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The Roman Colosseum was the work of a brilliant and energetic civilization. The Roman Colosseum was the work of a cruel and brutal civilization.

Both are true.

The Roman Colosseum was one of the most extraordinary buildings in the ancient world, a work of engineering genius whose design is imitated every time a modern stadium is built. Yet, what went on inside this building is difficult to comprehend.

Over the centuries, tens of thousands of slaves, prisoners of war, and criminals were slaughtered in the Colosseum for the entertainment of over 50,000 cheering fans. So many animals were destroyed in gruesome "hunts" staged in the arena that entire species disappeared from the Roman colonies of North Africa.

The Roman Colosseum interweaves the impressive story of the construction of this remarkable building and the sobering tale of the "games" that went on inside it. In doing so, it reveals an entire civilization in all its genius and its brutality.

Wonders of the World series

The winner of numerous awards, this series is renowned for Elizabeth Mann's ability to convey adventure and excitement while revealing technical information in engaging and easily understood language. The illustrations are lavishly realistic and accurate in detail but do not ignore the human element. Outstanding in the genre, these books are sure to bring even the most indifferent young reader into the worlds of history, geography, and architecture.

"One of the ten best non-fiction series for young readers."
- Booklist

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Emperor Titus Flavius was stunned by the noise that filled the amphitheater as he rose to his feet and stepped to the front of his box. The animals, musicians, dancers, charioteers, and gladiators parading around the arena had received thunderous applause from the audience, but now the roar was even louder. Fifty thousand spectators howled with pleasure at the sight of the emperor, their host at this most lavish entertainment. Deafened, but very pleased, Titus slowly raised his hands in a salute to his subjects. Trumpets blared and the cheering echoed. The Flavian Amphitheater, the Colosseum, was officially open. The celebration, 100 days of festivities and entertainment, could begin. Romans had their own ideas of what entertainment should be. Gymnastics and foot races, the kinds of athletic competitions favored in neighboring Greece, had never caught on in Rome. Stage plays, whether tragedy or comedy, seemed a tame reflection of life. To please a Roman audience, real blood had to be shed. Real people and animals had to die. Titus knew that, and he had planned spectacles for the opening of the amphitheater to satisfy the most demanding crowd. The morning's entertainment began. Lions fought against elephants and enraged bulls. Trees, boulders, and other scenery appeared, transforming the arena into a woodland setting. Leopards were released and hunters pursued and killed them. Crocodiles, ostriches, boars, and elephants were slaughtered. Hours later the wild beast shows ended. The crowd talked excitedly during the pause for a midday meal. The best was still to come. Again trumpets sounded, and a procession of gladiators entered the arena. They were welltrained and well-armed, the best that Rome's gladiatorial schools had to offer. As they stopped before the emperor's box, the crowd grew silent. The gladiators solemnly greeted Titus: "We who are about to die salute you." Pair after pair of gladiators clashed in skilled hand-to-hand combat. They were fighting for their lives, and they fought furiously. The audience cheered them on. As corpses were dragged out through the Porta Libitina (Gate of the Dead) at the eastern end of the arena, more gladiators strutted in at the western end. Slaves raked fresh sand over the blood-soaked arena floor (arena comes from the Latin word for sand -- harena ) and the combat continued. When the last fight had ended, the few victorious gladiators were rewarded. Titus presented each with a palm branch -- symbol of victory -- and gold coins. The spectators, weary but satisfied, trailed out into the night. The first day was over. Ninety-nine more days lay ahead. Excerpted from The Roman Colosseum: The story of the world's most famous stadium and its deadly Games by Elizabeth Mann All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

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School Library Journal Review

Gr 4-6‘A colorful, informative introduction to the structure and history of gladiatorial games. The useful text provides fascinating facts about architectural and building innovations utilized in the construction of this arena and an explanation of the ingenious ticketing and numbered entrances that were designed to control the flow of 50,000 spectators. Details about gladiator training, styles of fighting, and the use of wild animals reinforce the author's contention that the Colosseum is both a symbol of Rome's greatness and its brutality. A clear, well-written text and full-color drawings and paintings graphically depict the events held there. Photographs of mosaics, relief carvings, and the site are also included. Richard Watkins's Gladiator (Houghton, 1997) offers more details about the games, the participants, and their social standing in Roman society and Don Nardo's The Roman Colosseum (Lucent, 1998) is hard to beat if additional background on the design and construction of the arena is needed.‘Cynthia M. Sturgis, Ledding Library, Milwaukee, OR (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

Gr. 4^-7. Like others in the Wonders of the World series, this has a picture-book-style look but is packed with history. Covering some of the same territory Richard Watkins did in his more specific book Gladiator (1997), Mann explores the history and the events that led to the building of the Coloseum, and then looks at some of the structure's unusual features, which continue to have an impact on the work of modern engineers and architects. The text is clear, informative, and flows well, but the illustrations, though plentiful, are an odd, unbalanced mix of photos, pictures of artifacts, and bold, full-page paintings. Some of the pictures are quite dramatic, with a few showing the violence of the events, including a little spilling of blood. The center foldout, however, is a disappointment: despite its panoramic view of the amphitheater and miniature show of battling warriors, it is neither as effective nor as dynamic as readers might have expected from the splashy presentation. Maps; time line; glossary. --Stephanie Zvirin

Notas de autor provistas por Syndetics

Elizabeth Mann lives in New York City with her husband and their son, Lucas. Formerly a teacher in the New York City Public Schools, she holds an M.S.E. from Bank Street College of Education.

Michael Racz lives and works in New York City. He enjoys painting historical subjects, especially Civil War and World War II aviation themes. The Roman Colosseum is his first children's book.