One of the best known wonders of the Ancient Roman world, the Colosseum continues to draw millions of visitors to wander its amazing structure each year. Surrounded by one of the world’s most scenic traffic circles, it is rather surreal to see the ancient stadium that once held 50,000 cheering Romans is now surrounded by zooming motorini, buses and cars.

Although it was originally used to house a gruesome form of entertainment, it is hard to imagine it now. The stadium floor has long since dissolved to be replaced by planking and walkways that the modern tourist crosses as they follow one of the tours that is offered in English or their native language. Peering down into the maze like array of walls and columns, it’s difficult to imagine that slaves once operated a complicated set of pulleys, trap doors and conveyance systems that added wild animals or other surprises to the plight of the gladiators who were literally fighting for their lives.

Another reason that recreating the picture is rather difficult for the modern visitor is that the Colosseum has literally been stripped of its grandeur. Over the two millennia since its construction, the building has been looted for its marble and other treasures that were transported to later constructions within the city.