Frequently Asked Questions About Colosseum

Posted by ankur raven on November 23rd, 2019

1. Why was Colosseum Built?

The main reasons for the construction of the Colosseum was to make it the symbol of the power of Rome and its emperors. The construction of this amphitheater was decided in an effort to dissipate Nero, costing Rome the honor of its citizens. The revolt of Jews in Palestine against Roman rule provided the perfect opportunity to gather necessary funds for the construction of this vast arena. After a major fire in Rome in 64 CE (but historians are not entirely convinced that it was his fault) and four years later causing a civil war, Emperor Nero built a huge pleasure palace for himself (Domus Aurea- the Golden House) which lies right in the center of the city and it was there that Emperor Vespasian decided to build the Colosseum. He wanted to donate a joy palace to the city that would host the Gladiator Games. The Colosseum was inaugurated with 100 days of play and since Vespasian decided that admission would be free to all.

2. Why visit Colosseum?

Many tourists ask this question when they first think about visiting this ancient amphitheater, Colosseum. While this may seem a silly question to a local or to Italians, it is a surprise to some foreigners. The simple answer to this is that whatever happened in Roman times was unlikely, the stadiums today have various additions to the main structure. For example, concession stands, parking lots, press boxes and official shops for sale. Just take a look at the actual size of the fields: a modern stadium ground is only slightly larger than the Colosseum's Arena. Due to the huge number of tourists it expects, ticket availability sometimes get limited. So before moving to site remember to book Colosseum tickets and tour in advance.

3. How long did it take to construct the Colosseum?

The Roman Empire took 8 years from 72AD to 80AD to complete the Colosseum. Although it was commissioned by Emperor Vespasian, but he never saw it get complete, as it was inaugurated only a year after his death. Vespasian's son Titus was in power at that time. The short time required to finish the massive amphitheater is justified by the sheer number of people involved in the construction work. Not to mention thousands of slaves were used for transporting materials, thousands of skilled and semi-skilled workers were used to handle construction materials, slaves working in mines to cut stones. All this adds up to a staff of at least 20,000 to 30,000 people.