23 November 2009

The Coliseum and The Forum (Photo/Theme: 14 November 09)


Amorella here under the Roman Colosseum looking out into its one time interior seating shell. With a stone and brick interior and marble exterior it was something to behold. Below is from the United Nations of Roma Victrix History:


“The huge theater was originally built encompassing four floors. The first three had arched entrances, while the fourth floor utilized rectangular doorways. The floors each measured between 10,5-13,9 meters (32-42 feet) in height. The total height of the construction was approximately 48 meters (144 feet). The arena measured 79 x 45 meters (237-135 feet), and consisted of wood and sand. .
 . . 
The Colosseum had a total spectator capacity of 45,000-55,000. The Amphitheater is built of travertine outside, and of tufa and brick in the interior. The main pedestals were built of marble blocks weighing 5 metric tons (11,000 pound.) . . .  The total amount of marble needed for the construction measured approximately 100,000 cubic meters.
There were no less than 76 numbered entrances and 4 additional entrances reserved for the Emperor, other VIP's and the gladiators. The Colosseum was designed for easy crowd dispersal; the entire audience could exit the building in five minutes.” [From: www.unrv.com/culture/colosseum.php]


The size of the place impressed orndorff as much as anything else. Size sometimes has an exaggerated impact on initial human reaction.


People were entertained, and the number of human beings who died for entertainment purposes is unknown and leaves most people wondering.


Theatre is exaggeration as much as anything else. Spiritual qualities are no different in this regard, at least this is how I, Amorella, see it. How big is your spiritual coliseum, orndorff?


This is something I have not thought about, Amorella. Strangely, it is a very bothersome question.

That is a better response than I had anticipated. I like your use of ‘bothersome’. Deeper thought needed no doubt.


It hurts my head to think along lines I have not thought before. Spiritual theatre, in this above context, is understood. My books written by yours truly are no doubt a part of this anxiety. I am perplexed as to giving any moral justification other than the writing was a necessity for my well being and mental health. I had to get all those words out of my head.

Besides, the books were not written for entertainment other than for my own need to write. I obviously have an ego and an arrogance to go along with it. I don’t like thinking about it.



This brings up the other photo of the day, the pillars standing tall at the Forum. Pillars to support grandeur also can appear as bars. This poor building looks imprisoned.


Ah, imprisonment; such is one of the existential elements of life. A poor old architectural soul, naked in old age, imprisoned by its own designer.

What a word choice. Again, I had not anticipated your response.


Nothing deeply thought, Amorella. Just a bit of dark self humor.

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