A SECRET tunnel at the Colosseum that let Roman emperors visit gladiators has been opened to the public for the first time.
The hidden underground passageway was also used by the emperors to escape from the amphitheatre and dodge angry mobs.
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Dubbed Passaggio di Commodo, which means the tunnel of Commodus in Italian, the tunnel at Colosseum Archaeological Park has now been renovated.
The secret passageway is said to have been built between the reigns of Domitian (81-96) and Trajan (98-117 AD).
However, the tunnel was named after the great Roman emperor Commodus (180-192 AD), who was said to be a passionate fan of gladiatorial combat.
Archaeologists say plans to include the secret tunnel were added during the construction of the amphitheatre – and it was created between the first and second centuries AD by excavating the foundations.
The underground passage was also used to flood the arena for naval battles, and it still flows under the site, according to archaeologists who led the renovation work.
The tunnel, unearthed in the 19th century, comes to a halt after 55 metres.
The rest of the passage was destroyed when sewage pipes were laid beneath he city of Rome.
This means that the destination of the passageway, once it leaves the Colosseum, remains unknown.
The tunnel moves towards the east, with some experts suggesting it led to the gladiators’ barracks, the Ludus Magnus, or the Caelian Hill.
Roman historian Cassius Dio’s account links the tunnel to Emperor Commodus.
He wrote that Commodus was attacked by a conspirator in an assassination attempt, and the attack may have taken place inside the tunnel.
The maglomaniac emperor, who is thought to have killed large animals including five hippos, two elephants, a rhino and a giraffe at the Colosseum, had many enemies.
Commodus was played by Joaquin Phoenix in Ridley Scott’s 2000 film, Gladiator.
The restoration work has revealed remarkable details, including remains of luxurious marble cladding and stucco decorations depicting mythological scenes of Dionysus and Ariadne.
“It’s an extraordinary place and now it has been restored the world will finally get to see it,” Alfonsina Russo, the director of the site, said.
A new lighting system has been installed to replicate the natural light that once filtered through the passage’s small skylights.
The Passage of Commodus will be open to small groups of visitors from 27 October as part of the “Full Experience” ticket.
A second restoration project, involving the section of the tunnel that extends beyond the perimeter of the Colosseum, is scheduled to begin by the start of next year.
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