Colosseum
The Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, is probably the world’s best known amphitheatre from the Roman times. Commissioned by Vespasian, it was officially inaugurated by Titus in 80 AD and extended in the following decades. It was the first permanent venue of this kind to be built in the capital, and it is situated on marshy land between the Caelian Hills and the Esquiline. More than 100,000 square metres of Tivoli travertine was used during the construction of what soon came to be known as the largest amphitheatre in the entire Roman Empire. The monumental size, sophistication and elegance of the design, as well as the practical arrangement of the interior, make it one of the greatest architectural achievements of the ancient Romans.
No trip to Rome can ever be complete without a visit to the magnificent Colosseum. It’s believed that the venue received its name from the enormous statue of Colossus that once was located nearby. In its heyday, the Colosseum had a total capacity of more than 70,000 spectators, who crowded in from the most remote corners of the empire to watch gladiator fights, animal hunts and
naumachias (‘naval battles’) in the flooded arena. As legend has it, the original architect of the Colosseum fell victim to a wild beast during one of the shows, thus inaugurating a long history of bloody cruelties within the walls that he himself had conceived. Although the once-magnificent building is now little more than an effective ruin, it continues to serve as the symbol of imperial Rome, recognisable around the world.
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