The Colosseum Awnings

The awning or velarium consisted of roman shades made sailcloth in either canvas linen or cotton attached to spokes of rope.
The colosseum awnings. The velarium or awning at the colosseum could be extended or retracted with ropes. Made of linen shadecloths timber framing iron sockets and rope the system could effectively shade about one third of the arena and seating. Supporting masts extended from corbels built into the colosseum s top or attic story and hundreds of roman sailors were required to manipulate the rigging that extended and retracted. The amphitheatre seated some 50 000 spectators who were shielded from the sun by a massive retractable velarium awning.
1 these french researchers give a very detailed explanation with all the calculations and the plans. Among the most significant awnings in the ancient world was the velarium the massive complex of retractable shade structures that could be deployed above the seating areas of the roman colosseum. The awning didn t extend over the entire footprint of the colosseum but instead sloped downwards towards a large central opening that made the whole canopy more flexible the spoke like rigging extending from the masts terminated in an elliptical rope that defined the shape of the opening.