Colosseum

The Colosseum is an elliptical amphitheatre in central Rome, just east of the Roman Forum. It stands on a flat area between the Caelian, Esquiline and Palatine Hills, where a canalised stream once ran. The site was once part of Nero’s grand Domus Aurea, built after the Great Fire of Rome in AD 64. After Nero’s death, Vespasian filled in the artificial lake and built the Flavian Amphitheatre on the same ground. The Colosseum was constructed using travertine, Roman concrete and tuff, with foundations, corridors and vaults made of concrete. It is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built and the largest standing amphitheatre in the world. Under Emperor Vespasian, work began in AD 72 and was completed in AD 80 under his successor Titus. Further changes were made during the reign of Domitian. The Flavian dynasty funded its construction with spoils taken from the Jewish Temple after the Siege of Jerusalem in AD 70. The Colosseum could hold between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators at its peak, hosting gladiatorial contests, animal hunts, executions and re-enactments of famous battles. Visitors today see a grand ruin of travertine arches and brick walls, still standing despite earthquakes and stone robbers. Inside, the arena floor is gone, revealing underground corridors and chambers once used for gladiators and animals. The outer walls rise in three tiers of arches, with some sections still standing to their original height. The Colosseum remains a powerful symbol of Imperial Rome and one of the city’s most visited landmarks. Each Good Friday, a torchlit procession led by the Pope begins near the Colosseum, linking the ancient structure to modern tradition.