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Contents
Dive into two millennia of the Colosseum's history
Detailed Colosseum history
Site of construction
Pre 70 AD
The Colosseum stands tall on an artificial lake that originally had a statue of Nero built by the Roman Emperor Nero. Although the area was inhabited in the 2nd century, Nero had taken over the land after the Great Fire of Rome. He built many statues, pavilions, and gardens in the area called Domus Aurea. King Vespasius chose this site to construct the Flavian Amphitheatre to give back the land to the people of Rome, which Emperor Nero had utilized for his personal use. The artificial lake was filled, and Nero's statue was converted into another statue honoring the Roman Sun God, Sol. Another reason why this area was chosen to build the Colosseum was that it lies in the heart of the city.
When was the Colosseum built?
70-81 AD
The construction of the Colosseum began in 70 AD under the rule of King Vespasius. It was just after the Siege of Jerusalem, as the King funded its construction through the victories from war. Many prisoners of war were used as labour to build this massive monument. Three floors were completed by the time King Vespasius died (79 AD). It was built using travertine limestone, usually found deposited around hot springs, a volcanic rock called tuff, brick-faced Roman concrete used to build many structures in Ancient Rome, wood, tiles and cement. Highly skilled engineers, decorators, artists, architects, builders and painters designed the monument.
Inaugural games
80 AD
After King Vespasius died in 79 AD, his son and successor, Titus, took over the task of building the Colosseum. While his father had already completed three out of four storeys, Titus oversaw the construction of the fourth level. To commemorate the completion, he organised inaugural games inside the Colosseum that could seat over 65,000 people. These games included animal fights, gladiator combat, hunting, a recreation of criminal battles and criminal executions. According to Roman historian Dio Cassius, over 9000 animals were killed during the inaugural games. The games lasted for 100 days to please the people of Rome and the Roman Gods, as there were many mishaps during Titus's reign, including the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
What was the Colosseum used for?
217- 6th century
While Titus had completed most of the construction before launching inaugural games, Domitian, King Vespasius's younger son and Titus's successor, built underground tunnels for animals and slaves along with a gallery to increase the Colosseum's seating capacity. During the inaugural games, the Flavian Amphitheatre was used for various activities, including animal fights, the reenactment of epic battles and gladiator combats. Historians have also recorded simulated sea battles taking place in the Colosseum, where the battle between the Corcyrean Greeks and Corinthians was enacted. Simulated forests were also created by artists, painters and technicians to depict episodes from mythology or to use as a backdrop for hunting.
Colosseum during the medieval times
Late 6th century to 14th century
By this time, the role of the Colosseum had expanded. It was now being used as a cemetery where well-known Romans were cremated. A chapel was also built inside the Colosseum. The common people used vaults under the seating areas as houses and workshops. During the 12th century, the powerful Frangipani family took over the Colosseum and started using it as a castle. It was in the mediaeval era that the Colosseum was damaged the most. The earthquake in 1349 caused the collapse of the other side of the structure. Stones were stripped for use at other places, and marble was used to make quicklime.
Role in the Christian world
16th and 17th century
During the 14th century, a religious community moved into the amphitheatre, inhabiting the amphitheatre until the Roman Church got involved. There were many propositions about what should be done with the Colosseum. Pope Sixtus V wanted to turn it into a wool factory as a source of employment for the prostitutes of Rome, while Cardinal Altieri, Pope Clement X's nephew, suggested its use for bullfights. But nothing was executed to fruition. It was Pope Benedict XIV who wanted to turn the Colosseum into a sacred site as he believed many Christians were martyred there. He installed many Stations of the Cross. Later, there were many Church-sanctioned restoration projects to reverse the damage caused due to natural and man-made disasters.
Colosseum | History of the Name
The Colosseum was not initially named so. During the reign of King Vespasian, who belonged to the Flavian Dynasty, the Colosseum was called the Flavian Amphitheatre. Over the years, it had started being referred to as the Colosseum, after the Colossus of Nero. Emperor Nero had chosen the site of the present-day Colosseum for himself after the Great Fire of Rome, which destroyed many houses in the area. He built gardens, pavilions, an artificial lake, and a statue of himself called Colossus of Nero. The giant statue was made of bronze that depicted Nero as the sun god. The statue was moved to a nearby area, the artificial lake was filled, and the whole area of Domus Aurea was chosen to build the Colosseum. In 730, Saint Bede referred to the amphitheatre as the Colosseum. Until the year 1000, it was referred to as the Flavian Amphitheatre. While locally, it was called the Colosseum from the 11th century, the earliest use in the English-speaking world was seen in a translated text of Urbis Romae Topographia.
Architecture of the Colosseum
The Colosseum, as magnificent as it is today, was built with a vision in mind. Rome had its fair share of disasters and reigns that terrorised the people. As a way to give back to the people, King Vespasian began the construction of this monumental structure in 70 AD. While most buildings in Rome were built on the hillside, the Colosseum was built as a free-standing structure. It is 4-storey tall with a central oval arena. Under the central arena are underground tunnels made by Emperor Domitian, which housed animals and slaves. There are eighty entrances to the structure at the ground level to make entry and exit as quickly as possible. The Roman Emperor used the northern entrance, three entrances were reserved for the elite, and the common people used the other 76 entrances. Seating was also divided according to class at that time, along with a gallery built by King Domitian for slaves, women and poor people.
Colosseum Design & Architectural Features
Book Tickets to Colosseum, Rome
Frequently asked questions about Colosseum history
How old is the Colosseum?
The construction of the Colosseum began in 70 AD by King Vespasian. As of today, the Colosseum is 1950 years old, with most parts of the monument still intact.
How many years did it take to build the Colosseum?
The Colosseum was built between six to eight years by King Vespasian. At the time of his death in 79 AD, it only had three levels. The fourth level was added by King Titus, while the fifth level, which included a gallery for women, slaves, and poor people, was added by King Domitian.
What is the Colosseum famous for?
A. Built as a gift to the people of Rome, the Colosseum is an important tourist attraction in Rome. It was used as an amphitheatre with a seating capacity of 65,000 people. It is famous because even after 1950 years of being built, the structure stands tall as proof of the ahead-of-their-time craftsmanship of ancient Romans.
Who designed the Colosseum?
The official name of the architect of the Colosseum is not known. It was constructed by King Vespasian with modifications made by his sons, King Titus and King Domitian. Many builders, artists, painters, decorators and engineers were involved in the Colosseum's construction.
What is the architectural style of the Colosseum?
The architectural style of the Colosseum is Ancient Roman Architecture. It was made using Roman concrete. While most buildings in Ancient Roman Architecture were built on the hillside, the Colosseum is a free-standing structure.
Are there guided tours explaining the Colosseum's history?
Yes, there are Colosseum guided tours that will help you understand the Colosseum's history in-depth, available in English, French, Spanish, German and Italian, starting from €39.90. You can choose your preferred time slot and learn about the Colosseum from trained tourist guides.
What is the most interesting fact about the Colosseum's history?
There are many interesting facts about the Colosseum. One interesting tidbit about the Colosseum's history is that it was financed using the victories of the Siege of Jerusalem and was built by Jewish slaves who were prisoners of war. The Romans had a knack for adding more humiliation to those they defeated, which is why the slaves were utilised as labourers to build the Colosseum.
How many people died in the Colosseum?
Although it's difficult to give a number, there were many deaths inside the Colosseum, including criminal executions, gladiator combat deaths and even animals.
What happened at the Colosseum in Rome?
The Colosseum had several uses, with the most popular ones being gladiatorial fights, encounters with exotic animals, mock naval battles and even public executions. Yes, the Romans sure loved their gore!
How long did gladiators fight in the Colosseum?
A usual gladiator single combat would last about 15 minutes. About 13-15 combats would take place in a day, including intervals and other events.
Why was the marble removed from the Colosseum?
While earthquakes and natural disasters damaged the Colosseum, vandalism also played a huge role. The marble was removed from the Colosseum to build other structures in the city as it was rich in raw materials and was treated as a quarry.
Was the Colosseum damaged during World War II?
During World War II, the Allies avoided bombing structures of ancient heritage and importance. The Colosseum was not damaged during this time.
When did the Colosseum stop being used?
The games lasted for four centuries since the inauguration at the Colosseum, until they were abolished by Emperor Honorius in 404 AD. However, criminal executions through animal fights continued.
How did the Colosseum break?
The earthquake of 1349 caused massive destruction of the Colosseum, leading to the outer wall's collapse. The fallen stones were used to build Rome's hospitals, palaces and other architectural structures.
Will the Colosseum be rebuilt?
There were many restoration projects started by the Church in the 16th century and the governments in the 20th and 21st centuries. The Italian government has also announced its plans to add a floor to the Colosseum where people can stand in the gladiators' fighting arena.
