Ancient and Imperial Rome: The Colosseum

Tour the Ancient Roman Colosseum

The Colosseum is unique because it is an imperial power statement, the largest ancient Roman arena ever built. And it includes engineering novelties that put modern stadium to shame. But who masterminded it? What is so incredible about its design? Was it really covered with a canopy? Is it true that it could seat circa 65,000 spectators? And how were those sorts of crowds handled? During half-time, did musicians really play in the arena as perfumes and gifts were showered on the crowds? So many questions! And we’ll answer as many of them as we can during our tour!

The Colosseum: Ancient Roman Engineering at its Best!

The Colosseum’s ancient engineering is the part of the tour that Daniella likes best. “Architecture just doesn’t get any better than this. Ancient Roman engineers were just so ambitious,” she’ll explain. “For example, consider the etymology of the word amphitheater. (The Colosseum is, after all, an amphitheater.) Its gets its name from the ancient Greek amphi (both or two) and theatrum (theater). In other words, an amphitheater was a ‘double theater’ or a ‘theater on both sides.’ Okay,” Daniella admits, “the entertainment was different, but we’ll talk about that later!”

Indeed, the Greeks invented theater. And, when building theaters, they integrated them into the landscape, manicuring a hillside to create seats. An ancient Roman would tell you that this was a “typically” Greek solution, somewhat philosophical, somewhat lazy. What did imperial Roman engineers do when they built the Colosseum, the mother of all ‘double theaters’? They built an artificial hillside to lay the seats on! That is, using brick, concrete, and travertine, they built a man-made slope. And it accommodated more than twice the number of spectators of the largest Greek theaters! Ouch! An ancient Greek would say that this architectural megalomania was so “typically” Roman! After all, the Colosseum advertises imperial Rome’s civil engineering capability, with this subtext: “dudes, we suggest you steer clear of our military engineering.”

Get All the Ancient Roman Facts and Stories!

There is so much to talk about! Of course, we’ll discuss the Colosseum’s seating capacity and how tens of thousands of people comfortably navigated the building to find their seats. And we’ll also talk about concession stands, game snacks, gladiator figurines and other merchandise. You’ll soon realize that, with concession stands and free entertainment, imperial Romans pioneered the apparently modern concept of “back-ending.” Then there’s the economy of blood sports–from the importation of foreign animals from the four corners of the world to training the Olympic sports heroes and first-class performers who were the stars of the show.

By the end of the visit, you’ll be overwhelmed at what you’ve learned! First, you’ll have a greater appreciation of the Colosseum’s engineering and architecture. Second, you’ll understand how modern the Colosseum and the imperial economy that center on it actually was. Finally, we will separate the gruesome facts from the gory fiction, as we discuss the subtle psychology behind empire, violence, and entertainment.

Practical Information on how to Pair the Colosseum up with Other Ancient Roman Sights

A tour of this glorious ancient Roman attraction, the Colosseum, lasts approximately two hours. If you’d like to pair it up with the Roman Forum, it lasts roughly four and a half hours. Ditto if you pair it up with the Palatine Hill. Some history buffs opt for an archeological marathon. That is, we start with the Forum and the Palatine in the morning, to end with the Colosseum after a snack and a coffee or a proper lunch. Some visitors like pairing the Colosseum up the nearby underground attraction San Clemente: the first is clearly a must-see, the second is a surprise. But architecture buffs will enjoy a half-day that focuses on two Guinness Book of Imperial Wonders: the Colosseum and the Pantheon. (For more information about the Pantheon see my Campus Martius stroll.)

Very Practical Information about Colosseum Tickets

A new official vendor of Colosseum tickets substituted the old one in May, 2024. Change in Rome is not usually positive. And, unfortunately, the new vendor and its policies prove this point.

The official vendor’s website is, like many Italian websites, a tad confusing to navigate. Furthermore, the myriad options for Colosseum tickets may overwhelm you. At the moment, they range from standard one-day tickets with timed entrances to special two-day tickets that include the Colosseum’s arena and the underground. This category is next to impossible for visitors to pre-purchase, since large agencies have priority access to them. Freelance guides have a small number of these tickets set aside for them too. But some of the tickets apparently evaporate before going on sale, reducing the total number. There is also a Colosseum ticket that offers JUST the arena. Unless it’s the only ticket available, avoid it. It’s a total rip-off. A visit to the uppermost story or attic of the Colosseum is amazing. But this ticket — just like the one including the arena and underground, is often sold out before it even goes on sale.

Very Practical Information about Colosseum Tickets Continued…

Here is the ticket situation as it stands in August 2024. (It will presumably change again before I can update my page.) Colosseum tickets automatically include the Roman Forum and the Palatine. The way the archeological areas are organized, the Forum and Palatine are considered part of the same area. So, a caveat! If you’re interested in both the Forum and Palatine, plan on visiting them back-to-back (without leaving the site) to make the most of your ticket. Why you are unable to return once you’ve left is unfathomable, since tickets are now in visitor’s names.

After contretemps due to visitors booking their own tickets, Daniella insists that she pre-purchase them for you. For more information, please see the reservation surcharge section of “the Costs” page.