Once the source of live sports, the Colosseum in Rome may soon reign as the world’s most modern stage.
After 2,000 years of demise, Italian officials have launched an initiative to find an architect with the skill and vision to recreate the floor of the 35,000-seat arena, the first of which eroded more than a millennium ago after the fall of the Romans . Empire in the 5th century.
“We want to give a sense of what it was like and we’re looking for proposals from around the world,” Colosseum director Alfonsina Russo said in the Times.
Italy will subsidize the project with a grant of 10 million euros (approximately $ 12 million), requiring the floor to mimic some elements of the original phase, while also allowing for quick withdrawal in case of adverse weather. The proposals are scheduled for February 1, with the hopes of completion in 2022 or 2023.
Founded in AD 80, the Colosseum attracted tens of thousands of Romans to watch gladiators face off against humans and animals, including lions and tigers, in battles that lasted until the death of the artist in the ring. The stadium floor was also known to be submerged, creating a giant tank where performers, mostly prisoners, would reenact epic naval battles.
The theatre’s sophisticated architecture preceded today’s stage deception. At the time, opponents, including apex predators, could be hoisted to the stage through hidden portals in the floor. A skeleton of the once-extensive stage system, including a series of tunnels, cages and hatches, can still be seen.
Ultimately, Italian conservationists hope that the stage will be used again for decidedly less gruesome purposes. Russo added, “The arena will be used for high culture, ie concerts or theater, but not gladiatorial shows.”