Ancient Colosseum Corridor for Emperors Open to the Public After 2,000 Years
Visitors to the Colosseum in Rome will now have an additional area to discover due to the opening of a passageway that had been sealed for nearly two millennia. Known as the Commodus Passage, it served as an entrance for the Roman emperor to reach the renowned arena in safety. After an 11-month restoration, this area will at last welcome the public on October 27.
Though the corridor bears the name of Commodus, the son of Marcus Aurelius who reigned from 177 CE to 192 CE, he did not actually oversee its creation. The passage was constructed prior to his reign, during the periods of Domitian (81 CE to 96 CE) and Trajan (98 CE to 117 CE). The designation likely stems from the fact that Commodus, an avid enthusiast of gladiatorial contests, survived an assassination attempt in this lengthy hallway. Appropriate for a corridor that provided direct access to royal seating, the Commodus Pass is adorned with elaborate stucco decorations and illustrations of boar hunts, bear battles, and acrobatic displays. Now visitors will have the opportunity to imagine themselves in the shoes of these leaders as they walk through the newly renovated area. “Visitors can now experience a glimpse of what it was like to be an emperor entering the arena,” states architect Barbara Nazzaro, who managed the restoration. “With a bit of imaginative effort and the assistance of virtual reconstruction, they can appreciate the embellishments, stuccoes, frescoes, and marbles that adorned the walls.”
In the upcoming year, a further phase of work will commence, this time addressing the section of the passage that extends beyond the Colosseum’s perimeter. A glass door, recently installed at the current end of the corridor, will enable visitors to witness the progression of that work in real time.
To include the Commodus Passage in your next visit, reserve the Full Experience tickets, which encompass all underground sections of the Colosseum.
The concealed passage utilized by Roman emperors 2,000 years ago to take their seats in the Colosseum is now accessible to the public. The so-called “Commodus Passage” features intricate stucco work and wall embellishments.
Source: Once-secret Emperor Commodus’ passage to Rome Colosseum opens to public for the first time; Riapre il Passaggio di Commodo
All images courtesy of the Parco archeologico del Colosseo.
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