The Roman Colosseum Height in Feet – The Height of Colosseum Walls

One of the most iconic landmarks and a center of attractions to thousands of tourists from around the globe in modern-day Rome, the Roman Colosseum stands as the largest amphitheater in the world till today.

In size, The Colosseum height surpasses all those built in the Roman regions of North Africa or those of Eastern Europe. Throughout the centuries, the Colosseum has been fantasizing countless minds with its amazing facts and history as much with it magnificent dimensions.

The Roman Colosseum Height and Width in Feet (Meters)

Owing to its impressive measurements, the Colosseum height and length have always been beyond belief. At the topmost point, the height of the Roman Colosseum is 157 ft. (48 meters), equivalent to a 14-15 story building.

With a base area of 6 acres (24.000 m2), the length and width are 615 feet – 640 Roman feet (189 meters) and 510 ft. (156 meters) respectively.

Being elliptical rather than circular, the perimeter of the Roman Colosseum is 1,788 feet (545 meters). The ovoid central arena has a length of 287 ft. and a width of 180 feet. The height of the Colosseum walls surrounding this arena is 15 feet.

Apart from the central arena, the enormous amphitheater is a four-storied structure with terraces and facades. These facades comprise of 80 arcades on 3 levels. Except for the lower arcade which has a height of 7.05m, the rest of the arcades are at 4.2m width, for a height of 6.45m.

This is the reason that the Colosseum could accommodate more than 50,000 viewers who had a total of 80 entrances to get into the Colosseum.

Lesser-known Roman Colosseum Height Facts

1. Having a height of 157 ft. (48 meters) and a perimeter of 1.788 feet (545 meters), the Colosseum is the largest amphitheater on earth.
2. Consisting of stone and concrete, the Roman Colosseum was possibly constructed under the rule of Emperor Vespasian by tens of thousands of Jewish slaves.
3. Including the gladiatorial games, animal hunts, and re-enactments of battles, the arena was even flooded with water to host mock sea battles.
4. The velarium – a type of Roman awning to protect the spectators from the scorching sun- was pulled all over the Colosseum during the shows.
5. Along with several underground passages and rooms for holding the wild animals and gladiators, the Colosseum arena had 36 trap doors for special effects.
6. Ancient Romans enjoyed free entry for the events paid by the emperors to gain popularity. There they also enjoyed free food throughout the shows.
7. The big cats like lions and tigers, along with other wild animals such as rhinos, crocodiles, and bears were bought from all over the Roman Empire to fight in the arena. As a consequence, over 400,000 people and more than a million wild animals lost their lives during and after the contests in the arena.
8. The emperor Commodus also performed in the arena on hundreds of occasions.
9. The opening ceremony of the Colosseum was celebrated by Titus in gladiator contests that lasted up to 100 days.
10. 435 AD was the time when the gladiator contests stopped. Whereas, the last animal hunts in the Colosseum took place in 532 CE.

About the Roman Colosseum

Built between 72 A.D and 80 A.D under Emperor Vespasian, the Colosseum finds its location in the heart of Rome (find where is the Colosseum here). Named after the Flavian dynasty of Emperors, including Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian, the Colosseum was initially known as the Flavian Amphitheatre.

The word amphitheater means “the theatre in the round” which suggests the real construction of the Colosseum.  It only took a decade to be built and stands still today even after facing horrible earthquakes during the fifth century A.D.

Colosseum Gladiator Games

Initially, The Colosseum was an arena of gladiatorial games traditionally attended by the emperors, with a capacity to let in 50,000 spectators. In addition to these games, the Colosseum also hosted dramas, reenactments of wars, and even public executions.

As the Roman interest in games faded and the Western Roman Empire faced a fall, the Colosseum spark and structure started to decline.

The Colosseum lost nearly two-thirds of its original by the 20th century. Consequently, a restoration project was begun in the 1990s to repair the Colosseum.

How to buy Colosseum Tickets Rome ?

Left excited to visit the Roman Colosseum by these amazing facts?

Get your skip-the-line tickets now for these unforgettable tours:

• Colosseum + Belvedere Panoramic View (English Tour) – Book Now!
• Colosseum-Fast Track – Book Now!
• Palatine, Roman Forum & Colosseum with Skip-The-Ticket-Line & Host – Book Now!
• Roman Forum, Palatine Hill & Colosseum Tour – Book Now!
• Colosseum Underground and Arena guided tour by night – Book here

Also plan your visit properly according Colosseum hours.

FAQs about Colosseum Height