The historical landmark Colosseum was a prodigious stadium in ancient Rome. Its construction began in 70 CE under Vespasian’s rule. It was built on what used to be Emperor Nero’s house, the Colossus, after which it was named. [1] Emperor Titus finished the construction of the Colossuem in 80 CE. He opened the games for gladiator fights that lasted 100 days.
The stadium’s seating reflected Rome’s feudalistic society. Women and slaves were given the farthest seats where they could not see anything, whereas the more important people like politicians were given the most exquisite seats in the front. The stadium could also be filled with water for naval gladiator battles. These fights gained very high attendance. The fights declined in popularity after the rise of Christianity, and the Colosseum has since been repurposed as a tourist site.
What is left now of the Colosseum is merely ruins. A large part at the top is now gone. However, the 17th and 18th centuries saw the preservation of the Colosseum as a historical landmark. [2] Today, the Colosseum is an iconic landmark. Even the word “coliseum” is derived from the stadium’s name, reflecting the Roman influence on the Western world.
[1] Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Colosseum". Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Jul. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Colosseum. Accessed 25 July 2024.
[2] Tickets, Colosseum Rome. “Colosseum Restoration - Colosseum Rome Tickets.” Colosseum Rome Tickets, 11 June 2023, colosseumrometickets.com/colosseum-restoration.
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