Construction of the Coliseum began in 72 A.D. by Emperor Vespasian. The arena was inaugurated in 80 A.D., after Vespasian's death.
The Coliseum was built in Rome, the seat of the large Roman world. The city was known as "caput mundi," Latin for "head of the world."
The Coliseum, which is an amphitheater, was built on an artificial lake that was part of Nero's Roman park. The structure was 159 feet high and could seat 55,000 spectators. The Coliseum has four floors, which were used to seat people according to gender and social status.
The Coliseum was built primarily to entertain the people of Rome. Admission was free. Games included battles among gladiators, animals and prisoners. At times the arena was filled with water for ship battles.
The Coliseum was elliptical and had a wooden floor, below which were passageways and cages for animals as well as holding cells for slaves and dressing rooms for the gladiators. The structure has three levels of arches supported by columns. The Coliseum was built with stone, tufa, travertine and concrete.
Parts of the outer structure of the Coliseum collapsed during an earthquake in 847, and building materials were pilfered to construct other monuments. Despite all this, the structure still stands imposingly and visitors can go upstairs and walk its perimeter.