Roman Coliseum Slave Quarters | Roma, Italia

The Flavian Amphitheater or Coliseum, is among the most infamous ruins of the ancient world. Constructed in the 1st Century AD, this monstrosity sat 50,000 spectators, and was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. Its bloody legacy continued for 500 years with final spectacles held in the 6th century.

The slave and gladiator quarters were once below the Coliseum floor, and today bare silent testimony to the suffering of its inhabitants. They were also the most pristine and hauntingly beautiful area of the amphitheater.

The Coliseum is said to have been colorful and decorated with elaborate artwork like the carved relief artifacts below (in the Coliseum Museum).

The Coliseum struck me as overly commercial and was a patchwork of repairs modern and ancient. Sadly, most of the structure was not photogenic due to herds of tourists, persistent signage, railing and large modern platforms.