The Coliseum is the largest and most widely known Roman amphitheater. It was originally called the Flavian Amphitheater. The Coliseum was started by Emperor Vespasian and was dedicated by his son, Titus. Vespasian's younger son succeeded Titus and under his rule the Coliseum was completed. The Coliseum was elliptical and had 4 stories. The Coliseum utilized over 240 arches, travertine posts, and columns. The seating capacity was believed to be over 50,000. The area inside the Coliseum was a pit surrounded by high walls, which were used to protect the crowd from the wild animals that were often used in the arena. The pit had a sand covered floor, which rested above substructures where animal dens, elevators, and other mechanisms have been found. Gladiators and animals fought in the arena (for more information on gladiators, see Roman Gladiator post). Combat between gladiators was abolished in 404 A.D. and the last recorded fight betwen animals was held in 523 A.D.
Over the years natural disasters affected the Coliseum and it had been restored by the Romans a few times. In 1995 a major restoration occurred so the structure would hold and more of the Coliseum would be open to the public.
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