The Colosseum with Dan Snow

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Season 1
2 episodes

Documentary

Summary

The historian uncovers some secrets and surprises about one of the world’s most famous ancient structures.

Episode 1: Part One

Summary

Part one of two. The presenter investigates one of the world's most famous ancient buildings. He begins by guiding viewers through Rome's underground, revealing caverns where slaves extracted materials for its 10-year construction

Review

Jane Rackham

Following the recent release of Ridley Scott’s film Gladiator II (see page 134), this is a timely examination of the myths and facts about the Colosseum in Rome. For one thing, presenter Dan Snow tells us, the gladiators forced to fight weren’t all slaves, nor did they all have ripped physiques and the emperor never did flip the thumbs-down gesture at the loser.

First, though, Snow looks at the construction of what the Romans knew as the Amphitheatre (Colosseum refers to the large statue that was nearby). It was built nearly 2,000 years ago —in just ten years—but wasn’t the world’s first large-scale stone arena; there’s one at Pompeii that precedes it. And it wasn’t the last: there are surprising similarities between it and the city’s modern Stadio Olimpico, where both Lazio and Roma play.

Snow unearths a wealth of fascinating information ranging from the origin of the word “vomit” to the fact that the Romans created a version of concrete for their buildings.

How to watch

Next showing

There are no live broadcasts scheduled for this show. But it is available via the streaming providers below.

Streaming

Details

Languages

Formats

Colour

Credits

Crew

rolenamePresenterDan SnowExecutive producerBill LockeDirectorMark EdgerProducerAnnie Woodman

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Episode 2

Blood & Sand

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Episode 1

Part One

Summary

Part one of two. The presenter investigates one of the world's most famous ancient buildings. He begins by guiding viewers through Rome's underground, revealing caverns where slaves extracted materials for its 10-year construction

Review

Jane Rackham

Following the recent release of Ridley Scott’s film Gladiator II (see page 134), this is a timely examination of the myths and facts about the Colosseum in Rome. For one thing, presenter Dan Snow tells us, the gladiators forced to fight weren’t all slaves, nor did they all have ripped physiques and the emperor never did flip the thumbs-down gesture at the loser.

First, though, Snow looks at the construction of what the Romans knew as the Amphitheatre (Colosseum refers to the large statue that was nearby). It was built nearly 2,000 years ago —in just ten years—but wasn’t the world’s first large-scale stone arena; there’s one at Pompeii that precedes it. And it wasn’t the last: there are surprising similarities between it and the city’s modern Stadio Olimpico, where both Lazio and Roma play.

Snow unearths a wealth of fascinating information ranging from the origin of the word “vomit” to the fact that the Romans created a version of concrete for their buildings.

How to watch

Next showing

There are no live broadcasts scheduled for this show. But it is available via the streaming providers below.

Streaming
- 5
- Paramount+
Details

Languages

Formats

Colour

Credits

Crew

rolenamePresenterDan SnowExecutive producerBill LockeDirectorMark EdgerProducerAnnie Woodman

How to watch

Next showing

There are no live broadcasts scheduled for this show. But it is available via the streaming providers below.