THE COLOSSEUM, THE NEWLY OPENED “COMMODUS’ PASSAGE”
Extraordinary news for history and Colosseum enthusiasts! Just a few days ago, our partner Archaeological Park of the Colosseum opened the so-called “Commodus’ Passage” to the public for the very first time. This underground corridor remained hidden for centuries, reserved solely for the elite of the Roman Empire.
Imagine being able to walk about 40 metres of history that once connected the exterior of the Flavian Amphitheatre directly to the “pulvinar,” the imperial box where the rulers watched the bloody arena spectacles. Although this passage was not part of the original design, it was a subsequent structural addition, constructed between the end of the 1st and the beginning of the 2nd century AD to guarantee safety for the highest-ranking figures.
Why is it named after Commodus? Emperor Marcus Aurelius Commodus is also remembered for his passion for gladiatorial games (yes, like in the “Gladiator”). Tradition holds that he used this covered corridor to move safely and discreetly, especially after surviving several assassination attempts. Today, thanks to a meticulous restoration effort, we can admire the precious stuccoes on the vault featuring mythological scenes inspired by Dionysus and Ariadne, and the traces of the once-covered marble walls, discovering a fragment of imperial daily life that was previously inaccessible.
📷 Photo credits: Simona Murrone, Parco archeologico del Colosseo