Colosseum - Rome, Italy - Sweeping Curve of the Flavian Amphitheatre

The sweeping elliptical facade of the Colosseum rises above the crowds of modern Rome, revealing the immense scale of the ancient Flavian Amphitheatre.

The sweeping curve of the Colosseum dominates this view in central Rome, with its long tiers of ancient arches emphasizing the elliptical form of the enormous Roman amphitheatre. Crowds gathered around the monument provide a striking sense of scale beneath one of the best-known surviving structures of the Roman Empire. Known in antiquity as the Flavian Amphitheatre, construction began under Emperor Vespasian around AD 70 and the building was inaugurated by his son Titus in AD 80, with further work carried out during the reign of Domitian. The lower three levels of the exterior were formed by arcades framed by columns of different classical orders, while the more solid upper storey contained windows and fittings associated with the velarium, the enormous awning used to shade spectators. Capable of accommodating tens of thousands of people, the Colosseum hosted gladiatorial contests, animal hunts and other public spectacles and remains the largest ancient amphitheatre ever constructed.