Coliseum — the largest ancient Roman amphitheater, one of the most famous ancient monuments of ancient Rome and one of the most famous architectural structures in the world. Originally the Coliseum was named the Flavian Amphitheater, because it built by the emperors of this dynasty. Name of Colosseum (latin Colosseum, áColosaeus, italian Colloseo) was established to these facilities only in the VIII century, and there was a colossal proportion of its size (the Colosseum was the largest ancient amphitheater and could accommodate 50,000 spectators), or from the fact that close to him here was a gigantic statue, erected in honor of Nero himself. Construction of the Colosseum was conducted for 8 years, from 72 to 80 years a.c.

Construction of the amphitheater was started by Emperor Vespasian after his victories in Judea and completed in 1980 by the Emperor Titus, son of Vespasian. The opening of the Colosseum was marked by games. That's what they wrote about the famous Roman historian Suetonius Gaius Tranquille: «At the dedication of the amphitheater and quickly lined up nearby bathhouses he [Titus] showed gladiator battle to wonder the rich and lush, and he made a naval battle in the same place, and then it brought gladiators and released in one day five thousand different beasts».

The Colosseum was a most famous empire's entertainment center. In this amphitheater were gladiators fighting, animal baiting, naval battles (sea water was supplied by a special pipeline from sea port Ostia).In times of emperor Macrina building damaged by fire, but it was restored by the decree of Alexander Severus. In 248, Emperor Philip was celebrating its millennium of existence of Rome. However, already in 405, Emperor Honorius banned gladiatorial battles as inconsistent with the spirit of Christianity, which was already the main religion of the Roman Empire. Nevertheless, animal baiting took place in the Coliseum, and later, until the death of Theodoric the Great. After that, the Flavian Amphitheatre fallen on hard times.

NB : The Coliseum will never make films for the gladiators - it is not sufficiently well preserved for the shootings. Therefore the role of the Colosseum to the movies often perform well-preserved amphitheater Mark Antony in Gordian Tisdre (El Jem, Tunisia) - the second largest after the Coliseum.

Keywords: Visiting Colosseum in Rome, Italy