Things you didn’t know about the Colosseum, Rome

Rome is hugely attractive with tourists seeking historic and cultural experiences. One of the most famous historic attractions in Rome is the Colosseum. Here are some interesting facts about the Colosseum which you might not know to whet your appetite ahead of your visit:

As well as being used as a centre for entertainment, the Colosseum has also been used for a number of other purposes over the years. These uses include housing, a fortress and a religious shrine. Keep an eye open for clues to these uses when you visit.

The Colosseum was in active use for around 500 years. It is amazing that a structure can survive so long and still function to its original purpose. The last recorded games here were in the 6th century.

The games held in the Colosseum are renowned for being bloody affairs, but did you know that records show that the games cost the lives of around 500,000 people!!! This is a complete alien concept in the modern age, but the purchase of slaves with the sole purpose of killing them was common in ancient Rome.

When the Colosseum was initially built it was done so without the use of mortar. The bricks were held together using iron clamps. This questionable technique makes it even more amazing that the structure has survived a long as it has.