Rome's Colosseum, scene of bloody battles between lions and gladiators 2,000 years ago, changed its tune May 11, 2002 staging for the first time in its history a music concert promoting world peace. The illuminated Colosseum is seen during the concert as artists from all over the world performed songs promoting peace and equality, with particular emphasis on the Middle East conflict. (Vincenzo Pinto/Reuters)
That would be kick ass too see, i wanna go to Rome so bad, i take latin so we learn a lot about Rome's history and stuff it sounds sweet.
Sunday May 12, 5:27 AM Rome's Colosseum Stages First Peace Concert Rome's Colosseum, scene of bloody battles between lions and gladiators 2,000 years ago, changed its tune on Saturday staging for the first time in its history a music concert promoting world peace. Artists from all over the world performed songs promoting peace and equality, with particular emphasis on the Middle East conflict. "Conquests and military victories were celebrated here before, but now we are here to celebrate life and to show that no war, no army can achieve peace," declared Uri Savir, a former Israeli ambassador who organized the event, at the opening. Dignitaries including Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, economic adviser to Yasser Arafat, Mohammed Rashid, and mayors from 25 cities across the world filled a stage at one end of the stadium to hear the concert, broadcast live across the globe. Before the concert began, silence filled the vast space inside the auditorium, a marked contrast to its inauguration in 80 AD when some 50,000 spectators crammed into the stadium for a 100-day-long festival of ferocious gladiator warfare. At first, red light bathed the thick stone walls with a glow reminiscent of ancient gore before giving way to bright white light as Ray Charles took to the stage in a glittering gold-sequined jacket to sing "Georgia on my mind." Other artists included Algeria's Khaled, Argentina's Mercedes Sosa, Palestinian musician Nabil and Israeli singer Noa. Italian Nicola Piovani, winner of an Oscar for the soundtrack to "Life is Beautiful," a film about the Holocaust, also performed. MIDDLE EAST SHAKE Peres and Rashid, each representing a side of a conflict which in recent weeks saw some of its worst violence in years, were at pains to promote a message of reconciliation. "This place which in the past was a symbol of violence can become a great symbol for the hope for peace," Peres said. "We are looking for ways out of the crisis, and I'm sure that there are ways. Although they may be a little blind, we should open our eyes and see them. We must make the Colosseum a new symbol for the hope we all have for peace." Rashid joined Peres on stage and the two shook hands in a gesture applauded by the 300-member audience. "I'm ready to go to hell for peace, but I'm not prepared to go to heaven for terrorism," declared Rashid to loud cheers. The concert, dubbed "Time for Life," is part of a three-day gathering of mayors, development experts, World Bank officials and others for the "Glocal Forum," an event which is trying to define how globalization can work better at a local level. It is the brainchild of Savir, the head of a peace center in Tel Aviv who previously worked on the now shattered Oslo peace accord that once promised resolution to the Middle East crisis. Dozens of white doves were set free at the end of the two-hour concert -- which also involved a performance by white-robbed dancers baring olive branches and a children's choir chanting as the word "peace" was illuminated in six different languages. In a closing number, the mayors joined all the performers on stage and together they sang John Lennon's hit "Imagine." "Music is the best way we have to celebrate peace," said Rome mayor Walter Veltroni.
Man that would be so sweet, did u climb Mt. Vesuvius? (not sure how to spell it) Man i cant even imagine how cool it would be to go there.
Eh...forget the Colosseum. I would rather visit (if it is still around - don't think it is) the Circus Maximus. After all, it did seat 5 times as many people as the Colosseum.
Yeah, it is basically just a big field of grass now. However, I believe there are still a few old apartments around it. Even when it was 100%, though, it was nothing compared to the colloseum...architecturally speaking. It really was not a building in that sense...
unfortunately, they still threw some Christians to the lions just for old times' sake! those pesky romans!
If I remember correctly from pics I've seen in the past, Circus Maximus was nothing more than a city block or two with walls around it. Voila, there's your stadium. It paled (at least to me) in comparison to something like the Colosseum.
But the Circus Maximus held 250,000 people. Yes, the Colosseum was the greater structure, architecturally-wise, but to be in a place that could hold that many people is astounding to me. That is why I would want to visit it (if it was still around which I think rimmy verified that it wasn't).
The Vallis Murcia: The Circus Maximus To construct the Circus Maximus the Romans made use of a depression between the Palatine and the Aventine hills, the Vallis Murcia. It was the place for chariot races. The installation of a circus on this spot was due to the first Etruscan king of Rome, Tarquinius Priscus. According to legend, the races were initiated by Romulus on the occasion of the festival that ended in the rape of the Sabine women. The original wooden seating was progressively replaced by tiers of masonry, at least for the lower part of the circus. In 46 BC Caesar made significant enlargements. In 10 BC the central spine of the Circus Maximus became the location of the obelisk of Ramses II, 23.7 meters high, from the city of Heliopolis in Egypt; it was moved to the Piazza del Popolo in 1587. In 357, it was the turn of the obelisk of Thutmose II, 32.5 meters high, from the city of Thebes; today it stands in the Piazza S. Giovanni in Laterano. At its apogee, the Circus Maximus measured 621 by 118 meters and could probably hold more than 350,000 spectators. The track and some traces of marble seats still remain to the present day.
Manny, they are making you look stupid I'm still trying to catch the TLC story on the Coliseum. It looked like it was a good watch. Let's just hope future generations of Canadians don't marvel at the Expos Field.
KILL HIM!!!!!...KILL HIM!!!!!...er, sorry had an out of body experience as a spectator from another time...The Circus Maximus was known as a Hippodrome, no?
I don't care, PSJ. I never said that the Colosseum was worse architecturally than the Circus Maximus. Like I said earlier, I just thought it would be neat to see something that held that many people plus I said that I didn't think it existed anymore (but it would have been awesome to have seen it when it did exist). I guess I shouldn't have come across like I was so dead-set against the Colosseum; it definitely is an impressive sight. Make me look stupid?? Pftt...that has happened too many times around here and mainly by me, so I really don't care. BTW - BobFinn* - thanks for posting pics of the Circus Maximus and the little article about it.
That reconstruction is a little misleading. Most depict it as less solid/heavy architecturally and not fully connected at a few points (Some of the reasons it does not exist today). Manny, I wasn't trying to argue or make you look stupid...I understood your point...but even at the time the coloseum was a much bigger deal. It was much higher, had the large "sun blocker" awnings on top, was all shining marble (exterior) with bronze gilded windows, had elaborate underground channels (which may have been flooded for navel battles when the floor was removed), numbered seats and sections (lol, hand carved marble...think our new arena will copy that and have marble seats with hand carved numbers?), etc. And don't forget - it was the inspiration for the Astrodome - that alone should make it the greatest creation in the history of man. And I doubt 250,000 people were ever together at the CM (peak Rome population is estimated to have been between 500,000 and 1 mil). But, of course, we cannot really know...just a guess on my part. Even if the population was high - 1 mil - that includes women and children, etc (and would make density extremely high...maybe too high). Most functions and activities would have involved male adults with wealth...so that would basically mean that they all would have had to get together at once...would seem a bit difficult, imo. But the land covered by the CM was huge, so it still would have been impressive.
Go and see it. The colosseum is spectacular. Rome as a whole is just one of the most amazing cities in the world. Like walking through a fascinating open-air museum. Except that you will see prettier girls than in a museum...on their vespas, in the little street cafés...it's just great - everything...people, architecture, food, weather, wine... I went there many times as an exchange student in high school. Unfortunately, I only remember swear words, clumsy compliments and names for food in Italian . P.S.: Manny, they were mean to you. I guess it just sucks when you try to top something and then they make you look silly .
