Inauguration of the Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheatre)
- Date
- 80 CE
- Category
- Science, technology & invention
- Region
- Italy (Rome)
- Era
- Classical Antiquity
- Significance
The emperor Titus inaugurated the Flavian Amphitheatre, later known as the Colosseum, in 80 CE with some 100 days of games, completing a project begun under his father Vespasian around 70 CE on the site of the artificial lake of Nero's palace.
The largest amphitheatre of the Roman world, it could seat tens of thousands of spectators across tiers organised by social rank and featured a sophisticated system of vaults, stairways and trapdoor lifts beneath the arena floor. Funded in part with spoils from the Jewish war, it served as a monument to the new Flavian dynasty and a vast venue for gladiatorial combat, staged animal hunts, executions and, reportedly, mock naval battles. As an engineering achievement in concrete, travertine and arch-and-vault construction, the Colosseum epitomises Roman building technology and the role of mass public spectacle ('bread and circuses') in imperial politics. It remains one of the most recognisable symbols of ancient Rome.
One piece of history in your inbox, weekly
New empires, events and features as they land. One good email a week. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Empires active in 80 CE
- Han Dynasty202 BCE to 220 CE
- Roman Empire27 BCE to 476 CE
- Kingdom of Funan50 CE to 550 CE
- Zapotec State of Monte Albán500 BCE to 800 CE
- Parthian Empire247 BCE to 224 CE
- Kushan Empire30 CE to 375 CE
Related science, technology & invention events
- Cai Lun standardises papermaking105 CE
- Construction of the Aqua Appia, Rome's first aqueduct312 BCE
- Compilation of the Charaka Samhita and the Codification of Ayurvedac. 100 CE
- Zhang Heng invents the seismoscope132 CE
- Ptolemy completes the Almagestc. 150 CE
- Earliest securely dated Maya/Mesoamerican Long Count inscription36 BCE (Long Count 7.16.3.2.13)
Essential reading
- Indianisation of Southeast Asia: Spread of Hindu-Buddhist Culturec. 1st century CE
- Cai Lun standardises papermaking105 CE
- Nagarjuna Founds the Madhyamaka School and Systematises Mahayana Philosophyc. 150 CE
- Wang Mang nationalises land under the Xin dynastyAD 9
Further reading
The wider story
A Little History of Science
Warm, jargon-free tour of discovery from Babylonian stargazers to the genome.
Get it on Amazon →As an Amazon Associate, Human Saga earns from qualifying purchases.