What material is the Colosseum made of?

The Colosseum (Colosseo) was built from Roman Travertine, which is a form of limestone deposited by mineral springs, mostly from hot springs. The material is from Tivoli, and it exists in white, tan, and cream-colored varieties. Moreover, it is formed during the process of precipitation of calcium carbonate and is frequently used in Italy as a building material. After the Great Jewish Revolt in 70 AD, around 100.000 Jewish prisoners were working on the massive construction. The slaves undertook manual labor. For instance, they transported stone 20 miles from Tivoli to Rome. Along with them, teams of professional Roman engineers, painters, builders, and decorators worked on the construction.

The Flavian Amphitheater constructed with wood, limestone, cement, mortar, and tuff materials

Also, the famous Marcellus theater was built from the travertine. You can find out its modern providers here and here. Also, around the exterior of the Colosseum run three orders of arches: Doric, Ionian, and Corinthian, and the fourth floor with Corinthian pilasters. There are 80 arches that create the elliptical ring, where four of them correspond to the entrance of honor reserved for the Emperor’s remains.

Read also why today the Colosseum has holes?

Author: Kate Zusmann

I have lived in the Eternal City for the past 12 years. They say every angle of Rome has its history, and I'm here to tell you about the most intriguing historical facts and city legends. :)