A Blog About Colosseum Historical Facts. (What happened here?)

The Colosseum, unquestionably the most famous building in Italy, brings almost 4 million tourists to Rome each year. One of the most well-liked tours in the world is the Colosseum Museum tour. But how much do you actually understand? Here are 10 things you might not know about the Colosseum:

1. The Colosseum Might Recreate Water Combat

Rome needed space to set up for water-based wars in addition to the land-based conflicts that were unquestionably the Colosseum's main attraction.

The Colosseum's complex plumbing system previously made it possible to flood the entire stadium to create the impression of the ocean. The arena might be used by soldiers to practice what might happen to them in actual combat situations when they are on the open seas.

2. It was not used as a battlefield in medieval times

Soon after gladiator fighting games were banned in Rome, the Roman Empire collapsed. For a long time, the Colosseum was deserted and served no function to the populace.

The Colosseum was converted into a housing complex for the poor as the Medieval era came to an end. It once served as a castle ground as well as a cemetery.

These eras are mostly to blame for the structural damage. St. Peter's Basilica was one of the landmarks built in the city using stone that was frequently taken from the Colosseum.

3. The Death Toll is Estimated to Be...

One million animal lives and 500,000 human lives.

The Colosseum served as the setting for countless human vs animal combats. The competition featured animals from all over the world, including tigers, bears, elephants, rhinoceroses, and giraffes.

4. The Colosseum is to Blame for the Hippo's Disappearance

Hippopotamuses have been taken from the Nile River over the years and used in combat. There was reportedly not a single hippo left in the river following one especially cruel round of games in which 9000 animals were murdered.

The North African elephant vanished entirely from the face of the Earth as a result of the Colosseum.

5. The Colosseum was Not Always Called That

The Flavian Amphitheater was its first moniker. Romans didn't start calling it the Colosseum until the year 1000 because of its "colossal" magnitude. Of course, it would be Il Colosseum in Italian.

6. Gladiators Were Essentially Slaves Who Fought in the Colosseum

Even though they are now greatly admired by the Roman populace, this wasn't always the case.

The most oppressed group in all of Italy was the gladiator class. They were typically considered or treated as slaves and lacked any citizenship or rights. Rarely was the life of a gladiator a choice; rather, it was frequently just a matter of surviving.

Millions of tourists still come to the Colosseum every year from all around the world today. This area has a rich history, and there is probably yet much more that we haven't even uncovered.

7. The Colosseum was built more than 900 years ago

This 1,900-year-old engineering marvel was created by the Romans. In 72 A.D., construction commenced. and was completed in 80 A.D. Thus, the construction process only lasted eight years. The cityscape of Rome is intrinsically linked to this Colosseum.

The Acropolis is more than 500 years older than the famous Italian stadium, and the Great Pyramid of Giza is older by more than 2,600 years. The amphitheater is older than both the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China by more than 1,500 and 500 years, respectively.

8. Over a former lake, the Colosseum was constructed.

After the Great Fire of 64, Nero's leisure palace, the Golden House, was built, and it featured an artificial lake. Vespasian became emperor in 69 CE and erected a magnificent pleasure palace for the people of Rome after Nero committed suicide in 68 CE and a brief period of civil conflicts.

The embellishments from Nero's Golden House, made of ivory, marble, and gems, were taken off and covered in mud, and the Baths of Trajan were constructed on top of the location. The Colosseum was built there after the lake was filled in.

9. The Colosseum served as a cemetery for numerous animals.

The Romans also staged hunts and animal fights that resulted in a large number of elephants, tigers, lions, bears, hippos, and other exotic animals being injured or killed, in addition to hand-to-hand fighting.

The Colosseum's inauguration festivities alone resulted in the killing of 9,000 animals, and an Emperor Trajan-sponsored festival lasting 123 days resulted in the deaths of 11,000 animals.

10. The Colosseum is renowned for being the biggest amphitheater in the entire world

Are you prepared for a mind-blowing fact about the Colosseum's past? The location is two football fields long. When your pal next inquires, "What is the Colosseum famous for? You can tell them that this historic amphitheater is the biggest in the world—in addition to gladiatorial fights and the area's rich history, of course.

The Colosseum is 157 feet tall at its highest point. The Washington Monument is almost the same height as that. The Colosseum has four levels, and its 80 gates allowed more than 50,000 spectators to enter during its heyday in ancient Rome.

When you get there, look for the diagonal split in the amphitheater's side. In 1349, an earthquake shook the location and shattered the facade. You might wonder, how? The Colosseum was constructed on soft sediment, which caused the ground to shake more during the earthquake than other amphitheaters of the time.

So, in case you are taking the Colosseum underground tour, make sure to take in all the history and mystery that surrounds the place. Travel safely!