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 colosseum awnings.
The velarium or awning at the colosseum could be extended or retracted with ropes.
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.
Many have tried to understand how the velarium was mounted and how could be operated.
Here i want to collect some of the most interesting hypothesis that can be found on the web.
1 these french researchers give a very detailed explanation with all the calculations and the plans.
The awning or velarium consisted of roman shades made sailcloth in either canvas linen or cotton attached to spokes of rope.
Made of linen shadecloths timber framing iron sockets and rope the system could effectively shade about one third of the arena and seating.