If only the stone walls of Italy’s most popular attraction could talk.
But theres so much more to the Colosseum than pop culture references.
Before your next visit, here are 15 lesser-known facts about the Colosseum.
Looking up at the Colosseum.Credit:Daniel Gorostieta/Travel + Leisure
The name doesnt mean what you think it means.
The Colosseum isnt so-named because its colossal, though it is indeed big.
It was later moved to the front of the amphitheater, which then became known as the Colosseum.
The statue is long gone, but traces of the base remain.
The Colosseum was once an artificial lake.
After Neros death, the lake was filled in, and the Colosseum was built in its place.
You may see it referred to as the ‘Flavian Amphitheater.’
But back in the day,Romanssimply referred to it as theamphitheatrum, or amphitheater.
Its still the largest of its kind.
Romans invented the concept of an amphitheater, an oval-shaped entertainment venue with an arena in its center.
The dimensions are truly impressive.
The structure originally measured nearly 1,800 feet in circumference, and it’s 157 feet tall.
Its first three levels were composed of 80 arches.
The second and third levels held a series of statues.
It was funded by war, and built by enslaved people.
Violence is central to much of Ancient Roman history, and the Colosseum is no exception.
Construction was fueled by the conquests of the First JewishRoman War.
They built the Colosseum, and the treasures looted from the Second Temple paid for its construction.
M Fatih Beser/Getty Images
Some animals went extinct thanks to Colosseum hunts.
Humans didnt fare so well either.
These included enslaved people, criminals, prisoners of war, gladiators, and anyone who crossed the emperor.
Some were killed by wild animals, some in elaborate and gruesome spectacles, and some in combat.
Admission was free, and everyone got a ticket.
Each attendee got a ticket, ortessera, a small clay disk stamped with seating information.
Just as in modern arenas and sports venues, sections and seats were numbered.
But not all seats were created equal.
Seating at the Colosseum was divided according to social hierarchy.
The Romans knew a thing or two about crowd management.
The Colosseum could hold at least 50,000 spectators and, according to some counts, as many as 87,000.
Railings divided the different seating areas, so crowd flow could only go in one directioneither in or out.
The backstage was elaborate.
The backstage of the Colosseum was actually located under the arena floor.
Disasters took their toll.
While the Colosseum was used well into 6 C.E., it took its share of hits.
There were centuries of neglect and ‘repurposing.’
The fortunesor misfortunesof the Colosseum followed those of Rome.
The Colosseum fell into disuse and disrepair.
The Roman Empire was over, and so was the Colosseum.
It was saved in the modern era.
Whether historically accurate or not, the Colosseums association with Christian martyrs helped save it from total destruction.
(Today, you’re free to spot a large cross planted on the arena floor.)
This then led to a series of restorations and repairs, which continue today.
