7 Surprising Facts About The Colosseum You May Never Know

Table Of Contents

It Was Almost 2,000 Years Old
It Takes 8 Years To Finished
Colosseum Is Not Its Real Name
It Used Wooden Cranes To Lift The Stones
It Had A Retractable Roof
It Also Had Elevators
Sources

Liputan6.com, Jakarta The Colosseum in Rome is one of the most famous landmarks in the world. Millions of people visit it every year to admire its size and history. Built almost 2,000 years ago, this giant amphitheater was once the heart of entertainment in ancient Rome.

Most people know that gladiators once fought inside the Colosseum, but there is so much more to its story. From hidden tunnels to amazing engineering skills, the Colosseum is full of secrets that many visitors never hear about.

In this article, we will explore seven surprising facts about the Colosseum that may amaze you. These details will give you a new way to see this incredible piece of history and make your next visit even more exciting.

2 of 8 pages

1. It Was Almost 2,000 Years Old

The Colosseum is almost 2,000 years old. As of 2025, this makes the Colosseum approximately 1,953 years old. This iconic structure has withstood the test of time, remaining one of the most recognizable and impressive monuments of ancient Rome.

The Colosseum is the largest amphitheater in the world, measuring 189 meters long, 156 meters wide, and 50 meters high—about the height of a 12-story building. It could fit a modern-day football pitch inside.

3 of 8 pages

2. It Takes 8 Years To Finished

Colosseum, Roma, Italy. (Photo by Spencer Davis on Unsplash)... Selengkapnya

You might think such a huge place would take forever to build, especially with their limited technology. Surprisingly, it was finished in just eight years. That's pretty quick for something this grand.

Tens of thousands of Jewish slaves brought to Rome by Emperor Vespasian were used in building the Colosseum, which took about 8 years to construct, from 72 to 80 AD.

4 of 8 pages

3. Colosseum Is Not Its Real Name

Today, people all around the world know it as the Colosseum. However, "Colosseum" is not its real name. The original name of the building is "Flavian Amphitheatre." It's named after its initiator, Titus Flavius Vespasianus, or Emperor Vespasian.

5 of 8 pages

5. It Used Wooden Cranes To Lift The Stones

When we see the Colosseum, one of the first questions that comes to mind is how they lift the heavy stones? According to the Little Rock School District, the Romans invented wooden cranes to raise big, heavy stone blocks.

The Colosseum is proof of the advanced engineering of the Roman Empire. This gigantic amphitheater even had a retractable roof! On hot days, they used a big shade cover called a "velarium" to keep the people sitting in the high seats cooler.

6 of 8 pages

6. It Had A Retractable Roof

Sailors from the Roman Navy, who were stationed up high in the Colosseum's walls, were the ones in charge of putting this shade up.

7 of 8 pages

7. It Also Had Elevators

The elevator is another advanced technology in the Colosseum. It once had 24 elevators to transport animals, such as lions, leopards, and wolves, from underground to the arena above. These elevators were operated manually by men.

8 of 8 pages