The Colosseum was constructed with tens of thousands of tons of a type of marble called travertine and held together with 300 tons of iron. When completed, it rose up 57 meters in four levels. The lower three provided seating for the spectators and were surrounded by magnificent arcades and 80 perfectly symmetrical arches, each embellished with a statue. The attic story contained brackets which could suspend a canopy for shade.

罗马竞技场是由数万吨名为“石灰华”的大理石加上300吨的钢铁铸建而成。完工后，有四层楼57米高。底下三层是观众席，环绕著巨大的环状拱廊，还有80座完全对称的拱门，座座都刻有雕像。顶层部份有托架用以悬挂罩篷，可以遮荫。

(短文节选,本篇始于：罗马竞技场)