The history of stadia

Stadia, the icons of sporting design, are set to backdrop a summer of sport at the London 2012 Olympics.

Soane Office

Source: Sir John Soane Museum

Soane Office, Royal Academy lecture Drawing, Plan of the Colosseum, Rome

A new exhibition at Sir John Soane’s Museum in London looks at the history of stadia, from ancient structures such as Rome’s Colosseum to the state-of-the-art venues in east London.

Early artefacts on show will include an amphora showing an ancient Greek armour race, and a large bronze goose that adorned the Hippodrome at Constantinople.

London Olympic Stadium Model

Source: Populous

London Olympic Stadium Model

Also going on display will be Codex Corner, a Renaissance manuscript owned by Soane, which is the earliest archaeological correct record of the Colosseum and was regularly consulted by Michelangelo.

Moving into the present day, the exhibition will host a highly detailed model of the London 2012 Olympic Stadium, designed by Populous.

Stadium in a desert climate

Source: Populous

Stadium in a desert climate

Stadia runs at Sir John Soane’s Museum, 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A, until 22 September.

Start the discussionStart the discussion
  • Post a comment

Latest articles