The Roman Coloseum

Emperor Vespasian ordered the construction of the Colosseum which was dedicated by his son and successor Titus a year after his father’s death. The Colosseum took ten years to complete with a seating capacity for 50,000-75,000 spectators. The "grand opening" consisted of 100 days of games. Earthquakes in 492 and 508 caused portions of the Colosseum to fall but it was a 9th century earthquake which caused half of the outer shell to collapse.