When one thinks of Rome, the Colosseum is likely to be part of the visual images that accompanies those thoughts. Magnificent for its time, and although in ruins, still magnificent today, the Colosseum is one of the most visited monuments in the world.

The name Colosseum, meaning colossal or very big, is the name that was given to it nearly 8 centuries after its creation because of the colossal statue of Nero found near it, but it's original name is the Flavian Amphitheater named after the Flavian Dynasty of the time ruled by Emperor Vespesian, later followed by his sons Titus and Domitian.
The motivation for the creation of the amphitheater was to restore the pride that was taken from the Roman people under the rule of Nero by giving them a place to unite and improve a lifestyle that was so subdued under Nero. In fact, the Colosseum is built on the site of the artificial lake of Nero in the Domus Aurea between the Palatine and Esquiline hills.
Besides this, the new amphitheater was built to surpass the only other place in Rome where large sporting events could be held, the Circus Maximus, but not sufficiently enough for shows like gladiator combats due to the symmetry of its layout.
The building of the Colosseum dates back to the year 70 A.D. with Emperor Vespasian, and it was dedicated nearly 10 years later by the Vespasian's son Titus, with the completion of it by his youngest son, Domitian in 81 A.D. It measures at 48 meters high, 188 meters long, and 156 meters wide and is estimated to have held up to 50,000 spectators.
The Colosseum was used for numerous events which included the early gladiator and wild animal fights as well as events added later on by emperor Domitian in the early 80's, like the less known, but equally important, mock sea battles on water that was ingeniously brought to the floor of the amphitheater through substructures that included enormous basins, called naumachias, similar to the name of the games themselves called "naumachiae" dug out under the pavement. Tragically the naval war games were games that were fought to the death where many men lost their lives.
Because the Colosseum had no roof, the sun was shaded by a concept known as valerium which consisted of large rope canvases rigged at the top with a hole in the middle curving down to the center, which not only kept out the sun, but captured the wind as well creating a breeze for the spectators.
The events held at the Colosseum lasted up into the mid 400's with the elimination of the gladiator games first to be followed some years later by the animal hunts. The main reason the events came to an end was certainly a question of finances, for it was very expensive to have the animals brought to Rome from Africa, not to mention the cruelty of illness and starvation they underwent before meeting their final destination.