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