The Colosseum or Roman coliseum or originally called as Flavian Ampitheatre is a elliptical amphitheatre in the center of the city of Rome,Italy.It is the largest ever built in the Roman Empire.It is considered as on of the greatest works of Roman archictecture and Roman engineering.The construction of this theatre started in between 70 and 72 AD under the rule of Emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 AD under Titus.The name "Amphitheatrum Flavium" derives from both Vespasian's and Titus's family name.
Capacity
The Colosseum is capable of seating 50,000 spectators but there is a speculation on this,few people claim that it had a capacity of 87,000.
Use
Colosseum was mainly used for Gladiatorial contests and public spectacles,as well as the gladiatorial games,other public spectacles were held there,such as mock sea battles,animal hunts,executions,re-enactments of famous battles and dramas based up on Classical mythology.
During periods
Ancient period : in the Medivial era the building was mainly used for celebration of victories and entertainment.
Medivial period : in this period Colosseum was used for purposes like housing,workshops,quarters for a religious order,a fortress,a query and a Christian shrine.
Modern period : now it is being used as a tourist attraction.
Although in the 21st century it stays partially ruined because of damage caused by earthquakes and stone-robbers,the Colosseum is a iconic symbol of Imperial Rome and its great earthquake resisting built by its engineers It still has close connections with the Roman Catholic Church as each Good Friday the Pope leads a torchlit "Way of the Cross" procession that starts in the area around Colosseum.
The Colosseum is also depicted on the Itilian version of the five-cent euro coin.
