The Colosseum

A coliseum is a large stadium used for sporting events. One of the most famous coliseums in the world is found in Rome. It’s called the Colosseum or the Flavian Amphitheatre.

The Colosseum took eight years to build and was completed in 80 AD. It was made of over 1 million tons of concrete, stone, and brick. It was a massive structure and took up nearly 6 acres of land. Over 45,000 people could sit in the seats and an additional 25,000 people could stand and watch. When full, the Colosseum could hold around 70,000 people. Many stadiums and coliseums today aren’t even that big!

In ancient Rome, the Colosseum was the site of gladiator contests. People would pack the stands to watch the battles. Admission was free, so that meant all classes of people could attend. However, people had to sit according to their class. The Emperor of Rome had his own box and the best view of the battles. Roman Senators were given the next best seats in the Colosseum. Behind them sat other government officials. Male citizens and soldiers sat in the normal seats. The seats at the top of the Colosseum were for women and slaves.

During the battles, men would fight other men. Sometimes they would also fight animals. The battles did not usually turn out well for the fighters. If they weren’t killed, they would often be badly injured. However, the people watching the contests were entertained by all of the blood and violence.

Today, the Colosseum is still standing in Rome. Thankfully, though, it is no longer used for bloody battles. Instead, it’s just a popular tourist attraction. In fact, over 20 million people visit the Colosseum each year.