Interestingly, the words naumachia and hypogeo are both Greek words which remain in modern Greek. Hypogeo means basement (υπογειο) and naumachia (ναυμαχια) means ship battle.
A bunch of us Latin teachers were trying to figure out how many (perhaps only one) naumachia actually took place in the Roman colosseum. Have you heard of any specific numbers in your research or perhaps primary sources to find that information? I understand other colosseums may have been built to offer these more specifically.
I don't think it was that many, at best, a handful because it had to be extremely costly and difficult to pull off. As you said, other, smaller amphitheaters were better equipped to handle them.
This U of WA prof describes one of the naumachia here
"Another mystery of the Colosseum is the flooding of the area for the staging of large naval battles. Martial describes a large naval battle being held during the inauguration. The water was 5-7 feet deep and the wooden stage was removed to flood the underground area. Recent studies give good evidence that these battles actually took place. Waterproof mortar was not used in the current underground of the Colosseum. However, there are large, unused square holes in the underground providing evidence that a different underground preceded the one we see today. Hydraulic analysts calculated that the aqueducts could not provide water fast enough to fit Martial’s description of the Colosseum filling in just one day. Historians postulate that the water was taken from a lake or river that used to be in the area. Most of the participants of the naval battle were prisoners already sentenced to death. Most of the ones that died are said to have drowned and the survivors were given mercy."
Loved learning about the "secrets" of the Colosseum! ...and the space elevator was so much fun!
Interestingly, the words naumachia and hypogeo are both Greek words which remain in modern Greek. Hypogeo means basement (υπογειο) and naumachia (ναυμαχια) means ship battle.
Oh that's so cool! I had assumed Latin (which I haven't had the opportunity to learn) but that makes sense as the most refined Romans spoke Greek!
A bunch of us Latin teachers were trying to figure out how many (perhaps only one) naumachia actually took place in the Roman colosseum. Have you heard of any specific numbers in your research or perhaps primary sources to find that information? I understand other colosseums may have been built to offer these more specifically.
I don't think it was that many, at best, a handful because it had to be extremely costly and difficult to pull off. As you said, other, smaller amphitheaters were better equipped to handle them.
This U of WA prof describes one of the naumachia here
https://depts.washington.edu/hrome/Authors/jimkuo2/IlColosseo/253/pub_zbpage_view.html
"Another mystery of the Colosseum is the flooding of the area for the staging of large naval battles. Martial describes a large naval battle being held during the inauguration. The water was 5-7 feet deep and the wooden stage was removed to flood the underground area. Recent studies give good evidence that these battles actually took place. Waterproof mortar was not used in the current underground of the Colosseum. However, there are large, unused square holes in the underground providing evidence that a different underground preceded the one we see today. Hydraulic analysts calculated that the aqueducts could not provide water fast enough to fit Martial’s description of the Colosseum filling in just one day. Historians postulate that the water was taken from a lake or river that used to be in the area. Most of the participants of the naval battle were prisoners already sentenced to death. Most of the ones that died are said to have drowned and the survivors were given mercy."
And some additional info here: https://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/gladiators/naumachiae.html
It seems the Martial epigrams referred to might be this: http://www.csun.edu/~hcfll004/Martial-Colosseum.html
Gratias tibi ago!
The space elevator was really cool! As well as all the info about the colosseum...thanks
The space elevator is SO eye-opening. I had no idea some of those birds could fly so high!