Standing in the center of modern Rome, the Colosseum remains the largest amphitheater ever built. Commissioned by Emperor Vespasian around 70-72 AD and inaugurated by his son Titus in 80 AD, it was intended as a gift to the Roman people, built over the site of Emperor Nero's former private lake. Its construction, largely the work of tens of thousands of Jewish slaves under the guidance of Roman engineers, resulted in a four-story elliptical structure that once stood over 150 feet high and could accommodate up to 80,000 spectators. A Legacy of Spectacle and Sorrow
For nearly four centuries, the arena was a theater for both entertainment and brutality. Visitors today can look down into the exposed —the complex maze of underground tunnels, animal pens, and elevators that once fueled the spectacles above. The Rambling Writer’s Italy, part 2: The Roman Colosseum Colosseum trip.7z.002
The shows would usually begin with trained animals performing tricks. Then came the gladiators who fought each other to the death. Sara Stamey 10 facts about the Colosseum! - National Geographic Kids Standing in the center of modern Rome, the