Note 49 — THE FLAVIAN AMPHITHEATRE, COMMONLY CALLED THE COLOSSEUM.
Reading edition
In the ancient catalogue of the Emperors and their works, known as “Catalogus Viennensis Imp. Rom. apud Eccard.,” under Vespasian, it is stated that he dedicated the first three steps of the amphitheatre, implying that three were already finished even in his time.
[A.D. 70.] “Hic prior tribus gradibus amphitheatrum dedicavit;”
That Titus added two more.
[A.D. 81.] “Hic amphitheatrum a tribus gradibus patris sui dura adjecit.”
And further, that Domitian completed the building up to the clypea, that is, the top cornice at that time, when the upper storey was of wood.
[A.D. 92-96.] “Domitianus Imp. ... Amphitheatrum usque ad clypea.”