If you have heard of The Colosseum referred to as the Flavian Amphitheater, then you are not alone. Many people believe that the Colosseum is the original name of the Flavian Amphitheater, but it is not. The construction of the Colosseum began in 72 A.D. and was ordered by Emperor Vespasian of the Flavian Dynasty. The Colosseum was built to hold a capacity of up to 80,000 people. Emperor Vespasian died before its completion, so his son Titus oversaw the project until the end. Concrete and sand make up most of the Colosseum’s exterior, and although it has withstood major fires, earthquakes, war, and natural disasters, these have slowly chipped away at the once oval amphitheater. The earthquake of 1349 destroyed the south side of the Colosseum, causing stone and concrete to break off, and this fallen material was used to build and rebuild different parts of Rome’s buildings and monuments. To this day, the Colosseum is the largest amphitheater in the Roman Empire.