The famous
arena of
ancient Rome is more
appropriately known as the
Flavian Amphitheater, after
Titus Flavius Vespianus (known to
history as
Vespasian).
Vespasian (an able
general who marched on Rome in 69
AD and
seized power during the
confusion after
Nero's death) brought some measure of
financial stability to Rome, the first it had known in quite some time. He
spent lavishly, generally on
sprucing up Rome rather than for his
personal enjoyment. This proved a sound
strategy, as he was hailed as a new
Augustus, bringing a rebirth to a
decaying city.
The Colosseum was a grand building in its day, with a seating capacity of 50,000, a removable roof of canvas awnings, a complex system of undergeround chambers and tunnels through which combatants and/or animals would appear, and fully eighty arched entranceways. Lots and lots of blood was spilled there over the years. Lots.
Incidentally, the Flavian Amphitheater is known as the Colosseum not for its own size or splendor, but for the fact that a large statue of the god Helios was located outside.