The Colosseum is the large Roman amphitheatre built in the centre of Rome.
Construction began under Emperor Vespasian around AD 72 and was completed under his son Titus in AD 80. The building was originally called the Flavian Amphitheatre, after the Flavian dynasty. Its later name, Colosseum, is linked to a colossal statue that once stood nearby.
The amphitheatre hosted gladiatorial contests, animal hunts, public spectacles, and other entertainments. Its seating was organized according to social status, and its complex underground area, called the hypogeum, contained rooms, passages, and mechanisms used for performances. The building could accommodate tens of thousands of spectators.
The Colosseum suffered damage from earthquakes, stone removal, and centuries of reuse, but substantial portions remain. It is often confused with Circus Maximus, which was a much larger venue primarily associated with chariot racing. The Colosseum is one of Rome’s best-known landmarks and became part of the UNESCO-listed Historic Centre of Rome in 1980.