Roman Colosseum

The Colosseum, which stands near the center of contemporary Rome, is possibly the finest existing example of antique Roman architectural engineering. One of the most well-known ruins in the world, thousands of tourists visit it every year.

The Colosseum is shaped like a contemporary football stadium and could seat 45,000 viewers. The four-story facility is 161 feet high, about 600 feet long and 500 feet wide. Events such as fights flanked by gladiators and between men and wild animals were detained there. Awnings could be hung from the walls to defend spectators from the sun.

The oval-shaped, sand-covered floor of the arena at first could be flooded for water spectacles. Later, though, cages for people and animals were installed under the arena. A wall alienated the arena from spectators whose seats rested on sloping concrete ropes as in many stadiums today.

Construction of the Colosseum started during the reign of Emperor Vespasian, who ruled from A.D. 69 to 79. building was completed in A.D. 80.