Places & Landmarks
Colosseum
The Colosseum is a first-century Roman amphitheatre built by the Flavian emperors for public spectacles in the center of Rome.
The Colosseum is a monumental amphitheatre in the archaeological center of Rome. Built in the first century CE under emperors of the Flavian dynasty, it is properly called the Flavian Amphitheatre. Its later name came from a colossal statue that once stood nearby.
Ancient audiences gathered there for public spectacles including gladiatorial contests and animal hunts. The building included complex routes, services, and stage machinery for performers and spectators. After antiquity, portions were reused for housing, workshops, religious purposes, and building materials before systematic excavation and restoration began.
Quick facts
- The Colosseum stands in the center of Rome, Italy.
- Its original formal name was the Flavian Amphitheatre.
- It was built in the first century CE under the Flavian emperors.
- Ancient events there included gladiatorial games and animal hunts.
- The structure contained underground corridors, rooms, and lifting machinery beneath the arena floor.
A surprising fact
During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, parts of the Colosseum served as homes, workshops, animal shelters, and a source of building stone.