The Colosseum reopens the secret passage of Emperor Commodus.
Rome, Oct 7 (EFE)
Rome’s Colosseum opened to the public for the first time on Tuesday, following painstaking restoration of the secret underground passageway of Emperor Commodus, the same one that inspired millennia later the bloody villain in “Gladiator” (2000).
The passageway was built between the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, after the inauguration of the Flavian Amphitheater itself, and allowed emperors to reach the box without being seen, connecting the underground area reserved for the powerful (the “pulvinar”) with the south entrance.
Its attribution to Emperor Commodus, who reigned between 180 and 192 AD and was known for his cruelty and passion for arena combat, is due to the fact that he was attacked by a plotter within its walls, the Colosseum Park explained in a statement, citing sources such as the Roman historian Dio Cassius.
The opening of this space for the exclusive use of the emperors represents a “major success” for the monument, according to the director of the archaeological site, Alfonsina Russo.
The underground gallery consists of three sections, the last with skylights for illumination and ventilation, and was decorated with luxurious stucco and marble cladding.
Naturally, the looting and ravages of the centuries have almost completely eliminated the decoration, but the remains of reliefs on its vault can still be seen, evoking myths created by gods such as Eros, Dionysus, and Princess Ariadne.
Some of these decorations have even been reconstructed since, despite their dire state of preservation, they were possible to interpret, and can be viewed in a digital version by downloading a QR code during the visit.
In addition, new lighting has been installed and a metal ramp has been installed to facilitate the navigation of visitors, who may access this site in groups of no more than eight people.
The secret corridor was discovered and excavated in 1810 and is known to have been built between the final years of the reigns of Domitian (81-96 AD) and Trajan (98-117 AD).
However, it has ended up being named after the emperor hated by the Roman people, successor to Marcus Aurelius, and known for his cruelty due to the fact that he was attacked while walking through it (although according to tradition, he ended his days strangled by his trainer, Narcissus).
But above all, this despot has entered popular culture thanks to Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of him in Ridley Scott’s acclaimed film, “Gladiator.”
“The reopening of the so-called Commodus Corridor represents a significant step, the result of difficult work that has combined research, care, and appreciation, thanks also to the resources of the Recovery Plan,” celebrated Massimo Osanna, Director General of Museums of Italy.
