3.  The Roman Coliseum was the center of entertainment for Imperial Rome. Housing live reenactments of classical mythology as well as spectacular battles in the empire's history. The Coliseum was also home to gladiator fights where exotic animals were imported from all over the empire to face seasoned gladiators, condemned prisoners and slaves for the entertainment of the Roman people. After the Great Fire of Rome in 64A.D. the Coliseum, originally known as Flavian's Amphitheater, was built from lands taken from Emperor Nero and funding from the first Jewish- Roman war.