The Gladiators Amphitheatre -Colosseum, Rome

In A.D. 80, Vespasian’s son Titus opened the Colosseum, officially known as the Flavian Amphitheater, with 100 days of games, including gladiatorial combats and wild animal fights. After 4 centuries of active use, the magnificent arena fell into neglect, and up until the 18th century it was used as a source of building materials. This damage is attributed to several factors including natural disasters. The structure survived fires, lightning and even some earthquakes till the 5th century, when massive earthquakes in 847 and 1231 brought down the southern wall of the monument. Subsequent chipping away of the walls by tourists for souvenirs has also led to further deterioration of this magnificent structure. This frame narrates the story, that though two-thirds of the original Colosseum has been destroyed, this amphitheater remains an iconic symbol of Rome and its long & tumultuous history.