The awning or velarium consisted of roman shades made sailcloth in either canvas linen or cotton attached to spokes of rope.
The colosseum awnings.
Here below are their models of the solution.
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The velarium or awning at the colosseum could be extended or retracted with ropes.
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.
Many have tried to understand how the velarium was mounted and how could be operated.
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.
Made of linen shadecloths timber framing iron sockets and rope the system could effectively shade about one third of the arena and seating.