Bike Tours in Rome: Legends & Facts surrounding the Colosseum

Experience the enchanting beauty of Rome like never before with our exclusive Night Bike Tours in Rome. As the sun sets and the city begins to glow with the warm hues of twilight, embark on a journey through Rome’s timeless streets, immersing yourself in its magical ambiance.

One of the highlights of our tour is the opportunity to admire the iconic Colosseum under the cover of night. Bathed in the soft glow of lights, with no crowds to distract from its grandeur, the Colosseum takes on a mesmerizing allure that must be witnessed to be fully appreciated.

Legends Surrounding the Colosseum: History and Myth

At the opening of Via dei Fori Imperiali stands the majestic Flavian Amphitheatre, commonly known as the Colosseum. There are several hypotheses about the origin of the name. It could derive from the statue of Nero, a colossal figure standing 30 meters tall nearby, or from the question that was asked to Christians in front of the sun god’s statue: “colis eum” (do you worship him?), after the replacement of Nero’s colossal head with that of the sun god, as desired by Vespasian. Alternatively, it may come from the location where it was built, namely Collis Isei, from a temple of Isis that stood nearby and gave its name to the entire area.

Today, it is believed that the Flavian Amphitheatre was called the Colosseum starting from the Middle Ages, after the disappearance, during the barbarian invasions, of the colossal bronze statue of Nero. Therefore, the name is solely attributed to its exceptional dimensions.

Historical Significance

The Colosseum, elliptical, appears to have been modeled after the Theatre of Marcellus, with multiple tiers of arches. It was initiated by Vespasian in 72 AD within the area of the stagnum or lake of the Domus Aurea and completed by Titus Flavius, hence its name, who inaugurated it in 80 AD with festivities lasting 100 days. The Colosseum witnessed gladiator fights or wild animal hunts; hundreds of lions, tigers, and other wild beasts, as well as many of the three thousand gladiators who participated in the contests, perished. To shield spectators from the sun’s rays, a large awning was drawn over the sunniest part of the cavea, with maneuvers overseen by a detachment of sailors from the fleet of Capo Miseno.

Legends and Mythology

The Colosseum became the subject of many legends, especially in the Middle Ages, when it was believed to be the gateway to the underworld, where the spirits of gladiators and slaves killed for the pleasure of emperors and the people gathered. It was believed that souls wandered at dusk in search of eternal rest. In fact, the Esquiline Hill, an unhealthy and sparsely inhabited area, was largely occupied by cemeteries and common graves, where the bodies of slaves and criminals were thrown without burial.

Another legend suggests that the many holes in the walls of the Colosseum were the work of barbarians, who would have made them and then filled them with gunpowder to blow up and destroy the monument. Given the failure, the Colosseum was attributed the fame of indestructibility. Much more simply, these holes were due to the clamps that the Romans used for construction, hidden by the travertine slabs that covered the monument.

Bike Tours in Rome at Night

The Colosseum, with its rich history and enduring legends, stands as a symbol of Rome’s eternal majesty. From its grandeur to its myths, it continues to captivate visitors from around the world, embodying the spirit and resilience of one of the world’s greatest civilizations. As the Bede’s prophecy from the 7th-8th century suggests: “as long as the Colosseum stands, Rome will stand; when the Colosseum falls, Rome will fall; but when Rome falls, the world will end.”

Join us in our Bike Tours in Rome at Night and listen to all the legends and mysteries surrounding this symbol!

Keep reading:

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