Coliseum show usually started with a bloodless comic relief battle, often times with dwarfs, women, or cripples battling with wooden objects. The gladiator fights were the most popular and prominent fights. These featured two highly trained men battling for courage, strength, and dignity. They would often rather take a blow and stand strong than whimper and run in defense. It is written that famous women would even leave their husbands for famous gladiators, which were known to be very scarred and ugly by Roman standards. The gladiator fight was a ruthless blood-ridden spectacle that usually ended in death by the loser who begged for mercy and was chosen to die by the present emperor or crowd. Some gladiators fought lions, tigers, bears, and bulls which brought many animals to near extinction in thesurrounding areas. Perhaps the most interesting of all events held were the mock sea battles. The Romans were famous for running water in their architecture, and this allowed them to flood the battlefield and hold mock sea battles. Some of the technology employed at the time of this building is very similar to today's buildings of similar uses for games. For instance there were 76 entrance gates of the 80 piers. The latter four were used for emperors and gladiators. The entrance gates were numbered and corresponded to numbers stamped on the fan's tickets much like today's sporting events. With 80 gates one could easily maneuver to their correct gate. In the ground floor contained an intricate labyrinth of cells which housed the gladiators, animals, and workers. There were splendid uses of machinery in which to lift the gladiator or animal to the surface of the battle arena. But the most amazing construction at the Coliseum had nothing to do with the show. It was designed purely for the benefit of the audience, to keep them calm and content as the violent spectacle unfolded below. It was a roof. The roof of the Coliseum was one that was retra...
