The Roman Colosseum; The Largest Amphitheater Ever Built

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The roman colosseum is also known as the Flavian amphitheater or colosseo is an amphitheater in the middle of the city of Rome. The colosseum is the largest amphitheater ever built. It was started when the emperor Vespasian was in rule in AD 72 and completed in AD 80 when his successor Titus was in rule. It was made for the roman people. The colosseum had an average of 65,000 people being able to hold up to 80,000. The site chosen was a flat area on the floor of a low valley between the Caelian, Esquiline and Palatine Hills. Emperor Domitian, made a series of underground tunnels used to house animals and slaves for fighting. He also increased his seating capacity. The games took place in A.D. 80 or 81. Gladiatorial fights are last inquired around 435 AD.

During the middle ages it was called colloseo. It has been constantly torn down for bronze through the ages. It has been theorized that a total of over 9,000 animals were killed while the colosseum was in its prime. Games were played there for 100 days. It was the largest roman ampethetre ever built. The colosseum was developed to promote public welfare for entertainment with gladiators. The people were arranged per social ranking. It is rumored to have had water fountains and ticket booths. The colosseum was rumored to be built by one person, the ancient Roman poet Virgil, but it was now found that he was long dead before it was built. There were 36 trap doors for animals and entertaining special effects.

Every roman had free entry to the colloseum. Gladiators were marginalized persons in Roman society, without the rights of citizenship, and essentially (or literally) slaves. (http://www.aroundrometours.com/30-interesting-facts-about-the-roman-colosseum-art10-uid1.htm) The area beneath the Colosseum was called the Hypogeum (meaning underground). The hypogeum consisted of two-level barley underground network of tunnels and 32 animal pens. It had 80 shafts to the surface. Roman citizens were fed throughout the games. This was a gift to the people, after all.

Funnily enough, the colosseum was used as a worshiping ground for Cristian’s thought the centuries. Due to historic evidences, it is shown that 200 bull carts were used to pull marble. Actual sea battles took place in the colosseum. When the colosseum was in its prime, the animal population took a gigantic plummet. That is amazing that one colosseum can have such an impact on the world. Events leading up to the building, were a suicide by Nero and started a series of civil wars. Four emperors took the throne and the last one would end up ruling for 10 years, and as forgiveness to the roman people, he built a giant colosseum. Titus, a well loved ruler put the 100 days of games into place. After mount Vesuvius erupted Titus helped with the recovery efforts. The buildings were finished by Domitian. The colosseum is 620 by 513 feet. There where very few, but some female gladiators throughout the prisoners of war.

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