Abendroth Blutjager's Guide to Harry Potter

Friday, April 20, 2007

Anfiteatrum Flavium


I know I've considered the possiblity that the US edition of "Deathly Hallows" shows Voldemort and Harry at the ruins of the Potter house, possibly moved into the "Love Room" of a demolished Ministry of Magic. However, il Colosseo in Rome, or Anfiteatrum Flavium, is a perfect site for the final battle between Harry and Voldemort.

The wooden beams that once belonged to an upper level of the building have collapsed, and bronze clamps have been removed from between the stones. There are tunnels and vaulted arcades under the seating area.
It has become a Christain shrine... a deathly hallow all its own!

Not only was the colosseum used for gladitorial games, likely executions of Christian martyrs, and mock battles, but the arena was later (during Medieval times) turned into a cemetary. A church order once occupied the building, later another eligious order moved in. Sections were once converted into housing and workshops. The site is part of a yearly "Way of the Cross" procession lead by the Pope. The procession ends at the colosseum, where Stations of the Cross have been erected, each Good Friday.

From 1993 to 2000 it was under major restoration, so there wouldn't be many tourists hanging around (at least not inside the coloseum) during 1997 or 1998, the general time frame for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Though it could originally hold about 50,000 spectators, and that was once increased to roughly 80,000, the colosseum can now only support a few hundred people, in temporary seating.



Recently, the coloseum has become a symbol of the campaign against capital punishment. Since 2000 (after the HP series timeline ends), the night-time illumination has been changed from white to gold whenever someone sentenced to death has been released or their sentence lessened. Should we consider this a possibility that Harry and Voldemort will both survive, somehow... a reprieve from the death sentence? A release from the prophesy?




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