Article Options

Presentation View
Teaching Resources

Secrets of an Ancient Arena 

Illustration by Jeff Mangiat; Jim McMahon/Mapman® (globe); Shutterstock.com (all other images)

The year was 80 A.D. Nearly 50,000 people packed into a new amphitheater (AMP-fuh-thee-uh-tuhr) in ancient Rome. Suddenly, two men carrying swords rose up from beneath the arena. The main show had begun at what would become one of the world’s most famous buildings—the Colosseum. 

At the time, the Romans had a powerful empire. They controlled land in what is now Europe, Asia, and Africa. Amphitheaters were common in the empire. They were like today’s sports stadiums. But the Colosseum stood out. 

“It is the largest, most important Roman amphitheater ever built,” says historian Steven Tuck. 

Now is your chance to visit the Colosseum on these pages! 

SEATING
Seating was based on how important you were in Rome. The emperor sat in a special box with the best view. Women and the poor sat at the highest level. 

OTHER EVENTS
Gladiator fights weren't the arena's only popular shows. The arena floor could be flooded. Then ships were brought in to create "battles at sea."

The Big Stars

Gladiators were the superstar athletes of the Roman Empire. Most were enslaved men or prisoners. But some citizens volunteered to fight in the hopes of becoming a celebrity.

Most gladiators fought only a few times a year, like today’s professional boxers. Tuck says most gladiators didn’t die in battle. But sometimes they were too injured to keep fighting. If that happened, the emperor could choose to have them killed. 

Still Standing

The Colosseum was built nearly 2,000 years ago. It took workers about eight years to construct. Experts say it’s one of the most amazing examples of Roman buildings. Arches and columns support the weight of the arena.

Over the centuries, more than two-thirds of the Colosseum crumbled. Today, the remains of the building have been renovated. Typically, more than 5 million people visit Rome, Italy, each year to see the arena. 

A World Below

In June of this year, the tunnels under the arena were opened to the public for the first time. Sets and costumes were kept in the tunnels. Gladiators prepared to fight and doctors treated gladiators’ wounds there.

Lions, tigers, and elephants were also kept below the floor. Gladiators didn’t usually fight them, but other people did. Animals were raised up on elevators. They would burst into the arena from trapdoors, surprising the crowd. 

Map It Out

Rome is a city in the country of Italy. On which continent is Italy? 

Jim McMahon/Mapman®
  1. Based on the article, describe the empire that the Romans controlled long ago.  
  2. Name four things you might have seen if you went into the tunnels under the Colosseum in 80 A.D.
  3. According to the caption, why would the floor of the Colosseum sometimes be flooded?
Skills Sheets (2)
Skills Sheets (2)
TEACHER SUPPORT (1)
Text-to-Speech