Day 3: The Colosseum

The Colosseum (actually entitled Flavian's Amphitheater) and The Roman Forum:
I can't even begin to believe the incredible architects whose vision built the Colosseum and Nero's Roman Palace.
1000 slaves built the Colosseum in 8 years, just 8 years, by hand, animals and pulley systems. Just beyond amazing. The structures still stand through complex lego type locking systems supported by Iron.
The monolithic columns of Marble, meaning columns created in one piece.

The Winner's Gate
Elevator structures
75, 000 people attended each day. they each had their own gate to enter. The whole Colosseum could empty in an emergency in 10 minutes!
When the Colosseum was opened, it held an 100 days of celebration
5000 animals were killed over the celebration, through mock hunting scenes and through man on beast contests.
500 slaves worked underground each and every day to make the celebrations happened.
Gladiator's status/lives: They did NOT fight to the death as is the common understanding. However, the winner gained status and the loser? Who knows what happened to them. If a Gladiator survived 10  events he was freed and had great status.
Christians were  not fed to lions
The stairs involved in the stadium were well constructed and steep. Each group had its own entry way. The more status you had, the closest to the action. Nose bleed seats were in play then too. All the games were free though to promote how great the current Emperor/leading people were.
Each group had their own entryway to enter the Colosseum, very orderly.
Regarded Emperors were made into gods after they died.

After Rome fell, and new powers took place, Christians took hold. The temples, palaces, etc. were taken over and turned into Churches/ Cathedrals/ Basilicas. The Redemption of "pagan" buildings into "Christian Churches, was a renewal theme.  Here are some pictures:

Walls/seating in the Colosseum

View of the floor of the Colosseum, where the games were held. The floor itself is gone, what you see is the underground chambers. 

Winch for pulley system that raised animals to floor. Animals were captured, mainly from Egypt and Africa and brought to Rome only to be hunted or pitted against each other in the arena. 5000 killed in first 100 days Celebration of opening the Colloseum

another picture of the pulley system

Cages for the animals were in these nitches

The Roman Forum ruins

Winner's Gate