ITALY, The Colosseum is a massive stone amphitheater located just east of the Roman Forum. It was commissioned around A.D. 70-72 by Emperor Vespasian of the Flavian dynasty as a gift to the Roman people. Measuring some 620 by 513 feet the Colosseum was the largest amphitheater in the Roman world. Unlike many earlier amphitheaters, which had been dug into hillsides to provide adequate support, the Colosseum was a freestanding structure made of stone and concrete. The distinctive exterior had three stories and each story contained columns of a different style. The Colosseum had seating for more than 50,000 spectators who watched gladiatorial combats, hunts, wild animal fights and larger combats. The vast majority of the combatants who fought in front of the Colosseum audiences were men. Gladiators were generally slaves, condemned criminals, or prisoners of war.