A Botanical Garden Inside The Colosseum?

That time when the Roman Arena was home to more than 420 exotic plants...

For centuries, the ancient arena was home to an astonishing variety of exotic plants. But no one had planned such a work of eco-architecture... So how did they get there?

To celebrate the Roman gladiatorial games and provide a bloody spectacle for the masses, thousands of exotic beasts were brought from every known corner of the Empire (and beyond).

But these beasts carried with them something that no one could have imagined...

Hiding in their fur, hair and excrement, these beasts carried seeds of plants found in their place of origin! It may sound incredible, but over time these seeds transformed the Colosseum into a botanical garden like no other...

With the abolition of the gladiatorial games, the arena of the Colosseum was used for other purposes, such as agriculture and even private dwellings. As a result, over 420 of these exotic species flourished, transforming the Colosseum into a botanical garden unparalleled until recent times.

A glimpse of the Colosseum’s appearance with its now-lost botanical riches comes from Richard Deakin:

“...an amphitheater of rocky hills overgrown by the wild olive, the myrtle, and the fig tree, and threaded by little paths which wind among its ruined stairs and immeasurable galleries: The copsewood overshadows you as you wander through its labyrinths, and the wild weeds of this climate of flowers bloom under your feet.”

Today, of course, the ancient Roman arena looks very different, with no trace of this curious phase of its history. To prevent further deterioration of this iconic monument, the Colosseum's unique flora was removed at the end of the 19th century, bringing a hidden chapter of its history to an end.

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