The Romans did not call their amphitheater the Colosseum, instead referring to it as the Flavian Amphitheater after the family responsible for its construction. Its name Colosseum originated from the colossal statue of Nero located next to it. While gladiator fights occurred there, thumbs down meant life and thumbs up meant death, contrary to common belief. After Rome's fall, many of the Colosseum's limestone blocks were robbed and used to build churches like St. Peter's Basilica. Earthquakes now pose the greatest threat to the renowned structure, which has become a symbol of peace instead of its original association with death.

1. Fun Facts about the Roman
Colosseum
Or maybe not 

2. Colosseum.net

3. No Roman ever called their amphitheater the “Colosseum”
It wasn’t called that until the 800s
Long after the Western Roman Empire had faded.

4. So what did they call it?

5. Romans called it, the “Flavian Ampitheater” after the family that was
responsible for much of it’s construction.

6. Much like modern sports arenas are named after their sponsors

7. So how did it get the name “Colosseum”?

8. From the “collossal” statue of Nero that used
to be next to it

9. You are probably familiar with the types of activities that took place
there, such as gladiator fights

10. However, the “thumbs down” meant life, NOT DEATH
And “thumbs up” meant DEATH; not life.

11. It had a retractable roof

12. But we don’t really know how it worked

13. After the Fall of Rome:
The Colosseum was robbed of many of it’s limestone blocks
(that’s why there is so much of it missing)

14. Ironically, many of those stolen limestone blocks were used to build
churches.
Much of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome was built using limestone from the
Colosseum

15. The Biggest threat to the Colosseum today is Earthquakes!!!!!!!

16. Today, this renowned symbol of death is now a symbol of peace

17. The Colosseum is often lit to protest the use of the death penalty as a
punishment for crimes

18. Sources:
Colosseum.net
Colosseum.org
Theguardianuk.org
History.com