Note 169 — THE FLAVIAN AMPHITHEATRE, COMMONLY CALLED THE COLOSSEUM.

Some scholars say that those scenes could not have taken place on this site, because the Flavian Amphitheatre was not built in the time of Nero. But it has been shewn that an awning in the amphitheatre of Nero is described by Pliny, writing at the time, during the life and reign of Nero, as he uses the expression principis Neronis, which he could hardly have used after his death. No other site but this can be found for such a large building as an amphitheatre, and this is close to the Golden House of Nero. In any case athletes or wrestlers, and naumachia or naval fights, are part of the tradition of many Roman amphitheatres, and there are sufficient remains of the substructures in many places to prove that this tradition is well founded. The corridors of the Flavian Emperors, though splendid additions to this great theatre, were not necessary for the performance of those pantomimes. It has also been shewn that the old tufa walls must be earlier than the time of Nero, and are probably of the time of Sylla.