120 --> 00:43:48,549
The real thing is 3,200
kilograms
644
00:43:48,626 --> 00:43:50,959
So that's why things
are a bit tense here
645
00:43:54,432 --> 00:43:55,957
With everything strung up,
646
00:43:56,667 --> 00:44:01,503
Umberto gives the lift
a trial run
647
00:44:01,572 --> 00:44:04,736
He tries to turn the capstan
without success
648
00:44:04,809 --> 00:44:07,802
The cage goes nowhere
649
00:44:09,347 --> 00:44:14,217
Three of us tried to lift it,
but it didn't budge
650
00:44:14,919 --> 00:44:16,251
Not a bit
651
00:44:16,320 --> 00:44:18,448
It looked like an elephant
652
00:44:18,523 --> 00:44:20,116
Impossible to move
653
00:44:21,759 --> 00:44:26,754
Umberto calls in reinforcements
654
00:44:27,465 --> 00:44:29,934
Even with six people,
they can't turn the capstan
655
00:44:30,001 --> 00:44:34,803
to lift the cage
or move the trap door
656
00:44:34,872 --> 00:44:36,704
It's all too heavy
657
00:44:41,212 --> 00:44:42,612
The ramp is very heavy
658
00:44:43,247 --> 00:44:45,011
and the lever system we
initially designed
659
00:44:45,082 --> 00:44:46,082
does not work
660
00:44:47,151 --> 00:44:50,679
How did the ancient Romans
manage to lift so much weight?
661
00:44:53,691 --> 00:44:56,525
We are facing the same
challenges that the Romans had
662
00:44:57,228 --> 00:45:00,255
when they were originally
making it
663
00:45:00,331 --> 00:45:03,324
The size is the same, the
mechanisms are the same,
664
00:45:03,401 --> 00:45:06,599
and the problem is just as big
665
00:45:08,940 --> 00:45:14,572
Umberto searches for a solution
in an unexpected place:
666
00:45:15,279 --> 00:45:18,113
Roman ships
667
00:45:18,182 --> 00:45:21,744
Could the same mechanics that
hoisted the heavy sails
668
00:45:21,819 --> 00:45:24,118
be used to lift the cage?
669
00:45:25,957 --> 00:45:29,018
Umberto's hard drives are filled
with images he's collected
670
00:45:29,727 --> 00:45:33,027
of surviving pieces
of Roman ships
671
00:45:33,097 --> 00:45:36,864
Among them he finds what may be
the key to heavy lifting,
672
00:45:36,934 --> 00:45:42,339
a simple device that dates far
back in antiquity... the pulley
673
00:45:42,440 --> 00:45:45,672
The cage weighs 800 pounds
674
00:45:45,710 --> 00:45:48,407
Adding a pulley splits
the weight evenly
675
00:45:48,479 --> 00:45:51,415
between the two sides
of the rope
676
00:45:51,482 --> 00:45:54,646
Another pulley changes
the direction of the force
677
00:45:54,719 --> 00:45:57,951
It's easier to pull down than up
678
00:45:58,022 --> 00:46:03,188
With one pulley attached to the
cage, it feels half the weight,
679
00:46:03,261 --> 00:46:07,289
only 400 pounds
680
00:46:07,365 --> 00:46:09,960
Attaching two pulleys
on the cage makes it feel
681
00:46:10,034 --> 00:46:13,368
like only 200 pounds
682
00:46:13,437 --> 00:46:15,201
The more pulleys you add,
683
00:46:15,273 --> 00:46:18,368
the more the weight is
distributed between them
684
00:46:18,442 --> 00:46:21,810
and the less force you need
to lift the cage
685
00:46:24,682 --> 00:46:26,922
The more I worked on this,
the more I realized
686
00:46:27,285 --> 00:46:31,154
how great the Romans were, and
how small we are in comparison
687
00:46:31,222 --> 00:46:36,092
Building the lift, I realized
I was learning from them
688
00:46:36,160 --> 00:46:38,789
Learning directly
from the ancient Romans
689
00:46:43,167 --> 00:46:46,194
The team adds pulleys
to redistribute the weight
690
00:46:46,904 --> 00:46:50,204
of the cage and trap door
691
00:46:55,279 --> 00:46:57,748
Umberto gathers eight men
692
00:47:03,020 --> 00:47:05,649
As they push the capstan,
693
00:47:06,357 --> 00:47:10,294
the rope glides through
a network of 12 pulleys
694
00:47:10,361 --> 00:47:16,198
And the cage lifts up
off the ground
695
00:47:19,303 --> 00:47:22,273
The fascinating part is seeing
this mechanism,
696
00:47:22,973 --> 00:47:25,568
which at first was essentially
a static,
697
00:47:25,643 --> 00:47:26,723
seemingly simple structure,
698
00:47:26,777 --> 00:47:30,407
turn into something dynamic,
a machine,
699
00:47:30,481 --> 00:47:35,385
simply by using these ropes,
pulleys and human strength
700
00:47:35,453 --> 00:47:37,945
But can this machine perform
701
00:47:38,022 --> 00:47:41,356
the Colosseum's signature
magic trick?
702
00:47:41,459 --> 00:47:46,591
To find out, the team wants
to release an animal
703
00:47:46,630 --> 00:47:49,566
into the world's most famous
amphitheater
704
00:47:49,633 --> 00:47:54,298
for the first time
in 1,500 years
705
00:47:54,372 --> 00:47:55,863
But which animal?
706
00:47:55,940 --> 00:48:01,174
According to legend, Romulus and
Remus, the founders of Rome,
707
00:48:01,245 --> 00:48:04,943
were suckled by a wolf
708
00:48:05,015 --> 00:48:09,885
So a wolf is the perfect animal
to test the lift
709
00:48:15,359 --> 00:48:18,295
Paolo Caldora rescues wolves
taken as pets
710
00:48:18,996 --> 00:48:23,195
and then illegally abandoned
711
00:48:23,267 --> 00:48:26,863
He leads a wolf through
the labyrinth of the hypogeum
712
00:48:28,372 --> 00:48:30,170
In ancient times,
713
00:48:30,875 --> 00:48:35,074
wild beasts would have been
carried in already in cages
714
00:48:35,146 --> 00:48:40,346
The cage door is lowered,
715
00:48:40,451 --> 00:48:44,582
and the men turn the capstan
to raise the wolf
716
00:48:49,660 --> 00:48:54,598
Every part is now working
as a synchronized machine
717
00:48:57,668 --> 00:49:03,130
The trap door is lowered
718
00:49:13,484 --> 00:49:21,484
The cage rises into place,
its door opens,
719
00:49:22,860 --> 00:49:26,763
and the wolf emerges
into the arena
720
00:49:38,843 --> 00:49:41,142
The days of wild beasts
in the Colosseum
721
00:49:41,846 --> 00:49:45,977
as hunters or hunted
are thankfully long gone,
722
00:49:46,050 --> 00:49:48,417
and the wolf runs safely
to his rescuer
723
00:49:56,827 --> 00:50:00,821
Heinz, Umberto and their team
have not only re-created
724
00:50:01,532 --> 00:50:03,728
an ancient Roman lift machine,
725
00:50:03,801 --> 00:50:06,396
they have created a time machine
726
00:50:06,470 --> 00:50:10,134
For a brief moment, raising
the wolf opens a window
727
00:50:10,207 --> 00:50:14,668
onto the spectacles here in
the Colosseum 2,000 years ago
728
00:50:17,414 --> 00:50:19,414
Imagine not just one lift here,
729
00:50:19,617 --> 00:50:23,987
but a whole row of them,
one behind the other
730
00:50:24,054 --> 00:50:25,613
The corridor was packed
with lifts,
731
00:50:25,689 --> 00:50:28,784
which produced the spectacular
action above
732
00:50:28,859 --> 00:50:32,318
Now, with the full-scale lift
we can begin to get a sense
733
00:50:32,396 --> 00:50:35,127
of just how magnificent the
stagecraft must have been
734
00:50:35,199 --> 00:50:37,031
It's really fantastic
735
00:50:43,607 --> 00:50:49,604
Each year, over five million
tourists visit the Colosseum
736
00:50:50,314 --> 00:50:52,010
They are awed by its size
737
00:50:52,082 --> 00:50:55,610
and horrified
imagining the slaughter
738
00:50:57,087 --> 00:51:00,421
How could a culture
as advanced as Rome
739
00:51:01,125 --> 00:51:05,028
justify the spectacular
bloodshed that took place here?
740
00:51:05,095 --> 00:51:08,657
Gladiatorial games and
associated violent spectacles
741
00:51:08,732 --> 00:51:13,170
needed absolutely
no justification
742
00:51:13,237 --> 00:51:15,763
And in the ancient sources,
we find just the opposite,
743
00:51:15,839 --> 00:51:20,607
that they were believed
to stiffen moral fiber
744
00:51:23,113 --> 00:51:27,346
Romans attending the Colosseum
were more than spectators,
745
00:51:28,052 --> 00:51:29,953
they were participants
746
00:51:30,020 --> 00:51:35,425
These games showcased the power
of Rome and reminded citizens
747
00:51:35,492 --> 00:51:40,157
that their prosperity
was paid for in blood
748
00:51:40,264 --> 00:51:43,393
Inside the Colosseum you have
spectacle, you have energy,
749
00:51:43,434 --> 00:51:45,596
you have entertainment
750
00:51:45,669 --> 00:51:48,798
The whole building is used as
a vehicle for the demonstration
751
00:51:48,872 --> 00:51:50,500
of the power of the Roman world
752
00:51:50,574 --> 00:51:52,668
and how it came to benefit
the populace
753
00:51:55,045 --> 00:51:58,743
Though Rome falls
to the barbarians in 476,
754
00:51:59,450 --> 00:52:05,822
the Colosseum, like a victorious
gladiator, still stands
755
00:52:05,889 --> 00:52:08,415
Battered and triumphant,
756
00:52:08,492 --> 00:52:14,295
it is a lasting reminder of
the gore and the glory of Rome