|
The Colosseum:
The Colosseum's name is
derived from a colossus (a
130-foot or 40-metre statue)
of Nero nearby. This statue
was later remodeled by
Nero's successors into the
likeness of Sol, the sun god,
by adding the appropriate
solar crown. Nero's head was
also replaced several times
by the head of succeeding
emperors. At some time
during the Middle Ages, the
statue disappeared; experts
suspect that, since the
statue was bronze, it was
melted down for reuse.
After the colossus' disposal,
the link to it seems to have
been forgotten over time,
and the name was corrupted
to Coliseum in the Middle
Ages...
|
|
