去意大利羅馬旅游，有一個(gè)地方切勿錯(cuò)過，那就是有著千年歷史的古羅馬圓形劇場(chǎng)。只有置身于那里，你才能更清晰而深刻地感受到古羅馬古老的文明和濃郁的文化氣息。

This is where St. Ignatius1)， when thrown to the lions with heartless brutality， famously said \"I am as the grain of the field and must be ground by the teeth of the lions， that I may become fit for His table.\" This is where dismal2) groans of hapless3) prisoners echoed through rising columns of Doric， Ionic and Corinthian orders4). In the amphitheatre in Rome， you will hear the silent footfalls5) of history pulsating6) in your very veins. Even in this age of skyscrapers， the Colosseum stands out as a marvel of ancient architecture. It is an awe-inspiring7) specimen of Roman imperial power， and is perhaps the most ancient surviving stadium in the world.

The Colosseum is located in the city of Rome in Italy. Rome is one of the world's major heritage and cultural cities. The Colosseum is the second most visited site in the city after the Vatican8). Around 2 million travellers from various parts of the world come annually to witness this grand and stunning monument9).

The Colosseum is the greatest specimen of Roman engineering. It was built between 72 and 80 AD under the Flavian emperors. The amphitheatre was mostly used for public shows and gladiator10) contests. Various other public spectacles11) like mock12) sea battles， animal hunts， wrestling competitions， as well as executions were also held here. Behind those arches， towers and columns， the Colosseum brings to light13) the ruthlessness and imperial pride of the Roman Empire which cold-bloodedly executed thousands of people， professional fighters and unsuspecting animals.

The Colosseum is a giant structure made of stones and concrete and has a measurement of 189 by 156 meters. There are three stories in the arena14)， which are bordered by arcades15) constructed in the Doric， Ionic， and Corinthian designs. The rising arrangement of the columns later served as the basis of the Renaissance assemblage16) of orders.

In the early medieval era， the Colosseum stopped being used for entertainment purposes. Instead， the monument was used for dramatic performances relating to Classical mythology， workshops， religious performances， as a fortress17) and lots more. In fact， the Colosseum became a sacred spot for the Christians as plenty of Christian martyrs18) laid down19) their lives at the hands of the Roman emperors at this very spot.

Around two thirds of the original structure of the Colosseum has been destroyed due to fires， earthquakes， and stone robbers. Although the present structure is only a noble20) ruin of its former self， it still stands out as an iconic symbol of Roman imperialism.

Touring the Colosseum provides you with the experience of a lifetime. Every nook and corner of this huge monument points out a part of the ancient Roman civilization. Even today， the amphitheatre is used for a number of ceremonies and functions21). It serves as a major venue22) of Roman Catholic ceremonies. The monument has also been featured in popular media programs， films， sports functions and other events.

就是在這里，圣伊納爵被殘忍無情地投向獅群時(shí)發(fā)出了著名的吶喊：“我正如田間的谷物，須被獅群的利齒撕碎，方有資格坐上主的餐桌。”就是在這里，不幸囚徒們凄厲的呻吟聲回響在高聳著的多利斯式、愛奧尼亞式和科林斯式圓柱之間。在羅馬的這個(gè)圓形劇場(chǎng)中，你會(huì)聽到歷史寂靜無聲的腳步在你的血管里跳動(dòng)。即使在高樓林立的今天，古羅馬圓形劇場(chǎng)作為古代建筑的奇跡，仍舊引人注目。它是體現(xiàn)羅馬皇權(quán)令人敬畏的典范，可能是世界上僅存的最古老的體育場(chǎng)。

古羅馬圓形劇場(chǎng)坐落于意大利羅馬市。羅馬是世界重要遺產(chǎn)和文化城市之一，古羅馬圓形劇場(chǎng)是僅次于梵蒂岡宮的羅馬第二大旅游勝地。每年，來自世界各地的兩百多萬名游客都會(huì)前來一睹這一宏偉壯麗的古跡的風(fēng)采。

古羅馬圓形劇場(chǎng)是體現(xiàn)羅馬建筑水平的最佳典范。它由羅馬弗拉維王朝的皇帝下令建造，修建于公元72~80年間，主要用于公共演出及角斗比賽。許多其他公開表演及活動(dòng)也在那里進(jìn)行，如模擬海戰(zhàn)、狩獵、摔跤比賽以及死刑。在那些拱門、塔樓以及圓柱的背后，古羅馬圓形劇場(chǎng)揭露了羅馬帝國(guó)的殘酷無情和專橫傲慢，這個(gè)帝國(guó)冷血無情地將數(shù)千人民、職業(yè)角斗士和毫無猜疑之心的斗獸置于死地。

古羅馬圓形劇場(chǎng)是由石頭和混凝土建造而成的巨大建筑物，長(zhǎng)189米，寬156米。角斗場(chǎng)地共分三層，場(chǎng)地邊緣都由多利斯式、愛奧尼亞式和科林斯式的拱廊組成。這種高聳式的圓柱后來成為文藝復(fù)興時(shí)期組合型建筑的基本樣式。

中世紀(jì)初期，古羅馬圓形劇場(chǎng)不再用于娛樂目的，而用來進(jìn)行與古典神話相關(guān)的戲劇演出、文藝研討會(huì)、宗教表演，用作堡壘以及許多其他用途。實(shí)際上，古羅馬圓形劇場(chǎng)成了基督徒的圣地，因?yàn)樵S多基督教殉教者就是在這里命喪于諸多羅馬皇帝之手。

古羅馬圓形劇場(chǎng)約有三分之二的原始結(jié)構(gòu)因大火、地震和盜石者遭到了破壞。雖然現(xiàn)存的結(jié)構(gòu)只是其原始建筑的壯觀廢墟，但它仍舊是一個(gè)引人注目的羅馬帝國(guó)主義標(biāo)志性象征。

游覽古羅馬圓形劇場(chǎng)能給你帶來一生的寶貴經(jīng)歷。這處巨大遺跡的每一個(gè)角落都指向了一段古老的羅馬文明。直至今日，古羅馬圓形劇場(chǎng)還用于舉行許多典禮儀式及宴會(huì)。它是舉行羅馬天主教儀式的主要場(chǎng)地。它還是各大媒體節(jié)目、許多電影、諸多體育賽事和其他大型活動(dòng)中重要的一部分。

1.St. Ignatius: (安提阿的)圣伊納爵(?#12316;110?)，敘利亞安提阿城主教、神學(xué)家，基督教殉道者。據(jù)傳說，當(dāng)時(shí)的古羅馬皇帝圖拉真因其不承認(rèn)羅馬眾神的存在大怒，將其置于古羅馬圓形劇場(chǎng)，任饑餓的野獸吞食。

2.dismal [#712;d#618;zm#601;l] adj. (叫聲等)凄厲的；使人驚恐的

3.hapless [#712;haelig;pl#601;s] adj. 運(yùn)氣不好的；不幸的

4.Doric， Ionic and Corinthian order: 多利斯式、愛奧尼亞式和科林斯式柱型，古希臘建筑三大柱型

5.footfall [#712;f#650;tf#596;#720;l] n. 腳步聲；腳步

6.pulsate [p#652;l#712;se#618;t] vi. (心臟、動(dòng)脈等)搏動(dòng)，跳動(dòng)

7.awe-inspiring: 使人產(chǎn)生敬畏(或畏怯)之心的；令人驚嘆的

8.Vatican [#712;vaelig;t#618;k#601;n] n. 梵蒂岡宮(羅馬教皇在梵蒂岡城的官方住宅)

9.monument [#712;m#594;njum#601;nt] n. (由政府指定要保護(hù)的)歷史遺跡，遺址

10.gladiator [#712;ɡlaelig;die#618;t#601;(r)] n. (古羅馬的)斗士，角斗士

11.spectacle [#712;spekt#601;kl] n. 演出；場(chǎng)面

12.mock [m#594;k] adj. 模擬的

13.bring to light: 揭露，暴露；揭示

14.arena [#601;#712;ri#720;n#601;] n. (古羅馬圓形劇場(chǎng)中央的)角斗場(chǎng)，表演場(chǎng)地

15.arcade [ɑ#720;#712;ke#618;d] n. 【建】拱廊；連拱柱廊

16.assemblage [#601;#712;sembl#618;d#658;] n. 裝配藝術(shù)品 (由零星的物體裝配成的立體藝術(shù)品)

17.fortress [#712;f#596;#720;tr#601;s] n. 堡壘；要塞

18.martyr [#712;mɑ#720;t#601;(r)] n. 殉道者；殉教者

19.lay down: 犧牲；獻(xiàn)出

20.noble [#712;n#601;#650;bl] adj. 壯觀的，宏偉的

21.function [#712;f#652;#331;k#643;n] n. 宗教儀式；重大宴會(huì)

22.venue [#712;venju#720;] n. (行動(dòng)、事件等的)發(fā)生地點(diǎn)，舉行場(chǎng)所