V E L A R I U M

THE AWNING

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. Here below are their models of the solution

2 -The following "lecture" can be found on the site http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/colosseum/, but I have copied the text here. The main subject regards  the experiments made in order to reproduce the system of  rigging up the awning of the Colosseum. Though very long, it is full of interesting information.