The amphitheatre seated some 50 000 spectators who were shielded from the sun by a massive retractable velarium awning.
The colosseum awnings.
Among the most significant awnings in the ancient world was the velarium the massive complex of retractable shade structures that could be deployed above the seating areas of the roman colosseum.
The awning or velarium consisted of roman shades made sailcloth in either canvas linen or cotton attached to spokes of rope.
Made of linen shadecloths timber framing iron sockets and rope the system could effectively shade about one third of the arena and seating.
The velarium or awning at the colosseum could be extended or retracted with ropes.
Here i want to collect some of the most interesting hypothesis that can be found on the web.
Many have tried to understand how the velarium was mounted and how could be operated.
The awning didn t extend over the entire footprint of the colosseum but instead sloped downwards towards a large central opening that made the whole canopy more flexible the spoke like rigging extending from the masts terminated in an elliptical rope that defined the shape of the opening.