Originally, the building's Latin name was simply amphitheatrum, 'amphitheatre'. Though the modern name Flavian Amphitheatre (Latin: Amphitheatrum Flavium) is often used, there is no evidence it was … See more

Exterior
Unlike Roman theatres that were built into hillsides, the Colosseum is an entirely free-standing … See more

The Colosseum is generally regarded by Christians as a site of the martyrdom of large numbers of believers during the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire, … See more

The Colosseum has appeared in numerous films, artworks and games. It is featured in films such as Roman Holiday, Gladiator, The Way of the Dragon, Jumper, and See more

Construction, inauguration, and Roman renovations
The site chosen was a flat area on the floor of a low valley … See more

The Colosseum was used to host gladiatorial shows as well as a variety of other events. The shows, called munera, were always given … See more

The Colosseum has a wide and well-documented history of flora ever since Domenico Panaroli made the first catalogue of its plants in 1643. Since then, 684 species have … See more