Colosseum Timeline

In the 8th century, an epigram attributed to the Venerable Bede celebrated the symbolic significance of the statue: "as long as the Colossus stands, so shall Rome; when the Colossus falls, Rome shall fall; when Rome falls, so falls the world."

By the year 1000 the Latin name "Colosseum" had been coined to refer to the amphitheatre from the nearby "Colossus Solis", the giant bronze statue that once stood beside it.

The spelling was sometimes altered in Medieval Latin: coloseum and coliseum are attested from the 12th and 14th centuries respectively, showing the evolving form of the name.

In the 12th century, the structure was recorded as the amphitheatrum colisei, 'Amphitheatre of the Colossus', cementing the association with the nearby colossal statue.

The Italian colosseo, or coliseo, are attested as referring first to the amphitheatre in Rome, and then to any amphitheatre (as Italian: culiseo in 1367).

By 1460, an equivalent of the name existed in Catalan: coliseu, reflecting the spread of the term across Romance languages.

By 1495 the Spanish word coliseo had appeared, derived from the same root referring to the Roman amphitheatre and later any large theatre or arena.

In the High Middle Ages, the Flavian amphitheatre is attested as the late 13th-century Old French: colosé, and in Middle French as: colisée by the early 16th century, by which time the word could be applied to any amphitheatre.

An English translation by John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners, of Antonio de Guevara's biography of Marcus Aurelius in about 1533 referred to "this Emperour, beynge with the Senate at Collisee", an early English use of the name.

By 1548 the Portuguese equivalent coliseu had appeared, completing the spread of the name across the major Iberian languages.

The Colosseum has a wide and well-documented history of flora ever since Domenico Panaroli made the first catalogue of its plants in 1643, beginning centuries of botanical observation at the site.

The façade was reinforced with triangular brick wedges in 1807 and 1827, shoring up the damaged perimeter wall. The distinctive wedges at each end remain visible today.

The arena substructure was partly excavated in 1810–1814, one of several 19th-century efforts funded by popes to repair and restore the Colosseum, which still retains its Christian connection today.

The interior of the Colosseum was repaired in 1831 and again in 1846, part of ongoing restoration efforts throughout the 19th century.

The peak of plant diversity at the Colosseum came in 1855, when 420 species were recorded, explained by climate change in Rome, bird migration, flower blooming, and the growth of the city around the monument.

Attempts were made in 1871 to eradicate the vegetation growing on the Colosseum, because of concerns over the damage that was being caused to the masonry, but much of it has returned since.

The arena substructure was excavated again in 1874, continuing the gradual exposure of the hypogeum beneath the arena floor.

The Summer Olympic Games medal from 1928 to 2000, designed by Giuseppe Cassioli, features a depiction of the Colosseum, making the monument an enduring symbol of the Olympic movement.

The interior was repaired in the 1930s, and the arena substructure was fully exposed under Benito Mussolini, revealing the hypogeum network beneath the arena floor.

Image source: Benito Mussolini

It was built for Mussolini for the Universal Exhibition of 1942 but the exhibition never happened due to the outbreak of World War II.

Image source: EUR, Rome

Capital punishment was abolished in Italy in 1948, laying the groundwork for the Colosseum's later role as a symbol of the international campaign against the death penalty.

Image source: Capital punishment in Italy

The effects of pollution and general deterioration over time prompted a major restoration programme carried out between 1993 and 2000, at a cost of 40 billion lire ($19.3 million or €20.6 million at 2000 prices).

Several anti–death penalty demonstrations took place in front of the Colosseum in 2000, as the monument became a symbol of the international campaign against capital punishment.

Performers who have played at the Colosseum in recent years have included Ray Charles in May 2002, marking the start of a series of high-profile concerts at the ancient venue.

Image source: Ray Charles

Paul McCartney performed at the Colosseum in May 2003, continuing the tradition of world-renowned musicians playing at the historic Roman landmark.

Image source: Paul McCartney

Elton John performed at the Colosseum in September 2005, adding his name to the list of legendary artists who have played at the ancient amphitheatre.

Image source: Elton John

Billy Joel performed at the Colosseum in July 2006, rounding out a series of concerts by music legends at the iconic Roman venue.

Image source: Billy Joel

Beneath the Colosseum, a network of subterranean passageways that were once used for transporting wild animals and gladiators to the arena opened to the public in summer 2010.

In 2011, Diego Della Valle, head of the shoe firm Tod's, entered into an agreement with local officials to sponsor a €25 million restoration of the Colosseum. Work was planned to begin at the end of 2011, taking up to two and a half years.

Image source: Diego Della Valle

The American state of Connecticut abolished capital punishment in April 2012, prompting the Colosseum to be illuminated in gold in recognition later that year.

Image source: Capital punishment in Connecticut

Most recently, the Colosseum was illuminated in gold in November 2012 following the abolishment of capital punishment in the American state of Connecticut in April 2012, underscoring its role as a symbol against the death penalty.

Due to the controversial nature of using a public–private partnership to fund the restoration, work was delayed and began in 2013 under the sponsorship agreement with Tod's.

After three years, the work was completed on 1 July 2016, when the Italian minister of culture, Dario Franceschini, also announced that funds have been committed to replace the floors by the end of 2018.

Image source: Dario Franceschini

Since 2017, the top two levels of the Colosseum have been opened for guided visits, offering visitors new panoramic views of Rome and the arena below.

Restoration work which restored decorative stuccoes and added a walkway was conducted on the passage from October 2024 to September 2025, enhancing visitor access to newly restored areas.

The restored passage, featuring recovered decorative stuccoes and a new walkway, will be opened to the public on 27 October 2025.

Another restoration project is planned to begin in 2026, continuing the long tradition of preserving the Colosseum for future generations.