Many years ago, The Colosseum, originally called the Flavian Amphitheater, was used as a source of entertainment for the many people of Rome. A normal name for an amphitheater that is used for sporting event is spelled "Coliseum", but when one is referring to Rome, it is spelled "Colosseum". They enjoyed gladiator games. Men usually made up most of the gladiator games, though women sometimes fought. It took 10 years to build, 70-80 AD, with the help of Jewish Slaves, by Emperor Vespasian who was from the Flavian Dynasty.
The amphitheater was east of Nero’s Golden House. The building stood a tall 620 by 513 ft., being made of 1.1 million tons of stone and concrete: the largest in the Roman world. It is said that a grand amount of 50,000 people could be seated into the amphitheater. People were seated according to class. Women and the poor were to sit in the seats on the higher levels while those who were rich and men were able to sit in the seats closer to the Colosseum’s floor. There were 76 entrances and exits as well as 32 trap doors, the West Exit being the Gate of Death. That is where those who had died during the gladiator games would have been taken out through.
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The Roman Colosseum was east of the Roman Forum, which was the center of Rome, where a lot of business and religious doings took place. Inside the Colosseum, there was an awning to keep the hot sun off of the spectators. In 847 AD, there was a big earthquake and it wiped out the southern side of the building. In the 19th century, there was a restoration so most of it that is standing now is not completely original. The Colosseum is currently one of Rome's biggest tourist attractions, having millions visiting every year. The reason the Colosseum was built was to give entertainment to Rome's people and to show Rome's talent in building around the world, and to increase the Flavian Dynasty's popularity.
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For a total of 4 centuries did the Colosseum have active use. Eventually, people began to not be as attracted to the gladiatorial games as they once were. The grand amphitheater had seemed to have run it's course. Also, the Western Roman Empire began to have struggles. Over the years, no one began to use it at all. It was the source of different building projects. The Cathedrals of St. Peter and others were built there. In the 18th centuries, popes decided to make the Colosseum a historic Christian site. It is unknown whether Christians actually used the amphitheater for their own purposes.