THE COLOSSEUM
ILLUSTRATION: SOL 90, ART ARCHIVE X1, ALAMY X1, GETTY X2, ISTOCK X1
The Flavian Amphitheatre, better known as the Colosseum, is both a marvel of architecture and engineering, as well as a powerful symbol of Ancient Rome’s might and brutality. The largest amphitheatre ever built, it took ten years to construct, could hold 50,000 spectators at its peak and enjoyed centuries as a centre of entertainment in the heart of Rome. From its dedication in AD 80 until the fall of the Empire, the rich and poor, noble and plebian flocked to the Colosseum to watch gladiatorial games, executions and animal hunts. It was a place of spectacle and slaughter.