The Roman’s knew the structure as the Amphitheatrum Flavium. The origins of the name ‘Colosseum’ (or in a medieval variant ‘Coliseum’) are still disputed; some argue that it is related to the vast size of the structure, the largest amphitheatre ever built; whilst others, that the name comes from the colossal statue of Nero which stood nearby (see left). After Nero’s fall the statue was remodelled as the sun-god, Helios, with a radiate crown, and stood into the Middle Ages. Only the base of the statue now survives.
Vespasian began construction around A.D. 71, and he saw the first three levels completed during his lifetime; however, it was his son Titus in A.D. 80 who opened the finished amphitheatre. The event was commemorated on the reverse of an issue of sestertii (see right). The coins clearly depict the façade of the arena: The lower arcade of arches was occupied by numbered entrances that allowed spectators to find the correct section of seating to which they had purchased tickets. Above these were two levels of arches filled by statuary, and on the first level, to the front, can be seen a statue group of a four-horse chariot, quadriga, probably being driven by a statue of the Emperor. The top tier is occupied by small square windows separated by ornamental shields (clupea) or roundels.. Inside are shown the various terraces of seating and the crowd enjoying the show. To the left of the Colosseum is the meta sudans, or ‘sweating’ turning post (see below left) – a large, conical public fountain in the form of an obelisk: built of brick and concrete and faced with marble, it marked the point where the where a Roman triumphal procession would turn left from the via Triumphalis along the east side of the Palatine hill, onto the via Sacra and into the Forum Romanum itself. The base of the monument survived until the 1930s when it was demolished to make way for the expanding road network around the Colosseum. To the right is an unidentified two story building or colonnade.
Various Emperors added to the construction: Domitian, the brother of Titus added to its capacity, and it is known to have constructed the hypogeum, the vast network of underground tunnels and chambers that housed slaves, gladiators and wild beasts, and the lifts that raised them to the surface of the arena. Both Trajan and Antoninus Pius made changes, however, the Colosseum remained little changed until A.D. 217 when it was struck by lightning and a great fire ensued. Dio Cassius recorded that the amphitheatre suffered severe damage. The work of reconstruction was begun by Elagabalus, but it was not until the reign of Severus Alexander that it became usable again. Alexander celebrated the event on an issue of gold aurei (see right). Among the construction details visible are the posts that held the wooden masts from which the great awnings which protected the spectators from Rome's fierce sun were suspended, and to the left, a temple before which stands a male statue (Jupiter?), and to the right, a section of a building's column and pediment. A bronze medallion of Severus Alexander (below left) shows the amphitheatre from a different perspective: this time, the temple before which stands a male statue (Jupiter?) is on the right, whilst on the left, are the meta sudans, and behind it the colossal statue of Nero; before these, the Emperor stands before and altar making a sacrifice.
The Colosseum’s final appearance on Roman coins commemorates the completion of its restoration. Gordian III included the monument on a series of bronze medallions (see below right). These coins show a fight between a bull and an elephant on the floor of the arena, and praefect of the games seated amidst the spectators. Outside the arena the geography is once again clear: the the left, the colossal statue of Nero, which may have given the amphitheatre its name, stands behind the meta sudans, and to the right, the temple with its standing statue.
Gladiatorial fights are last recorded around A.D. 435, and an inscription records the restoration to various parts of the structure under Theodosius II and Valentinian III, c.A.D. 425-55, possibly to repair the damage caused by a major earthquake recorded in A.D. 443. The arena continued to be used for contests and wild beast hunts well into the 6th century.
During the Middle Ages the amphitheatre fell out of use and out of repair, becoming a castle and a chapel, and ultimately a quarry for metals and fine building stone. It was not until the middle of the eighteenth century, in the mistaken belief that the Colosseum had been the site of Christian martyrdoms, that Pope Benedict XIV prevented further destruction of the monument. Since that time numerous archaeological explorations of the site, as well as works of conservation, have improved our understanding and knowledge of the most visible icon of the ancient City of Rome.