Italy opens “Emperor's Corridor” at Colosseum after nearly 2,000 years

For the first time in nearly 2,000 years, visitors to the legendary Colosseum in Rome, Italy, will be able to set foot in a secret passage once reserved for Roman Emperors - a place that allowed them to enter and exit the arena without being seen.

The Corridor of Emperor Commodus - named after the emperor portrayed in the famous film “Gladiator” by director Ridley Scott - will officially open to the public from October 27, marking a major milestone in the conservation and exploration of archaeological heritage in Italy.

Experts from the Colosseum Archaeological Park said the tunnel was discovered in the 1810s and was used as a private passage for Emperor Commodus leading directly to the grandstand overlooking the arena: both discreet and safe.

Emperor Commodus, who reigned from 180-192 AD and was a fan of gladiatorial games, is said to have narrowly escaped assassination while passing through this tunnel.

At the entrance, archaeologists found many decorative motifs depicting wild boar hunts, bear fights and acrobatic performances, believed to be artistic preludes to the bloody fights inside the Colosseum.

The corridor curves in an “S” shape, extending out into the arena, but its final destination remains a mystery.

“Visitors can now feel what it was like to enter the arena as an emperor,” said architect Barbara Nazzaro, who is in charge of restoring the Corridor of Commodus. “With a little imagination and the help of virtual simulation technology, they will be able to admire the walls that were once covered with magnificent motifs, reliefs and marble.”

The restoration project of the Corridor of Emperor Commodus, which will run from October 2024 to September 2025, will include structural reinforcement, restoration of plaster and decorative plaster, and installation of new walkways and a lighting system that recreates natural light entering through small holes in the vault.

According to plan, in the second restoration phase expected to start in early 2026, archaeologists will continue to excavate the tunnel section outside the Colosseum's boundaries./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/italy-mo-cua-hanh-lang-hoang-de-o-dau-truong-colosseum-sau-gan-2000-nam-post1070094.vnp