Coliseum

The Colosseum, also known as the Flavianus Amphitheater, located in Rome, the capital of Italy, is an arena. Its construction was started by Vespasianus, a master commander, in 72 BC and completed in 80 AD during the reign of Titus. Subsequent changes were made during the reign of Domitian.

Emperors used to organize gladiatorial fights here to entertain the Roman people and partly for their own entertainment. There would also be many public performances, imitation naval battles, animal hunting, executions, reenactments of famous wars, dramas based on classical mythology. The Colosseum was later used for various purposes as a place of residence, business shops, religious barracks, fortification, quarry, Christian shrine. While its original name was Arena, it later took the name of the statue at the entrance. On July 7, 2007, it was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Although today it is devastated by the earthquake and its stones have been stolen, the Colosseum has long been seen as an iconic symbol of the Roman Empire. Today it is one of the most tourist-attracting places in modern Rome.

It is also closely connected with the Roman Catholic Church. On the Friday before Easter, the Pope holds a lantern procession in the amphitheatre. In the years it was used, it provided space for 50’000 spectators It has the opportunity to cover the spectators with tent cloths from rainy weather

Name

The original name of the Colosseum was Amphitheatrum Flavium. It was also often called Flavium Amphitheater. Since the structure was built during the Flavium Dynasty, its original name comes from the name of this civilization.