The Eternal Walls of the Colosseum
Construction of the Flavian Amphitheatre, better known as the Roman Colosseum, began around 7 AD under the Emperor Vespasian. The Colosseum was built in a valley by drying up a small lake that Nero had used for the Domus Aurea, between the Palatine, Esquiline and Caelian hills. Emperor Titus opened the Colosseum in 80 AD, but completed the work, which included the top floor, two years later.
The Colosseum became the largest Roman amphitheatre, with an elliptical structure 188 metres long, 156 metres wide and 57 metres high. Made of brick and covered in travertine, it was divided into five levels with a capacity of over 50,000 people. Its areas were demarcated according to social class: the closer they were to the arena, the higher their rank. The inauguration of the Roman Colosseum was celebrated with a 100-day celebration in which dozens of gladiators died? In 80 AD, the Roman Colosseum was opened after three years of work. Historian Cassius Dio said that 9,000 animals, both trained and wild, died during the inaugural games of the Colosseum.
The Eternal Walls of the Colosseum
Construction of the Flavian Amphitheatre, better known as the Roman Colosseum, began around 7 AD under the Emperor Vespasian. The Colosseum was built in a valley by drying up a small lake that Nero had used for the Domus Aurea, between the Palatine, Esquiline and Caelian hills. Emperor Titus opened the Colosseum in 80 AD, but completed the work, which included the top floor, two years later.
The Colosseum became the largest Roman amphitheatre, with an elliptical structure 188 metres long, 156 metres wide and 57 metres high. Made of brick and covered in travertine, it was divided into five levels with a capacity of over 50,000 people. Its areas were demarcated according to social class: the closer they were to the arena, the higher their rank. The inauguration of the Roman Colosseum was celebrated with a 100-day celebration in which dozens of gladiators died? In 80 AD, the Roman Colosseum was opened after three years of work. Historian Cassius Dio said that 9,000 animals, both trained and wild, died during the inaugural games of the Colosseum.