Naumachia, Coliseum Naval Battles (80 CE)
The opening party of the Coliseum was a big deal. It needed to impress the Romans, and make a political statement to others. For the one-hundred-day party, fueled by wine, food, and sport, Romans celebrated the opening of the Coliseum with games fit for a bloodthirsty Emperor. Rome provided that, too. Emperor Titus commissioned two naumachia. Naumachia are the mock naval battles held in flooded arenas.
The Coliseum used the aqueducts from Nero’s Domus Aurea, sealed the flooring properly, and let the water flow into the arena. From there, ships for the show could stage combat using prisoners, rather than Gladiators. Because naumachia tended to be deadlier than regular gladiator games, condemned criminals and other enemies were put on the ships and shoved into the arena-lake.
