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[[File: Coliseo medieval.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px| Map of Medieval Rome Depicting the Colosseum]]

As one of the most popular landmarks of Rome both ancient and contemporary, the Colosseum is visited by millions of visitors each year. A 2014 Travel and Leisure magazine article reported, in fact, that more than 5 million tourists traversed the intricate vaults of the Colosseum that year <ref> "The World's Most-visited Tourist Attractions"<i>Travel and Leisure Magazine.</i> 10 November 2014.</ref>. When it was first built, though, the famous amphitheater held a different name, one that served as a reminder of the man who built it. Interestingly, the name it now holds is connected to another, more fiendish man that Rome wanted to forget.

===Background===

When the Roman Emperor Nero took power in October 54 CE, one could have assumed greatness would ensue as he was descendent from the Julio-Claudian family line, a lineage that traced back to Julius Caesar. The result of Nero's rule, however, was far from rosy. From the murder of his mother in 59 BCE to his growing conflicts with the Roman Senate in the years following, Nero's control of Rome was rather tumultuous <ref> Barrett, Anthony A., "Nero."<i>The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece and Rome</i> (Oxford University Press, 2010)</ref>.

[[File: 1024px-Nero_Palatino_Inv618.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px| <i>Portrait of Nero</i>, from the Palatine Hill, first century CE]]

These tensions came to a head in July 64 CE, when a raging fire broke out and burned across the city of Rome for almost a week. <ref> Dando-Collins, Stephen. <i>The Great Fire of Rome</i> (Da Capo Press, 2010). </ref> While interpretations of how Nero responded to the blaze and its aftermath vary, it is clear that, in the midst of the city's recovery Nero was tasked with rebuilding substantial portions of the city. In this project, Nero planned a massive new palace complex for himself. Know as the <i>Domus Aurea</i>, or "Golden House," the fantastically decorated palace stretched across the heart of the Roman Forum. Including lavish reflecting ponds and a monumental bronze sculpture of the god Sol that stood just outside its main entrance, the <i>Domus Aurea</i> irked many Romans as it consumed a significant amount of land that was previously used for the citizens.