The Coliseum in Rome

During our visit to Rome, we were privileged to visit the Coliseum. Just standing inside the Coliseum gave me chills as I envisioned being in the movie Gladiator and actually experiencing the history of that era. I could picture Russell Crowe in the center fighting for his privileges and recalling how he depicted life at this time in history. As we know, Hollywood portrays Roman gladiatorial contests as brutal, unruly duels that usually ended when one of the combatants killed the other. But in reality, gladiators didn't always fight to the death.

The Coliseum is important because it is the grandest amphitheater from the time of ancient Roman Empire. The official opening of the amphitheater was in 80 AD and was followed by 100 days of celebration. The Coliseum has its name because of its massive and colossal size.

The Colosseum or Coliseum, which is also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, is an oval amphitheater in the center of the city of Rome, Italy. The Coliseum was originally built of travertine limestone, tuff, and brick-faced concrete. It was by far the largest amphitheater ever built at the time and held 50,000 to 80,000 spectators through the course of history over the centuries. An average audience of 65,000 faithfully attended gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles. Though two-thirds of the original Coliseum has been destroyed over time, the original amphitheater remains a popular tourist destination, as well as an iconic symbol of Rome and its long, tumultuous history. You cannot visit and experience the history of Rome without the Coliseum at the top of your list.

The Coliseum during the Roman Empire used various animals, such as elephants, wild boars, buffaloes, aurochs, bears, lions, tigers, leopards, hyenas, and wolves. The Coliseum and other circuses still contain underground hallways that were used to lead the animals to the arena.

When the Coliseum first opened, Titus declared a 100-day celebration of games that included gladiatorial combats and wild animal fights. Around 9,000 wild animals were slaughtered during this particular event alone. The gladiatorial shows or battles were a demonstration of both power and prestige and were very popular with the crowd. It exposes us to new cultures and experiences and makes the world a more tolerant place. No visit to Rome is complete without a visit to ancient Rome's most famous site, the Roman Coliseum. As one of the most recognized landmarks in the world, the Coliseum stands today as an iconic symbol of ancient imperial Rome.

So why did the interest in the Coliseum change? Eventually, the Romans’ interest in the games waned. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the Colosseum slowly began to deteriorate. A series of earthquakes during the fifth century A.D. damaged the structure, and it also suffered from neglect. By the 20th century, nearly two-thirds of the original building was destroyed. However, a restoration project began in the 1990s to repair the Colosseum. Today it is one of modern-day Rome’s most popular tourist attractions, hosting millions of visitors a year in conjunction and separate from Vatican tours.

Admission fees for the Coliseum in Rome vary. The Coliseum Tickets for adults cost 12 euros. There is a reduced fee for EU-citizens aged between 18 and 25. Teenagers and children under 18, as well as handicapped persons and their assistant are free. These tickets can be purchased separately at the Coliseum, or in combination with a Vatican tour. Our tour of the Coliseum was combined with the Vatican which was a very tiring combination. The Coliseum should not be missed when you visit Rome and as you continue your stay there, you will drive by many times and recall the days of the gladiators.

Certain classes of people were banned from attending the Colosseum. They included former gladiators, actors, and gravediggers. There were 32 different trap doors underneath the floor of the stadium. The first ever games at the Colosseum lasted for 100 days and included more than 3,000 gladiator fights. A high death toll. As is to be expected, there were a lot of deaths at the Colosseum. It was used for entertainment (mostly fights, of course) for almost 400 years and during this time, it is estimated that about 400,000 people died within the walls of this amphitheater.

It was built during the reign of the Flavian emperors as a gift to the Roman people. When the Colosseum first opened, the emperor Titus celebrated with a hundred days of gladiatorial games. Emperors traditionally attended these games. Standing in this immense point in history made you feel the people in the stands, cheering on their gladiators.

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