| For 3,000 years Rome has stood at the | | | | |
| forefront of civilisation. The might of the | | | | Hundreds of thousands of men and beasts were |
| Roman Empire brought great wealth and | | | | slaughtered during the course of these Roman |
| prosperity to the city and its allies. Rome | | | | games. The butchery continued mercilessly |
| became a treasure trove of extravagant | | | | until these particular blood sports were |
| architecture and monuments. | | | | outlawed in 523 AD. |
| | | | |
| As fortune smiled down on Rome, their riches | | | | The communities of the Empire held the Roman |
| established communities endowed with | | | | gods in high esteem; religion played a |
| ornamental landmarks, many of which stand to | | | | significant part in the lives of the Romans |
| this day. | | | | and homage was paid frequently to those in |
| | | | higher places. |
| At the core of the once mighty Empire, The | | | | |
| Roman Forum was the heart and soul of | | | | The Pantheon was built as a temple to the |
| government. Originally a cemetery, the Forum | | | | gods. The original was destroyed by fire in |
| grew with the Empire and was the nucleus of | | | | the 1st century BC resulting in dismay |
| everyday life. Aristocracy would socialise | | | | amongst the communities. |
| and decide the course of history during | | | | |
| lavish banquets, drinking their wine and | | | | During the early part of the 2nd century AD, |
| gorging on the luscious food. | | | | Emperor Hadrian took it upon himself to |
| | | | rebuild the monument and provide his people |
| At the centre of the Forum is the Temple to | | | | once more with a pathway to the gods. Hadrian |
| Julius Caesar built by Augustus, his adopted | | | | was an amateur architect and completed the |
| son and first Roman Emperor. The fresh | | | | new temple in 125 AD. |
| flowers signify the exact spot where Caesar | | | | |
| was cremated. | | | | Two mammoth doors, like sentinels standing |
| | | | before the path to the gods guard the |
| The Colosseum is undoubtedly the most | | | | entrance to the temple. The doors were |
| recognisable of all ancient Rome's landmarks. | | | | extensively restored during the 17th century, |
| Built by Jewish slaves, the amphitheatre was | | | | raising doubts whether they can ever again be |
| synonymous with blood sports. | | | | classed as original. |
| | | | |
| Opened by Emperor Titus in 80 AD, the | | | | Once inside, the unexpected scale of the |
| imperial thirst for bloodshed was insatiable. | | | | interior is awe-inspiring. Marble panels |
| Gladiators became infamous overnight as | | | | grace the walls and floors; remarkably, half |
| battles between man and beast caught the | | | | of the wall panels are from the original |
| imagination of the Roman public. | | | | build nearly 2,000 years ago. |