How many locations in the world have “The” in their title? How many also have a fairly generic word in their title? How many have the instant name recognition of The Colosseum in Rome?
The number is pretty low, few buildings in the world have the same recognition. Even fewer of them are more then 2000 years old.
Vintage photo of the The Colosseum in Rome from 1961.
Most people think The Colosseum, or the Flavian Amphitheatre, is most famous for the gladiatorial games held there. That was far from the only type of entertainment held there though. The building acted as arena for public executions, staged hunts, even full scale naval battles.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, it continued to see use. It was used as quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry, a Christian shrine, housing and workshops. In the 1800s the building went under reconstruction to shore up the building from imminent collapse.
The Colosseum has suffered through the centuries from earthquakes, vandalism, and collectors. In an attempt to protect the building, it was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list in 1980. These days The Colosseum remains one of the most visited tourist sites in Rome.
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