It gives a real sense of the overwhelming size of the building and an idea of what the gladiators must have felt looking out at the spectators, from the arena you have a 360-degree view of the colosseum. Visiting the arena today means you can walk onto the edge of the reconstructed arena and stand on the level the gladiators and animals fought and died on. The wooden platform had trap doors that led from the ramps and lifts below.

This allowed special effects on the arena like no-one had ever seen! Fifteen corridors were built and a wooden platform was built on top covering the walls we see today. About ten years later Domitian (Titus’ brother) excavated beneath the arena to allow a hypogeum or underground chamber with ramps, pulleys and animal cages. by the emperor Titus, the arena was a simple, flat area covered in sand with animal cages around the outside (these can still be seen today). When the Colosseum was inaugurated in 80 A.D.