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Titus opens the Colosseum with games

80 CE, Rome. An event.

Where and when

80 CERome

1,946 years ago

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, Rome

The great amphitheatre begun by Vespasian is finished and dedicated by his son Titus with games. Suetonius does not give the year.

Having dedicated his amphitheatre, and built some warm baths close by it with great expedition, he entertained the people with most magnificent spectacles.

Suetonius, Life of Titus 7Translated by Alexander Thomson, revised by T. Forester (1889)Read the full passage (Suetonius, Life of Titus 7, opens gutenberg.org)

Background: Colosseum, Wikipedia (opens en.wikipedia.org)

Why it matters

The Colosseum is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built and, though much ruined, is still a renowned symbol of Imperial Rome.

Based on Wikipedia: Colosseum

It is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built, and is the largest standing amphitheatre in the world.

Although substantially ruined by earthquakes and stone robbers taking spolia, the Colosseum is still a renowned symbol of Imperial Rome and was listed as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.

Wikipedia, Colosseum (opens en.wikipedia.org), as of 2026-10-03. Text CC BY-SA 4.0. Our line is checked against these sentences only.

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  5. 80 CEThis momentTitus opens the Colosseum with games
  6. c. 83–84 CEabout 3 years later Agricola defeats the Caledonians at Mons Graupius Same years
  7. set in c. 83 CEabout 3 years later Calgacus on freedom, as Tacitus wrote it Same years
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