A 2,000-year-old tunnel once used by Roman emperors to slide into the Colosseum unseen will open to the public this month, providing guests a uncommon glimpse of the enviornment’s imperial backstage.
Known as the Passage of Commodus, the 180-foot hall was constructed beneath the amphitheater to let emperors and VIP friends attain their seats in the imperial field with out mingling with the crowds.
The passage takes its title from Emperor Commodus, the ruthless chief who ruled from 177 to 192 CE and was practically assassinated in the underground walkway.
Moviegoers will bear in mind Commodus as Joaquin Phoenix’s scheming emperor in “Gladiator” — the one who murdered his father, Marcus Aurelius, and confronted Russell Crowe’s Maximus in the enviornment.
In actual life, Commodus’ self-importance went additional. He fought in gladiatorial bouts dressed as Hercules, killing weakened fighters and even animals — once beheading an ostrich earlier than a cheering crowd, in keeping with the Colosseum Archaeological Park.
The hidden hall was first uncovered between 1810 and 1814 by French excavators beneath architect Carlo Lucangeli, then reopened in 1874 and studied once more in the Nineties. During the 2020–2021 restoration of the complete web site, archaeologists absolutely mapped the tunnel and commenced a brand new part of conservation.
Scenes of wine and revelry
The latest restoration eliminated centuries of mud and dirt, reattached fragile plaster utilizing laser instruments, and revealed marble-lined partitions etched with landscapes and mythological scenes — together with the story of Dionysus, god of wine and revelry. Near the entrance, carvings of boar hunts, bear fights and acrobats recall the spectacle that once crammed the enviornment.
“Once this passage is now open to the public, visitors will appreciate what it was like to be an emperor,” stated archaeologist Barbara Nazzaro, who led the work.
Massimo Osanna, director normal of Italy’s museums, referred to as the reopening “a significant milestone” that blends analysis and preservation. New options similar to a tactile map and video reconstructions intention to make the web site “truly accessible and inclusive for all audiences.”
The vaulted passage, added in the first and second centuries after the Colosseum’s preliminary development, consists of three branches: two operating east–west and one north–south.
The restoration consists of lighting that recreates daylight from long-sealed skylights, plus glass panels permitting guests to look at archaeologists at work. A new excavation set for subsequent yr will hint the tunnel’s route — presumably towards the gladiators’ barracks.
The venture was funded by the Colosseum Archaeological Park and Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).