ROME The Eternal City 1 / COLOSSEUM

Colosseum, also called Flavian Amphitheatre.

The consruction began in AD 72 by emperor Vespasian and completed by his one of two sons and his successor Titus in AD 80. Further modifications were made during the reign of emperor Domitian which was another son of Vespasian. These three emperors are known as the Flavian dynasty and the amphitheater named in Latin from their family name.

In antiquity, Romans may have referred to the Colosseum by the unofficial name Amphitheatrum Caesareum.

The name Colosseum has long been believed to be derived from a colossal statue of Nero nearby the building. This statue was later remodeled by Nero’s succesors into likeness of Helios or Apollo by adding the appropriate solar crown. Nero’s head was also replaced several times with the heads of succeeding emperors.

The amphitheater contained between 40.000 to 70.000 spectators. On the ground floor there are 80 entrance arches.