Vespasian, the Flavians, and Rome’s Colosseum Legacy
Vespasian and the Flavian Dynasty’s Rise
The emperor Vespasian (9-79 AD), the first of the Flavian dynasty, was a man of modest, non-aristocratic origins. For this reason, his arrival on the throne was a major event for the time. He sought popular favor, contrasting with the abuse of power that characterized the Empire before him.
Vespasian’s Public Works and Reforms
Vespasian undertook several key actions:
- He made many areas of Rome public, which Nero had arbitrarily privatized.
- He cleaned up state finances.
- He disliked extravagance and displays of power, turning instead to the construction of large public works.
Among these projects was the construction of the largest amphitheater ever known, the Flavian Amphitheater, later known as the Colosseum. With Vespasian and his two sons and successors, Titus and Domitian, Rome enjoyed a period of global replanning and beautification of its urban space. This was the visible sign of the Empire’s renewal led by this family of emperors.
When Vespasian came to power, Rome was still devastated by the fire caused by Nero in 64 AD. Vespasian redesigned the city’s perimeter and commissioned completely new works, including the Temple of Peace and the Colosseum.
The Colosseum: A Flavian Masterpiece
The Colosseum was the most significant undertaking of the Flavian dynasty. The project began under Vespasian in 69 AD, was completed and inaugurated by his son Titus in 80 AD with a celebration that lasted one hundred days, and was finished by his other son, Domitian, in 81 AD. Domitian added the underground structures (hypogeum) and the barracks where the gladiators lived, called the Ludus Magnus.
The work was financed with booty collected after the triumph in the Jewish War, including the treasure from the Temple of Jerusalem. It was built on the site where Nero had previously constructed a private lake for his mansion, the Domus Aurea. This lake was drained, and the area was returned to the people of Rome, transformed into the building for the largest public events ever known in the Empire. Its huge size (50 meters in height and a capacity for about 75,000 spectators) and technical perfection made, and still make, the Flavian Amphitheatre a unique work in the world.
Paradoxically, the amphitheater was later named the Colosseum because of a colossal statue of Nero that stood nearby.
Roman Architecture: Influences and Legacy
Greek Influence and Roman Innovation
Rome inherited the principles of its architecture from Greece but added its own practicality. Roman architecture blends Greek architrave systems with arch and vault solutions. Unlike in Greece, the interior space—its capture and modeling—is often more important than the exterior. It is primarily a functional and civil architecture, manifested in both building design and civil engineering. During the Imperial era (27 BC to 476 AD), commemorative, symbolic, and monumental architecture also developed, representing imperial power.
Roman Practicality and Urban Planning
The practicality of the Romans was reflected not only in developing architecture as a more utilitarian art but also in the planning of new towns. They often used a grid system originating from the structure of their military camps. Their planning was rational, distributing space functionally so that people could orient themselves and move freely through the streets.
Enduring Architectural Heritage
The background of Roman architecture lies in Greek architecture. The structure of the amphitheater, for instance, can be said to derive from the union of two Greek theaters. However, Greek theaters were typically not freestanding buildings but were built into hillsides, using the natural gradient for their stands. The legacy of Roman architecture can be found in Western architecture up to the present day, influencing styles from Romanesque (as its name indicates) to the Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassicism, and beyond.