http://mocomi.com/ presents: Colosseum - Fun Fact Series EP29! The Colosseum is a huge open auditorium or amphitheater in the center of Rome, Italy. It was built by Emperor Vespasian for his successor, Titus. The word amphitheater is derived from the Greek word ‘ampi’ (open from both sides) and ‘theatron’ (public place of viewing). The name Colosseum is said to be derived from the giant statue of Nero, called ‘the colossus of Nero,’ which earlier stood before the stadium. The Colosseum is an egg-shaped building that is about 620 feet long, 512 feet wide and 158 feet tall. It covers a vast expanse of 6 acres. More than 1.1 million tonnes of concrete, stone and bricks were used to erect this massive structure. It has about 80 entrances and is large enough to accommodate 50,000 spectators. In 847, the southern wall of the Colosseum collapsed because of an earthquake. The Romans used the Colosseum for gladiator duels and public spectacles such as animal hunts, mock se