Colosseum as seen from the street of Via delle Terme di Tito. |
Colosseum as seen from the intersection of Via Nicola Salvi and Via delle Terme di Tito. |
View of the north-eastern wall of Colosseum. |
The north-eastern wall of Colosseum as seen from the street of Via Nicola Salvi. |
The north-eastern side of Colosseum is under restoration work. |
Arches of the north-eastern wall of Colosseum. |
The northern side of Colosseum. |
Close-up view of arches at the northern side of Colosseum. |
Soldiers of the “Operation Safe Streets”. |
Arch of Constantine. |
The Arch of Constantine is situated between the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill. |
Tourists are in the western part of the outer wall. |
The western part of the outer wall of Colosseum. |
The entrance to the Colosseum. |
The female security guard is at the entrance to the Colosseum. |
While we are standing in the queue to buy the tickets we see this inner wall. |
The Colosseum is considered one of the greatest works of architecture and engineering. |
Construction began under the emperor Vespasian in 72 AD, and was completed in 80 AD under his successor and heir Titus. |
Some modifications of the construction were made during the reign of Domitian (81-96). |
The Colosseum could hold between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators. |
The Colosseum had an average audience of some 65,000. |
The Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. |
The building ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era. |
The Colosseum is depicted on the Italian version of the five-cent euro coin. |
Construction was funded by the opulent spoils taken from the Jewish Temple. |
Dio Cassius recounts that over 9,000 wild animals were killed during the inaugural games of the amphitheatre. |
In 217, the Colosseum was badly damaged by a major fire which destroyed the wooden upper levels of the amphitheatre's interior. |
Gladiatorial fights are last mentioned around 435 AD. |
The Colosseum underwent several radical changes of use during the medieval period. |
One of the viewing platforms for the tourists. |
Severe damage was inflicted on the Colosseum by the great earthquake in 1349. |
During the 16th and 17th century, Church officials sought a productive role for the Colosseum. |
A group of women tourists from Asia beautifully dressed in white clothes. |
We are inside the Colosseum building. |
The stairway is inside the Colosseum building. |
Inner corridors. |
People are inside the Colosseum building. |
The areas that once held seating. |
The Colosseum arena, showing the hypogeum. |
People were seated in a tiered arrangement that reflected the rigidly stratified nature of Roman society. |
The arena itself was 83 meters by 48 meters. |
Some places of the building you are not allowed to visit. |
The arena comprised a wooden floor covered by sand. |
Arena and hypogeum. |
The Colosseum was used to host gladiatorial shows as well as a variety of other events. |
The hypogeum was connected by underground tunnels to a number of points outside the Colosseum. |
There are niches within the walls. |
A couple of young tourists. |
During the early days of the Colosseum the building was used for simulated sea battles. |
Visitors to the Colosseum are restricted to certain areas to preserve the integrity of the building. |
Young mother with a baby stroller. |
Substantial quantities of machinery also existed in the hypogeum. |
The Colosseum is generally regarded by Christians as a site of the martyrdom of large numbers of believers. |
Roman architecture was strongly influenced by two great inventions - concrete and vaulted arches. |
Hundreds of skilled stonemasons were used in the construction. |
The Travertine limestone was quarried in Tivoli, 20 miles from Rome, and was used for the pillars and the ground floor. |
Tuff is a porous stone which was used in the preparation of cement. |
As of 2014 the restoration is estimated to be complete by 2016. |
The Colosseum is an entirely free-standing structure, oval in shape. |
This structure was a symbol of the power of Rome and its emperors. |
The classical design features were meant to convey that Rome was a great and civilised nation. |
Just one series of games might last for 100 consecutive days. |
Crowd control. |
Even today, in a world of skyscrapers, the Colosseum is hugely impressive. |
View on the street through the arches of the Colosseum. |
The Colosseum stands as a glorious but troubling monument to Roman imperial power and cruelty. |
Inside this breathtaking structure the Romans cold-bloodedly killed literally thousands of people for centuries. |
Because of fires and earthquakes, two thirds of the original have been destroyed. |
The present Colosseum is only a shadow of its former self, it had a majestic appearance in the past. |
The Colosseum was started in the aftermath of Nero's extravagance and the rebellion by the Jews in Palestine against Roman rule. |
Over-engineered perhaps, but it has stood the test of time. |
The construction is strikingly different from most Greek and Roman public buildings. |
The Colosseum is situated just east of the Roman Forum. |
Tourists queue looks pretty chaotic from above. |
The Arch of Constantine as seen from the Colosseum. |
The Via Sacra street leads from the Colosseum to the Roman Forum. |
The Meta Sudans was a large monumental conical fountain in ancient Rome. |
The entrance is marked by giant portico. |
The Temple of Venus and Roma is thought to have been the largest temple in Ancient Rome. |
We are on the way to the restrooms. |
Restoration works. |
After almost three years of debate and delay, restoration work on Rome's ancient Colosseum has begun. |
Strolling near the Colosseum. |
The Colosseum as seen from the Meta Sudans. |