How did the Romans build the Colosseum, the largest amphitheater in the world?

CAIRO – 15 February 2022: With advances in technology and knowledge, man-made items are constantly being improved over time.

However, the concrete structures made by the Romans were actually stronger than our modern structures, according to an article in Nature.

While salt water erodes modern concrete in a matter of years, some buildings built by the Romans 2,000 years ago are still intact, but details of how Roman concrete was produced have been lost over time. 

To unravel the mystery of Roman construction that manifested itself in the Colosseum, scientists at the University of California Berkeley Laboratory studied the mineral components of ancient marine concrete. They found that a mixture of lime and igneous rocks was used, according to Live Science.

To add more strength, lime was placed in sea water. The water molecules moistened the lime, which underwent a chemical reaction with the ash, as a result of which it tightly held together. This is a strong form of calcium and aluminum.

Even structures that were not under water were solid. The skillful technique of the Romans, using volcanic rock and ash to build the Colosseum, kept this famous marvel relatively intact.

The Colosseum is a gigantic Roman amphitheater located in the center of Rome. It was built to the east of the Roman Forum. Its construction dates back to the era of the Roman Empire in the first century between 70 and 72 AD under the rule of Emperor Flavio Vespasian. It was completed mainly in the year 80, but some modifications were added to it during the reign of Domitian.

The world's largest amphitheater is built of concrete and stone. The amphitheater is the largest work built by the Roman Empire, and is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and engineering.