The Coliseum
Rome, that great 1)witness to a past rich in history, that great collection of 2)artistic masterpieces, which together, form the most complete 3)unmatchable expression of human achievement. Universal and eternal qualities which emanate from the treasures of Rome, make it unique among the cities of the world. The 4)imposing majesty of its architectural splendours from the past is 5)integrated into the pattern of life which today is many-faceted, modern and 6)metropolitan, producing a natural 7)symbiosis of forms and colours, a past and present, 8)sacred and safe.
The majestic Flavian 9)Amphitheatre, better known as the Coliseum, the symbol of Rome's eternity, is the greatest of all the monuments of the Roman period. It was begun by 10)Vespasian in AD 72 and completed by his son, Titus, eight years later. According to tradition, 40,000 slaves were used to build it. The huge amphitheatre could contain around 50,000 11)spectators, suitably protected from the sun by the 12)Valerian a canvas roof which was open at the center. It was intended for gladiator shows and wild beast hunts. Often, actual stage settings were provided to make the cruel scenes more lifelike and exciting for the 13)multitudes of spectators who watched them with such enthusiasm, thirsty for blood and pleasure. Before the fights came the 14)ritual salute to the Emperor. "Ave Caesare. Morituri te saluta." -- "15)Hail Caesar. Those who are about to die salute you!" And the thumbs down sign to the defeated. But apart from the hunts and the mortal combats of the gladiators, the amphitheatre also witnessed the tearing apart of the bodies of countless Christian 16)martyrs.
The Coliseum was used for shows until 608 AD. In the Middle Ages it served as a 17)fortress, and 18)successively as a stone quarry for many buildings. The many holes visible are also marks of 19)vandalism. They were made in order to 20)extract the 21)metallic 22)bonds, which joined the blocks of 23)travertine together. It was only at the beginning of the nineteenth century that the 24)pillage was ended and some work of 25)restoration was initiated by the 26)Popes. The external circle, entirely in travertine, is almost 50 meters high and includes four floors, each carrying arches springing from 27)pilasters. The eighty arcades of the entrance are numbered with Roman numerals. The number corresponded to the serial number of the season tickets held by spectators.
罗马圆形大剧场
罗马是繁荣历史的一个伟大见证，是艺术杰作的聚集地，它展现出了最完整的、无可匹敌的人类成就。罗马的瑰宝散发着永恒的大家气质，使它在全世界的众多城市中显得无与伦比。它壮丽雄伟的古代建筑与今天丰富的现代都市生活方式融合在一起，是形态与色彩、过去与现在、神圣与安全的和谐共存。
宏伟的弗拉维圆形大剧场，也称竞技场，是罗马永恒的象征，也是罗马帝国时期最伟大的纪念碑。由韦斯巴西安皇帝在公元72年开始建立，但是由他的儿子提图斯在八年后完成的。根据传统，用了四万名奴隶来修建圆形大剧场。庞大的剧场能容纳下大约五万名观众，瓦莱里安皇帝在中央支起的帆布天花篷恰到好处地起了遮阳的作用。剧场是用来做角斗表演和猎捕野兽的。通常剧场会按真实场景布置，以使残忍的表演更逼真，以唤起众多观众在观看时的激情，唤醒他们嗜血寻乐的性情。在进行角斗前要先行仪式向皇帝致敬。（意大利语）“恺撒万岁。臣子以死亡向您致敬！” 战败的人得到拇指朝下的手势。大剧场除了用做捕猎和角斗士之间格杀之外，也见证了无数基督殉难徒遭分尸的惨剧。
竞技场的演出用途到了公元608年才告结束。它在中世纪成为要塞，既而成为许多建筑的采石场。剧场肉眼可辨的孔眼是蓄意被破坏所为。凿孔为的是要拔出连接石块的金属镣铐。直到19世纪初期，破坏才被停止下来，教皇下令进行修整回复的工作。剧场的外圈完全是由石灰华建成的，高度将近有50米，分成四层，每层的壁柱间以拱门相连。八十道入口的拱门以罗马数字标出。该数字与观众手中所持的当季门票上的序列号是一致的。
注释:
1) witness [5witnis] n. 目击者，证人
2) artistic [B:5tistik] a. 艺术的
3) unmatchable [5Qn5mAtFEbl] a. 不能匹敌的
4) imposing [im5pEuziN] a. 壮丽的
5) integrate into 使并入
6) metropolitan [metrE5pRlit(E)n] a. 主要都市的
7) symbiosis [simbai5Eusis] n. 共生现象
8) sacred [5seikrid] a. 神圣的，庄严的
9) amphitheatre [5AmfiWiEtE(r)] n. 圆形露天剧场
10) Vespasian韦斯巴西安，古罗马皇帝（69-79），弗拉维王朝创立者。
11) spectator [spek5teitE] n. 观众
12) Valerian即瓦莱里安（?-260），罗马皇帝。
13) multitude [5mQltitju:d] n. 多数
14) ritual [5ritjuEl] a. 宗教仪式的
15) hail [heil] int. 万岁
16) martyr [5mB:tE] n. 殉难者
17) fortress [5fC:tris] n. 堡垒，要塞
18) successively [sEk5sesivli] adv. 接连着，继续地
19) vandalism [5vAndEliz(E)m] n. 蓄意破坏艺术的行为
20) extract [iks5trAkt] v. 拔出，榨取
21) metallic [mi5tAlik] a. 金属的
22) bond [bCnd] n. 镣铐
23) travertine [5trAvEtin] n. （矿）石灰华
24) pillage [5pilidV] n. 掠夺
25) restoration [5restE5reiFEn] n. 重建
26) Pope [pEup] n. 罗马教皇
27) pilaster [pi5lAstE] n. 壁柱
