Rome, Italy

 

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Colosseum

 

The Colosseum was the largest amphitheatre of the Roman Empire, and is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and engineering. It is the largest amphitheatre in the world.


Construction began under the emperor Vespasian in 70 AD and was completed in 80 AD under his successor and heir Titus.


The Colosseum could hold, it is estimated, between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators, and was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology.


Battles and hunts were often staged amid elaborate sets with movable trees and buildings. Such events were occasionally on a huge scale; Trajan is said to have celebrated his victories in Dacia in 107 with contests involving 11,000 animals and 10,000 gladiators over the course of 123 days.

*  The Coliseum in Rome has over 80 entrances and can accommodate about 50,000 spectators.
*  It is thought that over 500,000 people lost their lives and over a million wild animals were killed throughout the duration of the Colosseum hosted people

        vs. beast games.
*  The last gladiatorial fights took place in 435 AD.
*  The Ancient Romans would sometimes flood the Colosseum and have miniature ship naval battles inside as a way of entertainment.
*  The Colosseum in Italy only took 9 years to build using over 60,000 Jewish slaves.
*  Many natural disasters devastated the structure of the Colosseum, but it was the earthquakes of 847 AD and 1231 AD that caused most of the damage

       you see today.