THE COLOSSEUM
One of the major symbols of Rome. Located among the Esquilino, Palatino, Celio and Velia Hills, the Colosseum represents the Ancient Roman power and for the city of Rome it symbolizes its
eternity. The Colosseum was started in 72 A.D. by Emperor Vespasiano and was completed 8
years later by his successor Tito.
This massive construction was meant for public shows,animal fights, gladiator combats, sea battles by filling the arena with water and could hold over 55.000enthusiast spectators.
Fortunately it has been proved that the Romans did not use to murder Christians in the Colosseum's games! Its underground was for the fighters' preparations or there were cages for the beasts, that were released into the arena for the spectators' and emperor's pleasure.
A circular internal network of corridors allowed the spectators to move freely, the outer part of the Colosseum was very elegant yet simple and rational,with 80 archaded entrances,three archaded outer levels each with a different type of column and 5 levels for sitting, important people,such as senators and the royal family,had parted high seats.
In the XIXth century a very curious thing happened, the Colosseum was entirely covered with grass, the different microclimes stuck into the stone produced a vast variety of herbs, plants and wild flowers, that botanists studied carefully and sorted out over 420 varieties of different plants,just imagine a green Colosseum! had.
