The Colosseum is of course the most famous monument of Ancient Rome (its original name is the Flavian Amphitheatre). It was built by the Emperor Vespasian between 70 and 76 AD, and completed by his son Titus in 80 AD. It was built on the site where Nero had had a huge villa for himself (the Domus Aurea). The structure got its popular name, the Colosseum, because it was built near where Nero had erected a huge statue, or colossus of himself. The monument is absolutely astounding...and I could not get enough of it during my 9 day stay in Rome.