Art Treasure Italy: Ancient Arena

The Roman Colosseum is located on the southeast side of Piazza Venezia in the center of Rome, the capital of Italy. It is a symbol of the ancient Roman Empire and the city of Rome, the most outstanding and famous representative of Roman antiquities, and one of the eight great wonders of the world today. The Colosseum is also known as the Arena, or by some as the Open-air Grand Theater. It is called the Colosseum because it was once the place where gladiators of ancient Rome fought fierce beasts to entertain emperors, princes, and nobles. It is referred to as the Arena because competitions, contests, dances, and military parades could take place there. The full name of the Colosseum is the "Colosseum Amphitheater." "Colosseum," derived from Italian, means "tall" or "gigantic."