The Colosseum

Known originally as the Flavius Amphitheatre, the Colosseum is the most famous monument in Rome. It was opened to the public in 80 A.D. by Titus, the son of Emperor Vespasian. The opening ceremony lasted for one hundred days. It was an ostentatious and extravagant affair which featured fights and hunts and the killing of thousands of animals.

The Colosseum

The highlight of the opening was the naumachias, which were reproductions of the great sea battles of the past. The arena of the Colosseum was flooded with water so that the crowds could be entertained with these fantastic spectacles. Today, the Colosseum stands as one of the most popular attractions for tourists visiting Rome.