Oops! A bit more Connection to the Roman Colosseum Forwarded by Jill

[jill stockinger]

Located below the Colosseum is an underground area called the Hypogeum; this was divided into two levels which was comprised of a series of connected corridors and tunnels that lead into and out of the Colosseum.

The underground network, known as the hypogeum, played an essential role in the Colosseum's inaugural games (80 AD). Gladiators passed through them, and over 9,000 exotic creatures passed through the 32 animal holding pens, which can still be seen today, on their way to entertaining the 50,000 – 80,000 eager spectators.