The city of Rome is home to one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, the Coliseum. The Coliseum or the Flavian Amphitheatre as it was called during the days of the Roman Empire, has been providing Romans and visitors with entertainment for over 2000 years.
The Coliseum is the original sports arena. Construction began in 72 AD and the arena had seating for over 50,000 fans. Like today’s sports arena’s, spectators were seated by rank and wealth. But the fans didn’t come to watch football or soccer they came for blood sports – armed combat between trained fighters known as gladiators and/or exotic animals such as lions, tigers, and rhinos.
The gladiators were classified in a way similar as today’s wrestlers or boxers, in categories and classes. Many of the fights were to the death. Most gladiators were not volunteers they were slaves, convicted criminals or prisoners of war. It was possible to earn their freedom if they fought well and survived the battles.
All that remains of the Coliseum today is the skeletal ruins of the once great amphitheatre. Visitors can take a guided tour of the Coliseum and see the remains of the underground cages and cells where the animals and gladiators were held when the floor was still on the Coliseum. Sit in the spectator seats and try to image what it would have been like 2,000 years ago to attend an event in the amphitheatre.
The building itself was an amazing feat of construction and engineering. Built of masonry and cut stone with Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian columns and pilasters, the Coliseum is truly one of the great buildings of the Roman Empire.
After you have seen the Coliseum, why not visit the nearby Roman forum, where all decisions of the Roman government were made with the help of the people, or Roman citizens. Take a stroll past the Arch of Constantine, built in 315 AD to commemorate the victory of the Empire Constantine over Maxentius. Constantine would go on to become the first Christian emperor of Roman.
Admission is charged to the Coliseum ($15.50 Euro) and other ancient Roman ruins.
Rome is an old city and like an old warrior it proudly displays is history to those who care to see it. No visit to Italy would be complete with out a visit to the Coliseum in the center of what once was the capital city of greatest empire of ancient Europe.
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Roman_Colosseum.HTML
http://www.exn.ca/rome/colosseum.htm
http://www.rome.info/colosseum/
http://www.hillmanwonders.com/coliseum_of_rome_tidbits/coliseum_of_rome_tidbits.htm
The new seven wonders of the world
http://www.lestout.com/article/travel/adventure-travel/new-seven-wonders-world.HTML
