The Colosseum

In this captivating audiobook, classical historians Keith Hopkins and Mary Beard explore the multifaceted history of the Colosseum, revealing its allure to figures like Byron and Hitler, as well as Mid-Victorian admirers enchanted by its flora and fraught reputation. Through a detailed examination of its construction, the emperors who participated in the games, and the varied audience responses, the authors debunk popular myths surrounding this iconic monument, including misconceptions about gladiators and Christian martyrs. Additionally, they trace the Colosseum's intriguing afterlife, which has seen it transform from a site of spectacles to a national symbol of opposition to the death penalty.