Easily Italy’s most iconic structure, the Colosseum draws around 4 million visitors to the city of Rome every year. But how much do you really know about it? Here are 10 facts about the Colosseum you might not have heard before.
1. Built between 72 AD and 80 AD, the Colosseum consists of stone and concrete. It was constructed by tens of thousands of Jewish slaves under the rule of Emperor Vespasian.
2. Measuring 189 metres long, 156 metres wide and 50 metres in height, the Colosseum is the largest amphitheater in the world.
3. The Colosseum could seat around 50,000 spectators for a variety of events. These included gladiator contests, animal hunts and re-enactments of famous battles. There were even mock sea battles as they flooded the Colosseum with water.
KEEN TO VISIT EUROPE? DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY OF OUR WORLDWIDE BROCHURE
4. The arena had 36 trap doors for special effects, as well as many underground passages and rooms to hold wild animals and gladiators before the games began.
5. In order to gain popularity, emperors organised and paid for events in the Colosseum themselves. Entry was free for all ancient Romans and they sometimes had free food throughout the spectacles too.
6. The Colosseum had a velarium, a type of awning used in Roman times. This pulled over the top of the seating area to shade the spectators and protect them from the scorching sun.
7. The animals brought to fight in the arena came from all over the Roman Empire. They included big cats such as lions and tigers, as well as rhinos, crocodiles and bears.
8. Some of the games in the Colosseum lasted up to 100 days. However, gladiator contests stopped in 435 AD and the last animal hunts were in 532 CE. This was partly due to the cost of acquiring animals and gladiators, alongside maintaining the arena.
9. It’s estimated that over 400,000 people and over a million wild animals died during the centuries that the games took place.
10. Natural disasters and vandalism destroyed approximately two-thirds of the Colosseum. But it was the 847 AD and 1231 AD earthquakes that did the most damage that you can see today.
June 11, 2020 at 1:31 am
you should be able to zoom in on the pictures
March 11, 2021 at 7:34 am
Thanks
April 19, 2021 at 8:28 pm
thanks for the info
May 10, 2021 at 10:56 pm
this info was really helpful thanks
May 17, 2021 at 11:17 am
Wow thanks
November 30, 2021 at 6:47 pm
This was helpful thanks
December 12, 2021 at 10:19 pm
Good information. Thanks
February 7, 2022 at 3:15 am
u missspelled brought u spelt bought
February 7, 2022 at 12:00 pm
Hi there
Thank you for pointing out this typo, it has now been corrected!
Kind regards, Ben @ On The Go Tours
April 11, 2022 at 8:20 pm
Thanks a lot I’m in 6th grade and am doing a research assignment for the colosseum.
May 11, 2022 at 7:34 pm
same here but in 8th grade
May 11, 2022 at 7:37 pm
The 7th fact doesn’t really make sense
May 12, 2022 at 9:39 am
Hi Alyssa, the point is that exotic animals from all over the Roman Empire, such as lions from Africa (they used to live as far north as Egypt) were brought to the colosseum to fight gladiators and slaves as entertainment for the crowds. Hope this helps.
Ben @ On The Go Tours
May 14, 2022 at 12:55 pm
Same
June 21, 2022 at 1:26 am
Same here but 9th Grade!