History buffs and lovers of unique experiences have the chance to walk through the same underground path once secretly used by emperors beneath Rome’s iconic Colosseum.
The Commodus Passage is named after Emperor Commodus — the leader who oversaw the Roman Empire from 177 to 192 AD and was also the son of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. On October 27, an excavated portion of the historic underground walkway will open to the public for the first time ever, so visitors can walk in the footsteps of Commodus, other emperors, and high-status members of society from that era.
According to the Colosseum Archaeological Park, the passageway once led Roman VIPs to the arena’s “pulvinar,” a platform reserved for the Empire’s highest officials.
The Colosseum Archaeological Park notes that the passageway open to the public will be “partially lit and ventilated.” Further details noted that the corridor is vaulted, underground, and “located at the southern end of the Colosseum’s minor axis, to the exterior of the monument.”
The Associated Press reported that the passageway is built in an ‘S’ shape, and the second portion of its restoration will begin early next year. The forthcoming project will reportedly treat the area of the passageway that goes beyond the Colosseum’s perimeter.
What Else Is There To Know About The Commodus Passage Underneath The Colosseum?
Historians believe the tunnel may have been a location of one of several assassination attempts against Commodus. Archaeologists uncovered the passageway in the early 1800s. Experts have conducted intermittent examinations and partial restorations of the site ever since.
The Colosseum Archaeological Park notes that results of the restorations have unveiled “ancient surfaces” including “marble-clad walls,” and “mythological scenes from the myth of Dionysus and Ariadne.” There are also decorative depictions of shows that occurred in the Colosseum, including “boar hunts, bear fights accompanied by acrobatic performances, [and] tricks behind the doors from which animals emerge.”
“Visitors can now have a taste of what it was like to be an emperor entering the arena,” reportedly stated Barbara Nazzaro, the overseeing architect of the restoration. “With a little effort of imagination and the help of a virtual reconstruction, they can appreciate the decorations, stuccoes, frescoes, and marbles that covered the walls.”
