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Construction on the complex began in 72 CE, with Vespasian selecting a location at the juncture of three of Rome's hills: the Palatine, the Esquiline, and the Caelian. Conveniently, to facilitate this location, Vespasian requested the demolition of much of Nero's <i>Domus Aurea</i> such that his theater would quite literally rest on the ruins of Nero's reign.
The amphitheater was a massive project and was designed to seat over 55,000 people. The construction of the amphitheater was funded with the spoils seized from the Jewish Temple after Roman crushed the Jewish Revolt of 70 AD. Stolen Jewish artifacts not only funded the building of the Colosseum, but Jewish slaves seized during the revolt built the building.<ref>"[http://wwW.tribunesandtriumphs.org/colosseum/building-the-colosseum.htm| Building the Colosseum]," www.tribunesandtriumphs.org</ref>
====A Lingering Colossus====
