CAH2GAE: G

LADI ATORS AND E

MPERORS
The Flavian Am
From Vespasia phitheatre
n (69-79 AD) to
Brought to you domitian (81-9
by Pliny’s Peop
le 6 AD)

(Ri cci ard National G

i di Gaud e o g ra p h i c
esi, n.d.) 2018.) ,
 Vespasian
✣ Beginning of the Flavian Dynasty.
✣ Ruled from 69 AD to 79 AD.
✣ Came to power during a Civil War
(Suetonius, Vespasian, 7).
✣ Decided to build the Flavian Amphitheatre in
the heart of Rome (Suetonius, Vespasian, 9).
✣ Built on the location of Nero’s private lake
(Martial, Epigrams, 2.5).

(Realm of History, 2015)

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 Vespasian
✣ Used spoils of the Judea war to fund the building of
the amphitheatre (British Museum, Coins & Medal,
RE2p262.190).
(Britannica, n.d.) ✣ May have built the amphitheatre as he was aware of
Augustus’s plans prior to do so (Suetonius, Vespasian,
9).
✣ Purposely built the Amphitheater in a different style
to the Julio-Claudians (Lindsay 2010, p. 169).
✣ Only saw the first two stories built before his death
(Platner, 1929).
(British Museum, Coins & Medal,
3
RE2p262.190)
 Titus
✣ Ruled for just over 2 years (Antiquities, 2019)

✣ Added the 3rd and 4th floors of the Flavian Amphitheatre after his
father, Vespasian’s death (Platner, 1929)
✣ Conducted extravagant spectacles to celebrate the opening of the altered
Amphitheater (Dio Roman History, LXVI.25).
✣ Released two commemorative coins that represented the Flavian reign

(Britannica, 2019) (Elkins, 1966).

✣ Was initially thought to be a second Nero (Suetonius, Titus, 6).
✣ A kind and humble ruler who served the people well.

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 Domitian
✣ Succeeded Titus 81 AD.
✣ Domitian spent money on rebuilding the city after a great fire in 80
AD (Platner, 1929).
✣ He restored the Flavian Amphitheatre, adding a basement and bronze
shields inside.
✣ The people of Rome received the restoration of the Amphitheatre
positively as it was seen as restoring a large part of the city of Rome
(Elkins, 2006).
✣ Only Domitian’s name was inscribed on the old (and new) buildings,
with no mention of the earlier builders after restoration (Suet, Dom. 5). (Britannica, 2019)

5
 References
Andrea Ricciardi di Gaudesi n.d., The Roman Coliseum, image, Andrea Ricciardi di Gaudesi, viewed 19 October 2019,
http://www.andrearicciardi.com/galleries/architectural
Antiquities, I. C. a., 2019. TITUS as Augustus AR silver denarius. Elephant standing. Colosseum opening commemorative.. [Online]
Available at:
https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/incitatus_coins/79/product/titus_as_augustus_ar_silver_denarius_elephant_standing_colosseum_opening_co
mmemorative_scarce/511858/Default.aspx
[Accessed 22 October 2019].
Britannica, E. 2019, Domitian, detail of a marble bust in the Palazzo dei Conservatori, Rome, Britannica, viewed 21 October,
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Domitian
Britannica, E., 2019. Titus Roman Emperor. [Online] Available at: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Titus
[Accessed 22 October 2019].
Britannica, E. n.d., Vespasian, image, Britannica, viewed 19 October 2019, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vespasian/images-videos

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 References
Elkins, N. 2006, The Flavian Colosseum Sestertii: Currency or Largess?, The Numismatic Chronicle, vol. 166, pp. 211-221.
Lindsay, H. (2010). Vespasian and the City of Rome: The Centrality of the Capitolium. Acta
Classica, vol. 53, pp. 165-180, viewed 21 October 2010, http://www.jstor.org.ez.library.latrobe.edu.au/stable/24592508
National Geographic 2018, Colosseum, image, National Geographic, viewed 19 October 2019,
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/colosseum/
Platner, S. B 1929, in Amphitheatrum Flavium Thomas Ashby (rev.), Oxford University Press, London
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Roma/Rome/_Texts/PLATOP*/Thermae_Titi.html .
Realm of History 2015, ‘Colossal Nero’ giving way to Colosseum, image, Realm of History, viewed 19 October 2019,
https://www.realmofhistory.com/2015/09/05/the-curious-architecture-of-domus-aurea-neros-extravagant-golden-house-palace/

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 References
RE2p262.190 n.d, coin, The British Museum, viewed 19 October 2019,
https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?assetId=31215001&objectId=1200986&partId=1

Cassius Dio 1916, Roman History, trans. Earnest Cary, Harvard University Press.
Martial 1993, Epigrams, translated by D. R. Shackleton Bailey, Havard University Press
Suetonius 2008, Lives of the Caesars, translated by Catharine Edwards, Oxford University Press.