TV Broadcast May 26, 1998 (check local listings)
Live Web Event, May 26, 1998 at 9 pm Eastern
The 2,000-year old Colosseum covers six acres, and could seat over
45,000 spectators. How did the Romans succeed in putting a roof across
this enormous amphitheater, some 600 feet in diameter? The concrete
structure of the Colosseum has endured largely intact, but the vast
canvas awning shown in ancient pictures has long since disappeared.
Two theories of how the spectators at the Colosseum were protected from
the fierce Mediterranean sun were tested on a 15th-century bullring in a
city called Barcarrota, in an area controlled by the Romans 20 centuries
ago. In one experiment, sails were attached to horizontal masts around
the perimeter of the ring and furled out over the seats. In the other
experiment, perpendicular masts supported a network of miles of ropes on
which the sales were hung.
Is this how the Romans did it? Two experts, engineer and long-time sailor Owain Roberts, and
classicist Norma Goldman responded to selected questions during a live event, and to additional
questions e-mailed to this Web site for one week thereafter.
Check out the archived questions and answers.
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