Note 161 — THE FLAVIAN AMPHITHEATRE, COMMONLY CALLED THE COLOSSEUM.
Reading edition
About the year 1865 a new drain was made by the Municipality under that road, and when it was nearly finished the old drain of the Empire (?), or of the time of Sylla (?), was found under it at a considerably lower level. It is fifteen metres below the surface of the ground, and so much filled up with earth that it is considered (in 1876) quite impracticable to have it cleared out and repaired.