The
Colosseum is the term commonly used to indicate
the Flavian Amphitheatre; it perhaps derives from
the fact that a gigantic statue of Nero known
as the Colossus was situated adjacent to it. Begun
by Vespasian in 72, the Colosseum was completed
by his son Titusin the year 80: Titus set aside
100 days of festivity to celebrate its inauguration.
It could contain up to 50000 spectators who gathered
there to watch the famous games which were often
cruel, but which aroused enormous enthusiasm in
the spectators.
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