The Colosseum in Rome, history, information and interesting facts

The Colosseum in Rome is undoubtedly one of the most famous and recognizable landmarks in the Eternal City. Together with the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, and the ancient Roman Forum, it forms a set of attractions in Rome that no tourist visiting the capital of Italy should miss.

The history and purpose of the Colosseum are well-known, but within the annals of this extraordinary arena, there are events that will even surprise you.

The Colosseum in Rome and its complicated history

The Colosseum in Rome was built in the second half of the first century, thanks to the ruling Flavian dynasty. The reason behind such a mighty investment was, of course, politics, or rather the total political chaos that ensued in Rome after the overthrow of Nero in the year 68.

Just imagine a vast city with a powerful and quite eccentric emperor sitting on the throne. While Nero did make Rome powerful and prosperous, his approach to power and his person offended the Roman nobility. Nero’s increasingly despotic rule eventually led to a rebellion of legions in many provinces. Some contenders for the throne declared themselves new emperors, while others were chosen by dissatisfied residents of Rome.

Ultimately, betrayed by everyone, even by his Praetorian Guard, Nero committed suicide. This moment was described by the famous Roman historian:

“The Roman world cursed him, and everyone abandoned him simultaneously, and the Senate declared him an enemy.”

– Eutropius

After Nero’s death, chaos reigned in Rome, and power changed hands frequently. Eventually, the most powerful contender for power turned out to be the commander of the legions stationed in Egypt, Judea, and Syria, Vespasian. After suppressing the Jewish rebellion in Jerusalem, he returned to the Eternal City and began the rule of the Flavian dynasty.

However, as mentioned earlier, Rome was in chaos, and the new emperor had to go to great lengths to stay in power while ensuring the strength of the city and the entire empire by radically raising taxes. To quell the dissatisfaction of the residents of the Eternal City, Vespasian decided to distance himself from the previous emperor. In place of Nero’s golden palaces, he built a massive arena, the Colosseum, where ordinary residents of Rome could join the wealthiest nobility in watching spectacles prepared for them. This was in line with the ancient Roman doctrine: “The citizen needs games and bread.”

Now that you know the origin and purpose of the Colosseum, let’s delve into what transpired in the immense arena to delight tens of thousands of spectators.

The Colosseum in Rome the most important events in the timeline

The easiest way to follow the history of a monument is to travel with it along the timeline to which it belonged. Below you will find the most important, in my opinion, events related to the Roman Colosseum.

• Year 70 AD; Demolition of Nero’s Golden Palaces and the commencement of the construction of the massive arena called the Flavian Amphitheatre.
• Year 80 AD; Grand opening of the Flavian Amphitheatre by Emperor Vespasian and his son Titus.
• Year 445; a powerful earthquake severely damages the Colosseum. Immediate repair work begins, including the reconstruction of the seating and arena stage.
• Year 528; The last Olympic Games take place in the Colosseum.
• Year 585; The Colosseum is closed, and a church is erected inside. The surrounding area of the former arena became a cemetery.
• 11th century; The monument’s name was officially changed from the Flavian Amphitheatre to the Colosseum. The new name comes from the enormous statue of Nero, known as the colossus, located near the arena, depicting the emperor as Apollo.
• 12th century; The Frangipani family purchases the Colosseum, transforming it into a fortress, and later, after renovations, into a castle.
• 14th century; Rome is struck by another powerful earthquake, causing the collapse of one of the inner walls of the Colosseum.
• 15th century; The Colosseum stands abandoned, and its stones are used as building material for new projects.
• Year 1744; The Pope declares the Colosseum a place of Christian martyrdom, providing protection. Local builders ceased using it as a quarry, likely saving the monument from complete destruction.
• 18th century; The first Stations of the Cross took place inside the Colosseum under the guidance of the Pope, initiating a tradition that continued until the 20th century.
• Year 2007; The Colosseum was declared one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

The Colosseum in Rome, or the Flavian Amphitheater as an ancient entertainment centre

The Colosseum was designed to attract the residents of Rome and provide them with entertainment to help them forget the problems that weakened the empire. To achieve this, specially appointed directors and set designers competed in coming up with ideas on how to captivate crowds of spectators who quickly grew bored.

In the arena, 36 trapdoors and hidden doors were installed to allow the introduction of additional troops or wild animals during the fights. Some performances were exceptionally bloody and lasted for over 100 days. In the year 107, Emperor Trajan organized games, various contests, and spectacles, during which 11,000 animals and nearly 10,000 gladiators perished.

Gladiator fights and other entertainment in the Colosseum arena

In the Colosseum’s arena in Rome, gladiator battles took place, considered one of the most popular forms of entertainment in ancient times. Gladiators were often slaves, captured in newly conquered lands, but among them were also criminals and even free individuals who signed multi-year contracts. Interestingly, women also appeared among the gladiators, although it was not common.

In Rome, the first gladiator contests occurred in 105 BCE and almost immediately became the favourite pastime of the residents of the Eternal City. Gladiator schools began to emerge like mushrooms, and wealthy Romans bought their warriors, paying fortunes for their training.

Since the construction of the Colosseum, Rome became the main centre for gladiator fights and the headquarters of private enterprises specializing in the training of warriors, whose sole purpose was to hone both body and spirit through training and exercises.

Gathered in one place, the well-trained warriors commanded respect and instilled fear of rebellion. Any signs of disobedience were punished with death. Gladiators trained daily with wooden weapons and only received access to their real combat counterparts just before entering the arena. The fighting arena was usually surrounded by detachments of soldiers who could pacify any gladiator rebellion.

Contrary to popular belief, gladiator fights very rarely ended in death. Their training was so expensive and lengthy that most clashes concluded with the shedding of the first blood.

Wild animal hunts and sea battles in the Colosseum

In addition to gladiator battles, the Flavian Amphitheatre also hosted hunts for wild animals. These were well-planned hunts featuring the most dangerous creatures brought to Rome from conquered lands. Thus, the arena witnessed the release of lions, tigers, rhinoceroses, and hippos.

It is estimated that over a million animals perished in the Colosseum during the entire period when it served as a venue for animal slaughters. All the deceased creatures were taken out of the Colosseum through the western gate, which is why it is still called the Gate of Death.

However, the most grandiose events were different spectacles, namely mock sea battles known as “naumachiae.” Before the construction of the Colosseum, naumachiae were organized on lakes in the Alban Hills near Rome. The purpose of these performances was to depict a naval battle between two ships or entire fleets.

The largest naval battle was a massive spectacle held on the waters of Lake Fucinus, involving over 100 ships and nearly 20,000 people. In the Colosseum, naval battles were also organized, although they were much less spectacular and involved only a few vessels. To achieve this, the arena was sealed, and water from the Tiber River was used to fill it.

In the naval battles held in the Colosseum, participants were condemned criminals or war captives. The battles on water lasted until all the ships taking part in the performance sank. Typically, all participants in naval battles perished, either by drowning or being finished off by soldiers overseeing the proceedings.

The Colosseum in Rome and mass murders of Christians

For centuries, the church has repeated the claim that early Christians were mass-murdered on the boards of the Colosseum in Rome. Allegedly, armed soldiers, coerced barbarians, captured during battles in distant lands, or wild animals were responsible for these atrocities, a popular image often depicted in literature and film.

However, there is no evidence to support the notion that such massacres occurred in the Colosseum. Information about these events only appears in writings from the 17th century, where it is stated that followers of the then-new Christian religion were forcibly brought to the amphitheatre, and in front of a gathered audience, they were hunted like animals.

Ancient writings only indicate that there was a place in Rome where executions of Christians took place, and that location was Nero’s Circus, located in what is now the Vatican and St. Peter’s Square.

It is a fact, however, that during breaks in the spectacles at the Colosseum, executions of condemned criminals took place, and these were extremely brutal and imaginative. Therefore, it is plausible that when there was a shortage of criminals, organizers turned to Christians who had been previously arrested.

Romans, accustomed to the sight of death, became bored with beheading or the stabbing of individuals with swords. Therefore, executions in the arena could be truly macabre, with organizers competing to devise new ways to carry them out. Examples of the cruellest tortures include tearing the convict apart with horse-drawn chariots, impaling on stakes, feeding to lions, or slow dismemberment.

Interestingly, after the fall of the empire and the consolidation of the new Christian faith, bloody fights in the Colosseum and other Roman amphitheatres did not cease. The trend for bloody spectacles ended with the decline of the funds flowing into the city from conquered territories.

Colosseum in Rome practical information

The Colosseum, through its bloody history, has become a place and symbol of opposition to the death penalty. At night, the monument is illuminated by white lights, but when a death sentence is executed somewhere on Earth, the lights change to yellow. This and other symbols you may encounter in the Colosseum can be overwhelming, especially when you realize the enormity of death witnessed by this place.

The dark atmosphere of death and the decline of humanity that has accompanied the ruins of the Colosseum since the Middle Ages led to the emergence of occult movements. Their members believed that within the walls of the grand arena, gates to hell were hidden, and that magical herbs grew among the ancient stones. Some of these beliefs have survived to this day, so remember not to pick anything and stay within the designated tourist areas. Colosseum staff are very sensitive to any kind of unusual behaviour.

When planning a visit to the Colosseum in Rome, it’s crucial to organize your time properly, as tickets are issued for specific time slots, and being late means forfeiting your reservation. Therefore, make sure to arrive a bit earlier, as the queues can be very long.

The purchased ticket entitles you to explore the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Palatine Hill. Additionally, you can pass through the Gladiator’s Gate, receive a professional guide, and be part of a tourist group with no more than 20 people.

You must buy the ticket online and show it before entering. If you have it on your phone, ensure that it doesn’t run out of battery at the last moment. Moreover, remember that up to 24 hours before the ticket’s scheduled time, you can cancel it for free.

Unfortunately, there is no possibility of touring the Colosseum in a wheelchair.

Colosseum in Rome ticket prices

While in Rome, one cannot pass by the Colosseum indifferently. The entrance through the Gladiator’s Gate makes a tremendous impression and stays in memory for a long time. However, ticket prices are quite high. The below prices were applicable at the time when we visited Rome, to ensure they are current, you should check the website with the best prices.

• The Colosseum with the Gladiator’s Gate – Adults pay 44 euros, while children pay 38 euros.
• Combined ticket for the Colosseum and the Vatican – Adults pay 77 euros, kids 57 euro.

Moreover, remember that you can purchase tickets in various options, often in combination with other attractions. Combo tickets are frequently much cheaper and, consequently, more cost-effective than tickets bought for individual attractions.

Colosseum in Rome interesting facts and information

• The Colosseum was built in the 70s of the first century.
• The Colosseum is an elliptical structure with a length of 188 meters and a width of 156 meters. The circumference of the arena is 524 meters, and its height is almost 50 meters.
• The main building material of the Colosseum is a stone called travertine, extracted from quarries in Tivoli, located 30 kilometres from Rome. Another building material was concrete, invented by the Romans.
• The Colosseum had communication galleries and an underground corridor system.
• From the outside, the Colosseum has 4 stories, while from the inside, it has 5.
• On each level, there were evacuation exits leading to communication galleries, as well as buffets, dressing rooms, and showers. On the lowest level, there were rooms for gladiators, cages for animals, and corridors leading directly to the arena.
• There were 80 well-described and numbered entrances to the Colosseum, ensuring that entering spectators reached their designated areas precisely.
• In case of rain, the entire Colosseum could be covered with a special awning resembling enormous sails.
• The Colosseum’s seating capacity could accommodate up to 50 thousand spectators.
• The most popular entertainment in the Colosseum was gladiator fights.
• Gladiators were often war captives, condemned prisoners, or free people who signed contracts with gladiator schools.
• The term “gladiator” comes from the name of a short sword, the favourite weapon of Roman soldiers, called a gladius.
• Gladiators fighting against wild animals were called bestiary.
• The most dangerous animals available in the empire were brought to Rome. These included lions, tigers, leopards, elephants, bears, and many others.
• It is estimated that over a million animals perished in the Colosseum.
• To preserve the lives of valuable gladiators, typically only animals were sent into the fight. Representatives of different species were chained together and forced to fight to the death.
• Other entertainments included hunting wild animals or, after filling the arena with water, large naval battles.
• The Colosseum stage hosted not only bloody massacres but also theatrical performances and concerts.
• There is no evidence that mass killings of Christians were organized in the Colosseum.
• It is estimated that over 500 thousand people met their deaths on the arena stage.
• The Colosseum was constructed so that it could be evacuated in just 6 minutes in case of danger. However, this applied to areas where the wealthiest Romans resided; other zones had limited evacuation possibilities.
• Exits to the Colosseum were divided into two types: those intended for the plebs and those for use by patricians and the wealthiest residents of Rome.
• Contrary to common beliefs, Henryk Sienkiewicz’s novel “Quo Vadis” does not contain scenes taking place in the Colosseum because the book is set in times when the Colosseum did not yet exist.
• The Colosseum is visited by over 6 million tourists annually, making it the most popular attraction in Rome.
• Some scenes in the film “Gladiator” were filmed in the Colosseum. Director Ridley Scott went through hell to obtain permission for the entire film crew to enter the monument.
• It has been calculated that building the Colosseum today would cost around 400 million dollars.

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