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Tunnels under the Colosseum
The known
tunnels were built and connected different parts of the
arena to the following buildings:
- The Ludus Magnus the
great Gladiator School which connected to the Gate of Life in the
Colosseum where the gladiators would have made their entry
- - The Ludus Magnus was located in a building just
outside the Colosseum and the building next to it was the
the Bestiaries School (Ludus matutinus) ***
- - The Bestiaries School
(Ludus matutinus) would have had stables and compounds where
the animals were kept ***
- - It would therefore be likely that the animal
fighters and the wild animals would have also gained access to the
Colosseum through the same tunnel but the exit would led to the
Hypogeum
- The
Spoliarium
which connected to the Gate of Death in the Colosseum where dead
bodies were dragged and stripped of their armor and weapons. The
Armamentarium was where the gladiator's
arms and weapons were stored. ***
- The Imperial Palace -
a special entrance tunnel for the Emperor called the "Passaggio di Commodo" ***
- The Summum
Choragium, where the props used in the shows were stored
The Gate of Life where the
entries were made, and through which successful gladiators
exited, would have taken the gladiators back to their barracks
and it is likely that this tunnel also led to the Saniarium. The
Saniarium was where the wounded
gladiators were taken for medical attention.
Tunnels under the Colosseum
- To the Gladiator Schools or Barracks
The
tunnel under the main axis directly connected the Ludus Magnus
(the Great Gladiator school) with the arena under the East Entrance / Exit: The eastern entrance
/ exit gate was located between arches
XIX (Gate 19) and XX (Gate 20) of the Colosseum. This entrance had direct access
via a tunnel to
the arena which was entered via the gate known as the Gate of Life
for the procession of gladiators who paraded before the Emperor and
the spectators prior to the beginning of the "games".
There were four Gladiator schools, or barracks, which were all
located in buildings just outside the Roman Colosseum: Great
School (Ludus Magnus), the Bestiaries School (Ludus matutinus)
and stables, the Gallic School (Ludus Gallicus) and the Dacian
School (Ludus Dacicus).
Tunnels under the Colosseum
- To the Spoliarium and Armamentarium
Another tunnel under the western entrance / exit gate was located between
arches LVII (Gate 57) and LVIII (Gate 58) of the Colosseum. This
entrance had direct access via a tunnel to the arena which was entered
through the gate known as "Libitinarian"
Gate - the Gate of Death. This name derives from Libitina who was
the goddess of funerals. Dead gladiators and animals were carried
away through this exit and down this tunnel. It is possible that
this tunnel led to the
Spoliarium, a room beneath
or close to the arena, where the dead bodies
of the gladiators were stripped of weapons and armor. Dead bodies of
the animals and gladiators would be disposed of from this
location. The Armamentarium would have been located near the
Spoliarium, possibly within the gladiator schools, and this was
where the gladiator's arms and weapons were stored.
Tunnels under the Colosseum
- To the Imperial Palace
A tunnel called the "Passaggio di Commodo" connected the
Colosseum to the imperial palace
on the side of the Celian Hill. The name relates to the
Emperor Commodus, who had
the tunnel excavated. This tunnel befits such a passageway used
by an emperor. There were skylights to receive natural
illumination and the walls were decorated with beautiful frescoes, mosaic and marble.
(This passage has never been completely explored).
Tunnels under the Colosseum
- To the Colosseum Storerooms
A fourth tunnel led to the Summum
Choragium, where the machinery, scenarios and costumes of
the shows were prepared
Tunnels under the Colosseum
The Tunnels under the Colosseum
made total sense. Unwilling gladiators might attempt to
escape their fate in the arena if they were allowed to
access the Roman Colosseum along the roads of Rome. The
gladiators might also have been mobbed by their adoring
fans. There was also a chance that a contrived injury might
befall a gladiator in view of the vast sums of money spent
on gambling and betting on the outcome of gladiatorial
fights. It would make sense that there was direct access to
the Spoliarium. Armor and weapons were expensive and
required returning to the relevant lanista. And the dead
bodies of animals, prisoners and gladiators had to be
disposed of fairly quickly. The access tunnel built by
Commodus also makes perfect sense given his penchant for
performing in the arena. There is no way that he would have
wanted to enter with the gladiators through the Gate of
Life. His entrance would have been special. And finally it
would give away the secrets of the Colosseum if the crowd
were allowed to see the movement of machinery and scenery.
These props would have appeared in the arena as if by magic.
Tunnels under the Colosseum
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