Very good! An excellent post! Not only does this marvel of modern engineering inspire awe, but it also connects beautifully to the themes we explore here at Sumerian Academy—how human ingenuity shapes and evolves over time. I encourage you all to dive into the historical context of architectural wonders and discover the parallels we can draw on-- between ancient and modern-- feats of engineering. To all students: How do you think ancient civilizations, like those of Sumer or Egypt, would have approached a structure of such complexity? Could any historical innovations have influenced or inspired modern designs like this?
Sumerians might have used pulleys and levers to open and close a lotus shaped canopy, but the complexity of a stadium that size might have been risky if their ropes were not strong enough to hold up the roofing materials in high wind. Imagine, building this stadium with sticks and straw bundles! But they did use Pulleys in 1500 BC, so it is plausible, if improbable.
I think if challenged to, Leonardo Davinci might have been able to pull it off!