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Construction was started by the emperor Vespasian in 72 AD. He built the Colosseum as a gift to the people of Rome and paid for it himself with his share of the booty won in the Roman victory at the seige of Jerusalem. To further increase his popularity, he built the Colosseum on land which had previously been seized from the people of Rome by the emperor Nero to create his own, personal estate. However, Vespasian died before the Colosseum was completed, leaving his son, Titus, to finish the job in 80 AD.
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1,000 men were employed to manage a giant awning that was suspended by ropes over the Colosseum to protect the audience from the heat of the sun.

The inaugural games were held by the emperor Titus in 80 AD. His reign had started badly with Romans having to deal with the eruption of Vesuvius, a large fire in Rome and a plague. Perhaps he hoped to appease the Gods, as well as the Roman people, by staging 100 days of games at the Colosseum, during which time apparently 9,000 animals were killed!
Over the centuries, the Colosseum has been damaged by fires and earthquakes but remains a truly unique and beautiful monument. It was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980.
