The Colosseum: A HistoryMore than 1,500 years have passed since the last blood - human or animal - was spilled in the Colosseum, but the massive building erected by the Flavian emperors has continued to play a role in history. This book tells the dramatic story of the Colosseum - from its bloody gladiatorial games and the sacrifice of early Christians to the dismantling of the arena and its final restoration. The book also recounts the story of Rome as viewed from the vantage point of the empire's most impressive ruins. |
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ancient Rome animals Arch of Titus archeologists architecture arena floor artist Augustus awning barbarian Basilica baths battle became bestiarii bronze building building’s built Capitoline Capitoline Hill Caracalla Castel Sant’Angelo celebrated Cellini chariot Christian Church Circus city’s Colosseum columns Commodus Constantine crowd death dedicated Diocletian Domitian emperor empire’s erected famous father’s fighters fighting fire Flavian Amphitheater Forum gladiatorial games gladiators Golden House Greek Hadrian held historian huge hypogeum imperial Italian Italy Julius Caesar killed later marble Marcus Aurelius martyrs monuments murmillo necromancer Nero Nero’s once pagan palace Palatine Hill Pantheon persecutions Pope prisoners reign restoration Roman citizens Roman Empire Rome’s Romulus ruins rulers Saint seats Senate Septimius Severus sixth century slaughter slaves soldiers Spartacus spectacles spectators stadium statues stone structure successor Suetonius sword Symmachus Tacitus Temple theaters throne Tiber tiers Titus’s took Totila Trajan travertine troops Vandals Vespasian Vestal victory walls wild beasts wrote