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Colosseum Essay

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Architecture of the ancient Roman Empire is one of the most fascinating of all time. Around the time of A.D. 70-72, Emperor Vespasian of the Flavian Dynasty instructed the architecture of the massive, ancient amphitheater, the Colosseum. Titus, the son of Vespasian, made the Colosseum known as the “Flavian Amphitheater” in year A.D. 80. This lavished construction hosted battles, gladiatorial games, wild animal fights and more. After four centuries of active use, it was used as a source of building materials until the 18th century. Later, two-thirds of the original Colosseum has been destroyed over time, the amphitheater remains a remarkable landmark. The Colosseum is an iconic symbol of Rome and its long, tumultuous history. The Colosseum wasn’t only used for re-enactment; the arena was also used for naval battles, concerts, games, and plays. The Colosseum was and is known throughout the whole world for the its majesty and magnificence. This building still stands today in the heart of the now Italian capital, Rome. It attracts thousands of tourists daily and is one of the most famous monuments ever built. Before the Colosseum was even built, there was only one small amphitheater in the whole city of Rome. Even after the …show more content…

Unfortunately, the building began degrading as time went on. Throughout the 400 years, the Arena as had many changes, additions and repairs; and in 217, the upper floors went on fire because of a thunderbolt. This caused the Colosseum to be closed for a period of five years, during which the games were held in a nearby circus. There were also many earthquakes in 442 and 470 that badly damaged the Arena. The last gladiatorial combat was held in the year 404. Gradually the taste of the public had changed, but the main reason for the end of the games was the military and financial crisis of the western part of the empire, together with the many invasions Italy suffered

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