Rome — Colosseum: One of the New Seven Wonders of the World

The Colosseum, originally known as the Amphitheatrum Flavium, is also referred to as the Roman Colosseum, the Roman Amphitheater, and the Coliseum. 🌟Situated on the eastern bank of the Tiber River in the capital city of Italy, Rome, the Colosseum is a symbol of ancient Rome. Constructed between AD 72 and 79, it forced 80,000 Jewish captives into labor for eight years to complete. The entire structure covers 20,000 square meters, has a circumference of 527 meters, and can accommodate 90,000 spectators. It was built to commemorate Emperor Vespasian's achievements after the Roman Empire conquered Jerusalem, and it has greatly influenced the design of modern stadiums. In 1980, the ancient Roman Colosseum, along with the ruins of the Roman Forum, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the historical center of Rome. 🌟Legend has it that during its inaugural events, 5,000 wild beasts such as lions and tigers, along with 3,000 gladiators made up of slaves, prisoners, criminals, and persecuted Christians, participated in a series of performances lasting 100 days. 🌟During the spectacles, beasts were released from their cages, and humans were driven into the arena. The beasts would attack the people, while the gladiators fought for survival, with very few making it out alive. The brutality was beyond comprehension. There were also events featuring human versus human combat, which were even more savage. A match could only end with the death of one participant; if there was no conclusion, both must face execution, or the beasts would be unleashed to devour them. This extreme and barbaric form of entertainment was finally put to an end in AD 405 by the Emperor Honorius of the Western Roman Empire. Right now, I can't help but imagine stepping back in time to join the fight ~ Is it just me, or does that sound thrilling? 😱 #Rome #Colosseum #GladiatorialArena #RomanColosseum #WorldHeritage #UNESCO #AncientRomanArchitecture #Combat #Thrills #NewSevenWonders