About Colosseum
Vespasian began the work and his son Titus inaugurated the amphitheater in AD 80, with games in which more than 9,000 wild animals are said to have been killed. Modern estimates put the crowd at at least 50,000 spectators: a big stadium on derby day, only with gladiators on the pitch.
The detail that changes the visit is below ground. Domitian ordered the hypogeum built, two levels of tunnels and cages with 80 vertical shafts through which animals and scenery rose up, an ancient special effect. Going down there takes a specific ticket, which tends to sell out before the others.
