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As one of the Rome's most popular landmarks of Rome , both ancient and contemporary, the Colosseum is visited by millions of visitors each year. A 2014 Travel and Leisure magazine article reported, in fact, that more than 5 million tourists traversed the intricate vaults of the Colosseum that year <ref> "The World's Most-visited Tourist Attractions"<i>Travel and Leisure Magazine.</i> 10 November 2014.</ref>. When it was first built, though, the famous amphitheater held a different name, one that served as a reminder of the man who built it. Interestingly, the name it now holds is connected to another, a more fiendish man that Rome wanted to forget.

====Background====When the Roman Emperor Nero took power in October 54 CE, one could have assumed greatness would ensue as he was a descendent from the Julio-Claudian family line, a lineage that traced back to Julius Caesar. The result of Nero's rule, however, was far from rosy. From the murder of his mother in 59 BCE to his growing conflicts with the Roman Senate in the years following, Nero's control of Rome was rather tumultuous <ref> Barrett, Anthony A., "Nero."<i>The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece and Rome.</i> (Oxford University Press, 2010)</ref>. [[File: 1024px-Nero_Palatino_Inv618.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px| <i>Portrait of Nero</i>, from the Palatine Hill, first century CE]]

===Nero and His Golden House===These tensions came to a head in July 64 CE, when a raging fire broke out and burned across the city of Rome for almost a week. <ref> Dando-Collins, Stephen. <i>The Great Fire of Rome</i> (Da Capo Press, 2010). </ref> While interpretations of how Nero responded to the blaze and its aftermath vary, it is clear that, in the midst of the city's recovery Nero was tasked with rebuilding substantial portions of the cityin the midst of the city's recovery. In this project, Nero planned a massive new palace complex for himself. Know as the <i>Domus Aurea</i>, or "Golden House," the fantastically decorated palace stretched across the heart of the Roman Forum. Including lavish reflecting ponds and a monumental bronze sculpture of the god Sol that stood just outside its main entrance, the <i>Domus Aurea</i> irked many Romans as it consumed a significant amount of land that was previously used for the citizens.

====Vespasian and Flavian Favoritism====

Soon after his brilliant new home was built, Nero was condemned to death, and the doomed ruler committed suicide on 9 June 68 CE. <ref> Suetonius,<i>The Lives of the Twelve Ceasars</i> (Loeb Classical Library, 1914), p. 179)</ref>. In his stead, the Emperor Vespasian had taken control of Rome one year prior (July 69 CE), and his . His task was to reassure the Rome's citizens of Rome that imperial rule was not only reliable but also and just. As part of this reassurance, and in an effort to win favor with the Romans, Vespasian embarked on the construction of constructing a massive entertainment amphitheater, a wish of Roman citizens for many years. 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.

===A Lingering Colossus===Work progressed Construction on the amphitheater for complex began in 72 CE, with Vespasian selecting a location at the following eight years and thus stretched across several juncture of three of VespasianRome's successorshills: the Palatine, the Esquiline, known to history as and the Flavian dynastyCaelian. It is because of the sharing of Conveniently, to facilitate this project that the amphitheater took the name of the "Flavian Amphitheaterlocation," and Vespasian requested the citizens demolition of Rome received its debut joyously. With a capacity for tens much of thousands of audience members and novel features Nero's <i>Domus Aurea</i> such that allows for feats as fantastical as mock naval battles in his theater would quite literally rest on the main arena, the amphitheater became a hub for Roman entertainmentruins of Nero's reign.

While Vespasian The amphitheater was a massive project and his successors received was designed to seat over 55,000 people. The amphitheater's construction was funded with the spoils seized from the favor of Jewish Temple after Roman crushed the Romans for this monumental contribution, a lasting remnant Jewish Revolt of Nero's disastrous rule still stood close by70 AD. That colossal sculpture of Sol had been preserved by Vespasian and moved closer to Stolen Jewish artifacts not only funded the main entrance building of the Flavian Amphitheater. As time passedColosseum, this prominent Colossus became so inextricably connected to but Jewish slaves seized during the amphitheater that soon after revolt built the name of "Colosseumbuilding.<ref>" came into common parlance. [[Filehttp: Severus_Alexander_Medallion_90070183//wwW.jpg |thumbnail|lefttribunesandtriumphs.org/colosseum/building-the-colosseum.htm|300px| Third century coin of Emperor Severus Alexander with a reverse depicting Building the Colossus adjacent to the Flavian AmphitheaterColosseum], 222-235 CE; image courtesy of Classical Numismatic Group]]" www.tribunesandtriumphs.org</ref>

So====A Lingering Colossus====Work progressed on the amphitheater for the following eight years and thus stretched across several Vespasian's successors, while known to history as the Flavian dynasty. Because of the efforts to manifest sharing of this project, the impressive amphitheater was took the work name of the "Flavian emperorsAmphitheater, it some regards one could suggest that " and the legacy citizens of Nero also lives on with this connection to his ColossusRome received its debut joyously. This massive statue, though, has long since disappeared. Last mentioned With a capacity for tens of thousands of audience members and novel features that allow for feats as fantastic as mock naval battles in an illuminated manuscript from the fourth century CEmain arena, it is unclear what happened to the Sol sculpture. <ref> <i>Calendar of 354</i> http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/index.htm#Chronography_of_354</ref>. It was most likely destroyed or melted down; its pedestal adjacent to the Colosseum, however, still stands todayamphitheater became a hub for Roman entertainment.

While Vespasian and his successors received the Romans' favor for this monumental contribution, a lasting remnant of Nero's disastrous rule still stood close by. That colossal sculpture of Sol had been preserved by Vespasian and moved closer to the Flavian Amphitheater's main entrance. As time passed, this prominent Colossus became so inextricably connected to the amphitheater that the name of "Colosseum" came into common parlance soon after.  So, while the efforts to manifest the impressive amphitheater were the work of the Flavian emperors, in some regards, one could suggest that Nero's legacy also lives on with this connection to his Colossus. This massive statue, though, has long since disappeared. Last mentioned in an illuminated manuscript from the fourth century CE, it is unclear what happened to the Sol sculpture. <ref> <i>Calendar of 354</i> http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/index.htm#Chronography_of_354</ref> It was most likely destroyed or melted down; its pedestal adjacent to the Colosseum, however, still stands today. <youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbhuqovrrak</youtube> ====References====