When was the Colosseum built?
Q: When was the Colosseum built?
A: The construction of the Colosseum started around 70–72 AD and was finished in 80 AD. Emperor Domitian made some changes to the building between 81–96 AD.
Q: How many people could it seat?
A: It had seating for 50,000 people.
Q: What is a forum?
A: In antiquity, a forum was a geographical area in which were the main buildings of power, as well as the large square on which the population met. It was both a busy place to live, a place to get married, big parties, community meetings, and so on.
Q: What type of events took place at the Colosseum?
A: The Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests, animal hunts (in which animals would hunt and eat prisoners or gladiators would fight against animals), executions of prisoners, plays and battle scenes; sometimes it was filled with water to fight sea battles.
Q: Was there an admission fee to enter the Colosseum?
A: No - The people of Rome could go into the Colosseum without any costs; it was free.
Q: What happened to it during Middle Ages?
A: During Middle Ages (after mid-fifth century) it stopped being used for performances and instead became housing, workshops, a Christian shrine and as a supply of building stones.
Q: How is it symbolically represented today? A: The Colosseum is now one of Rome's most popular tourist attractions and appears on Euro five cent coins. On Good Fridays, Pope leads torch lit "Way of Cross" procession around various levels of amphitheatre.
