"The Colosseum" "Coliseum" or "Flavian Amphitheatre" is an oval amphitheatre in the center of Rome, Italy. Built of travertine, tuff, and brick-faced concrete, it is the largest amphitheatre ever built. The emperor Vespasian initiated its construction in AD 72 and completed in AD 80. The emperor wanted to show how devoted he was to the Roman people, reason for what he sponsored the Colosseum. The construction of the colosseum was financed with the profits of Vespasian's war against the Jews.