Illustration of the Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheatre)
Flavian Amphitheatre
Illustration of the Colosseum
(Flavian Amphitheatre)
The Colosseum was known in ancient Rome as the Flavian Amphitheatre, named after the Flavian family who reigned in Imperial Rome. The building of the Colosseum was begun by Vespasian in 72 A.D., it was dedicated by Titus, and finally completed by Titus' younger son Domitian.
The Flavian Amphitheatre was built in the valley between the Palatine, Caelian and Esquiline hills. It was built over the site of Nero's man-made lake, which Roman engineers drained. The land Nero had confiscated for his private pleasures was turned into the world's largest arena for gladiatorial entertainment and combat. It could accommodate 70,000 spectators, who came to watch the games.
The outer wall stood 157 feet high with four tiers of architecture rising to the top. The first, second, and third tiers each contained 80 arches. The fourth tier on top was solid, with 40 square windows. The shape of the Colosseum was oval, and measured about 600' x 480', and the arena itself was about 90' x 55'. A gladiator standing inside the arena could see all four tiers all the way to the top, with rows of spectators filling each tier. All around the arena was a large wall, above the wall was a pavilion where the Emperor and his family would sit, also the Vestal Virgins, and the highest officers of the state. Above on the next tier sat the Senators of Rome, the magistrates, ranking officers, and next to them were the male citizens. On the top tier were the women, seated under a colonnade. The whole Colosseum was protected from the hot sun, and the rain by a large awning supported by masts. It is interesting to note that the Colosseum arena itself could be filled with water so that the spectators could enjoy a naval combat.
The very top tier was originally constructed in wood which was destroyed by fire, and a new tier was built in 217 A.D.
The very last documented performance took place in the 11th century A.D. From that point on there were other purposes for this great amphitheater, for example it was used as a great quarry for Roman architect. This explains much of the deterioration of over two thirds of the original structure.
The "awful majesty of the Flavian amphitheater" as spoken by Gibbon, was somehow mysteriously identified with Rome and her destiny.
"While stands the Colosseum Rome shall stand; When falls the Colosseum Rome shall fall; And when Rome falls-- The world." -Lord Byron
Many Christians were thrown to the wild beasts in the arena, yet the blood of the martyrs became the seed for the spread of Christianity in Rome, which overthrew it for all time.
Christian Persecution in
Easton's Bible Dictionary
The Christian church passed
through many bloody persecutions. Of subsequent centuries in our own
and in other lands the same sad record may be made. Christians are
forbidden to seek the propagation of the gospel by force (Matt. 7:1;
Luke 9:54-56; Rom. 14:4; James 4:11, 12). The words of Ps. 7:13, "He
ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors," ought rather to be,
as in the Revised Version, "He maketh his arrows fiery [shafts]."
Read
Full Article
Also See:
PERSECUTION in Naves Topical Bible
PERSECUTION in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE
The First Imperial 'Persecution' of Christians
| Heart
Message
A Constant Craving Rome had so conquered its domain, achieving dominion, knowledge and wealth in varied disciplines of warfare, science, art, & architecture among others, that citizens had leisure and could enjoy the glorious civilization. But nations, like individuals, when strife for survival is no longer demanding, can feel the emptiness inside of our fallen nature rather than being able to enjoy what was built. An entire population can become unruly when it has time on its hands. Governments should be directing their citizen�s to higher aspirations, but without leadership, a people can fall to its baser instincts.
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The Bible mentions believers being "persecuted":
Lamentations 3:43 - Thou hast covered with anger, and
persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.
Psalms
143:3 - For the enemy hath persecuted my soul;
he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell
in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
Galatians
4:29 - But as then he that was born after the flesh
persecuted him [that was born] after the Spirit, even so [it
is] now.
Deuteronomy 30:7 - And the LORD thy God will put all these
curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which
persecuted thee.
Isaiah 14:6
- He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that
ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, [and] none
hindereth.
Galatians
1:13 - For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in
the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted
the church of God, and wasted it:
Psalms
109:16 - Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, but
persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even
slay the broken in heart.
Matthew
5:12 - Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your
reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets
which were before you.
Acts 7:52
- Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted?
and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the
Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
Acts 26:11
- And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled [them]
to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I
persecuted [them] even unto strange cities.
John 15:20
- Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater
than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will
also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep
yours also.
1
Corinthians 4:12 - And labour, working with our own hands:
being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer
it:
Galatians
1:23 - But they had heard only, That he which
persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which
once he destroyed.
Revelation 12:13 - And when the dragon saw that he was cast
unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought
forth the man [child].
Psalms
119:161 - SCHIN. Princes have persecuted me
without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.
Matthew
5:10 - Blessed [are] they which are persecuted
for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Acts 22:4
- And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding
and delivering into prisons both men and women.
1
Corinthians 15:9 - For I am the least of the apostles, that
am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted
the church of God.
1
Thessalonians 2:15 - Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and
their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they
please not God, and are contrary to all men:
2
Corinthians 4:9 - Persecuted, but not
forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
The Bible also mentions a lot regarding "persecution":
Acts 8:1 - And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at
that time there was a great persecution against the
church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad
throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Acts 13:50
- But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the
chief men of the city, and raised persecution against
Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.
Acts 11:19
- Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution
that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus,
and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
Mark 4:17
- And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time:
afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for
the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
Galatians
6:12 - As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh,
they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer
persecution for the cross of Christ.
Romans 8:35
- Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall]
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Matthew
13:21 - Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a
while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth
because of the word, by and by he is offended.
Galatians
5:11 - And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do
I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the
cross ceased.
2 Timothy
3:12 - Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution.
Lamentations 5:5 - Our necks [are] under persecution:
we labour, [and] have no rest.
The Bible also mentions a lot regarding "persecute":
Psalms
69:26 - For they persecute [him] whom thou
hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast
wounded.
Jeremiah
17:18 - Let them be confounded that persecute
me, but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not
me be dismayed: bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them
with double destruction.
Romans
12:14 - Bless them which persecute you: bless,
and curse not.
Psalms 7:1
-
Matthew
23:34 - Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and
wise men, and scribes: and [some] of them ye shall kill and crucify;
and [some] of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and
persecute [them] from city to city:
Psalms
31:15 - My times [are] in thy hand: deliver me from the hand
of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
Jeremiah
29:18 - And I will persecute them with the
sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver
them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse,
and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the
nations whither I have driven them:
Psalms 7:5
- Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take [it]; yea,
let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in
the dust. Selah.
Luke 21:12
- But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and
persecute [you], delivering [you] up to the synagogues,
and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my
name's sake.
Matthew
5:44 - But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them
that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them
which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Psalms 10:2
- The wicked in [his] pride doth persecute the poor:
let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
Psalms
119:84 - How many [are] the days of thy servant? when wilt
thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?
Matthew
5:11 - Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and
persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against
you falsely, for my sake.
Matthew
10:23 - But when they persecute you in this
city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not
have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
John 5:16
- And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and
sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath
day.
John 15:20
- Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater
than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will
also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they
will keep yours also.
Psalms 35:3
- Draw out also the spear, and stop [the way] against them that
persecute me: say unto my soul, I [am] thy salvation.
Luke 11:49
- Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets
and apostles, and [some] of them they shall slay and persecute:
Psalms 35:6
- Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD
persecute them.
Psalms
83:15 - So persecute them with thy tempest,
and make them afraid with thy storm.
Psalms
119:86 - All thy commandments [are] faithful: they
persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.
Lamentations 3:66 - Persecute and destroy them
in anger from under the heavens of the LORD.
Job 19:28
- But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the
root of the matter is found in me?
Psalms
71:11 - Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute
and take him; for [there is] none to deliver [him].
Job 19:22
- Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied
with my flesh?