ROME’S ANCIENT COLOSSEUM, Guest Post by Tom Scheaffer

Outer wall of the Colosseum in Rome, Italy

My brother Tom loves to travel and Italy is one of his (and my) favorite places. In December 2015 and January 2016 he went to Italy, visiting Milan, Rome, and Sicily. (See his posts of 1/25/16 and 2/1/16 for his reports on Sicily.) In Rome he visited a variety of ancient sites, including perhaps the most famous–the Colosseum (also spelled "Coliseum".) Here are some of his photos and a few facts about the Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheater, gleaned from his tour.

People in the center of the photo emphasize the enormity of the structure. Part of the main floor has been reconstructed. Underneath are the ruins of the many chambers or rooms where animals and slaves were kept.

After many trips to Italy I finally visited Rome and the first place I wanted to see was the Colosseum. It is the largest of over two hundred amphitheaters built by the Romans. It took ten years to build. Its construction was ordered by the Emperor Vespasian in 70 AD and it was completed under the rule of his son, Titus, in 80 AD.

Entrance to main arena of the Colosseum

The Colosseum had a capacity of over 50,000 and spectators could watch gladiators fighting each other, executions, and demonstrations of animal hunting. It is estimated that over 400,000 people lost their lives in the Colosseum.

Top of Corinthian column

The Colosseum was built from cement and covered with marble. There was a devastating earthquake in 1349, destroying many parts of the building.  Most of the valuable materials were stripped away over the centuries to be used in other buildings in Rome. What remains today is only a fraction of the original building. Nevertheless, the Colosseum is still an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome and is one of Rome's most popular tourist attractions.

Approach to the Colosseum