Colosseum: Gladiator Myths, Stone Blocks, and Rome’s Biggest PR Move

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👉 ⁠⁠Book a Colosseum tour (underground and arena access available)⁠

In this episode of French People Arr. Rude, Sean and Brandon take a chisel to the biggest stereotypes about the Colosseum. Was it just a place for gladiator battles? Did people really get fed to lions? And who were these so-called gladiators, anyway?

They unpack the truth behind Rome’s most famous monument—starting with why it was built, the materials and methods used to construct it, and how it functioned as both entertainment and empire-building. You’ll hear about what the games were actually like, who got to fight, and why the Colosseum went through long stretches of being totally unused.

What We Cover in This Episode

• Common misconceptions about the Colosseum

• Who commissioned it and how it replaced Nero’s palace

• What materials were used and how long it took to build

• What the games were like (spoiler: more than just gladiators)

• Who the gladiators actually were (and who they weren’t)

• Why the Colosseum sat empty during certain periods