{"id":8972,"date":"2023-10-16T02:50:12","date_gmt":"2023-10-16T01:50:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=8972"},"modified":"2023-10-16T02:50:12","modified_gmt":"2023-10-16T01:50:12","slug":"what-was-the-colosseum-in-ancient-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/what-was-the-colosseum-in-ancient-rome\/","title":{"rendered":"What Was The Colosseum In Ancient Rome"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Colosseum of Rome was one of the most iconic and iconic buildings of the Roman Empire. It was erected in 80 CE, under the rule of Emperor Vespasian, as a grandiose reminder of the power of the Roman Empire. Built from stone and concrete, the Colosseum quickly became the symbol of Imperial Rome, and it remained so for centuries. <\/p>\n

The main purpose of the Colosseum was to host the great gladiatorial contests. The bloody spectacles attracted hundreds of thousands from all over the Empire, turned into an audience thirsty for blood, and were eagerly awaiting the performances of the gladiators, slaves, and condemned criminals. The shows embodied, in a way, the power of the Roman Empire, over its citizens and enemies alike.<\/p>\n

The amphitheatre, as it is properly called, is a feat of engineering and construction. Its shape is what helped it become such a symbol and part of the Roman way of life. The elliptical shape made it possible to view and hear the battles better. It could accommodate up to 50,000 people and the tiers of the amphitheatre were divided according to the social standing of the viewers. This was enforced the class distinctions in Roman society. <\/p>\n

After the fall of the Empire, the Colosseum was left in ruins, forgotten by most. It served as a quarry for building materials and as a source of marble for sculptures. The ruin was not considered for renovation until the 18th century, when it was decided that such an iconic building should be preserved. During the 19th century it was studied and restored. But it was not until the 20th century that the Colosseum was given the recognition it deserved and it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.<\/p>\n