Inaugurated in 80 AD by the Emperor Titus, the Roman Colosseum is the earliest prototype of the modern super dome. With a perimeter of 527 meters, 80 entrances, and the capacity to hold between 50,000 and 70,000 spectators, it rivals even the most advanced sports stadiums in size and utility of design, while greatly surpassing them in architectural grandeur.

The Colosseum was constructed with tens of thousands of tons of a type of marble called travertine and held together with 300 tons of iron. When completed, it rose up 57 meters in four levels. The lower three provided seating for the spectators and were surrounded by magnificent arcades and 80 perfectly symmetrical arches, each embellished with a statue. The attic story contained brackets which could suspend a canopy for shade.

In spite of its glorious design, the Colosseum was built largely for the distraction of the masses in a cynical age, providing dramatic and often gruesome entertainments. Armies of slaves fought for their lives in horrific recreations of famous battles. Gladiators fought wild animals and one another to the death in return for their continued survival, the glory of victory, and precious gifts from their benefactors.

These spectacles of gratuitous violence may seem a little anachronistic, but they are also analogues in many ways to professional sports today.

公元前80 年由提图斯大帝宣布落成的罗马角斗场，可谓是超级穹顶的最早原型。罗马角斗场周长527米，有80 个入口，可容纳，50，000 至70，000 名观众， 其规模及多功能的设计堪与最先进的体育馆媲美，其建筑之宏伟壮丽，更是后者忘尘莫及的。

罗马角斗场是由数万吨名为“石灰华”的大理石加上300吨的钢铁建造而成。完工后，有57米，四层楼高。底下三层是观众席，环绕着巨大的环状拱廊，还有80座完全对称的拱门，座座都刻有雕像。顶层部分的托架用以悬挂罩棚遮荫。

尽管设计得金碧辉煌，建造角斗场的主要目的却是演出戏剧化的、经常令人毛骨悚然的娱乐节目，供人们在那愤世嫉俗的时代忘情地娱乐。在以著名战役为背景的骇人的节目中， 成群的奴隶为生存而战。 战士们与猛兽搏斗或自相残杀，至死方休，换来的除了继续生存的权利和胜利的荣耀，还有赞助者馈赠的厚礼。

这些暴力场面或许有些过时，然而类似的场景在现今职业运动中仍屡见不鲜。可能罗马角斗场总归不算是一座真正的“古”迹吧！

inaugurate vt. 举行落成仪式

capacity n. 容量，容积

symmetrical adj. 对称的

horrific adj. 可怕的

emperor n. 皇帝，君主

grandeur n. 庄严， 伟大

distraction n. 娱乐

gladiator n. 角斗士

在罗马历史课上， May 和Gucci 看完老师给同学们放映的电影《角斗士》后。她们热烈地谈论起了电影中的罗马角斗场。

M = May 美 = 阿美 G = Gucci 古 = 古奇

M：History is surely my favorite subject. What about you?

G: Frankly, I don't have a keen mind in history until I have taken Professor Smith's history course.

M: Obviously, his explanation is more vivid than we can image. What's more, he has the ability to evoke our interest.

G: Well, he is the ablest teacher I have ever known. And I have learnt so much about the history of the Roman Colosseum from his lecture.

M: Me, too. So, how much do you know about the Colosseum?

G: Is it a test for me? Let me see, the Colosseum was built by Vespasian, inaugurated by Titus in 80 AD and further modified by Domitian. It was the first permanent amphitheater to be built in Rome. Its monumental size and grandeur as well as its practical and efficient organization for producing spectacles and controlling the large crowds make it one of the great architectural monuments achieved by the ancient Romans.

M: You are a historian now!

美：历史应该是我最喜欢的科目了。你喜欢历史吗？

古：实际上，我之前不怎么喜欢历史，直到上了史密斯教授的历史课。

美：是啊，他的课讲解生动，超乎我们的想象，并且总能引起我们的兴趣。

古：是的，他也是我所认识的最有能力的老师。从今天这堂课上我就学到很多关于罗马角斗场的历史。

美：我也是。那么，这段历史你知道多少呢？

古：你是想考考我吗？让我想想，罗马角斗场由维斯西巴安皇帝下令修建，于公元80年在提图斯在位期间建成，在图密善在位期间进一步修缮。它是在罗马建造的第一座露天圆形剧场。它有宏大壮丽的外观，其建筑格局既能保证观看效果良好又能有效地控制入场的人流。这些促使它成为古罗马最伟大的纪念碑式的建筑之一。

美：你现在就像一个历史学家了！

keen adj. 强烈的

evoke vt. 唤起，引起

spectacle n. 场面，景象

vividly adj. 生动的

amphitheater n. 露天圆形剧场

你打算请一名外国朋友和你一起去罗马看角斗场的建成周年典礼，他很感兴趣，想要你介绍一下罗马角斗场。试着完成下面的对话。

1. 外国朋友：What was the height of the Colosseum when it was completed?

你：______________________________________________________.

2. 外国朋友：What was it constructed for?

你：______________________________________________________.

3. 外国朋友：Who was involved in the construction of the Colosseum?

你：______________________________________________________.

1. The Colosseu rose up 57 meters when it was completed.

2. The Colosseum was built mainly for the distraction of the masses in a cynical age.

3. The Colosseum was begun by Vespasian, inaugurated by Titus in 80 AD and further modified by Domitian.

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