By: Heerod Sahraei
All images are works of the author unless otherwise noted
The Colosseum is one of the most famous and important buildings in the history of civil engineering. From its construction, its use, maintenance, and inevitable disrepair, to its restoration, reinforcement and preservation, the structure has stood the test of time earning it by many accounts as one of the seven wonders of the modern world. Despite much of the roman forum only standing today as a couple of walls or pillars, the Colosseum remains prominent as ever with thousands of visitors walking upon its steps, out its vomitoria, and viewing into the same stage that Roman citizens would have seen nearly 2000 years ago.
The feeling of stepping within a structure that old is surreal. Thousands of others come to the Colosseum to marvel at the notion of what it would have been like, but an equal number, likely, come to see how it has held up so well and how it is still (in some way) in use today.
This is not by chance. Engineers, ancient and modern alike, worked hard to construct and preserve this stunning example of Roman opulence and symbol of the Eternal city that surrounds it amongst the fires, earthquakes, flooding, theft and repurpose that have plagued it. In this brief, we will explore the history and methods by which the ingenuity of the Romans, in antiquity and in modern times have helped us continue to appreciate this structure to this day among the various challenges the structure has faced.