Colosseum

The Colosseum is the largest ancient amphitheater ever built and is still the largest standing amphitheater in the world today. This amphitheater is located in the center of Rome, Italy. The construction of the Colosseum began under the emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 AD under his successor and heir, Titis.

This place was first opened in A.D. 80 by Titus for 100 days of games, including gladiatorial combats and wild animal fights. It then was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles including animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, dramas based on Roman mythology, and briefly mock sea battles. It was later reused for such purposes as housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry, and a Christian shrine.

The Colosseum is built of travertine limestone, tuff (volcanic rock), and brick-faced concrete. It is an entirely free-standing structure! It is elliptical in plan and is 189m long, and 156m wide, with a base area of 24,000 square meters. The central arena is an oval shape 87m long and 55m wide, surrounded by a wall 5m high. The Colosseum could accommodate 87,000 people, although modern estimates put the figure at around 50,000. They were seated in a tiered arrangement that reflected the rigidly stratified nature of Roman society. Special boxes were provided at the north and south ends respectively for the Emperor and the Vestal Virgins, providing the best views of the arena.

Having been substantially ruined by earthquakes and stone robbers, two-thirds of the original structure has been destroyed. However, the Colosseum today is still an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy. There is now a museum dedicated to Eros on the upper floor of the outer wall of the building. Beneath the Colosseum, a network of subterranean passageways once used to transport wild animals and gladiators to the arena opened to the public. The Colosseum is also the site of Roman Catholic ceremonies in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Official name: The Colosseum (or Coliseum)
Situated in: Italy
Built in: Around A.D 70–80
Built by: Emperor Vespasian of the Flavian dynasty
Designated by UNESCO: 1980