Why is it called the “Colosseum”?

The original name of this famous ancient landmark was not “Colosseum,” but the “Flavian Amphitheatre,” named after the Flavian dynasty of emperors who built it in the 1st century AD.

The name that became more widely known later – “Colosseum” – came from a massive statue (Colossus) that once stood nearby. It depicted Emperor Nero and stood about 35 meters tall!

Over time, the name of the giant statue became associated with the site, and it came to be known as the “Colosseum.”