I recently went to Rome for the first time and of course had to go to the "must sees". Taking a tour of the Colisseum was s
quite disturbing. When I heard (and read on my own) details of what it was used for, I am amazed that it is so popular. Somehow I think it's viewed as an iconic architectural site which held fights, rather than a place of slaughter. Smiling tourist faces taking photos of themselves.
It's not as if I didn't know that gladiators fought to the death there, but somehow the slave against slave (gladiators), man vs. animal and animal vs. animal that was a blood bath imprinted itself on me when there. And that it was entertainment for the 1000s who flocked there for hundreds of years.
If we still sent post cards I'm sure there'd be a "Greetings from Rome" with a photo of the Colisseum on it. Welcome to a place of incredible cruelty. Having a wonderful time.

You did not know that before you went there?

I fail to see the difference between a Roman arena and much more recent slaughter that has been forgotten or current events that will be forgotten soon. It's what we as a species do.

Really. I can't believe this was a surprise or that one can't see the similarities between what went on in Roman arenas and what goes on every day today in various corners of the world. Maybe there should be postcards from eastern Ghoutah. You didn't study Roman history or don't watch the news these days?

You see such violence in plenty of large cities that suffer from large tracts of poverty - hence desperation and violence.

People have a fascination with ruins.

Every public square dating from medieval time was probably venue of many a gruesome executions - do you avoid say the Place de la Concorde because the guillotines were set up there during the Reign of Terror?

that it was entertainment for the 1000s who flocked there for hundreds of years - yup
a place of incredible cruelty - yup

I am not understanding why any of this was a surprise to you.

I thought this was a sight I missed when in Rome.

I've always known what the Colosseum was used for. That is why there is a cross inside. People used to be very ruthless and took it as entertainment. It wasn't the only time in human history. It just happens to still be standing.

St.cirq and others - Of course I knew that gladiators fought to the death there. What I am saying is that the scope of it was what, for whatever reason for me, really disturbing. Comparing this to the slaughter going on in Myamar makes no sense (and are you excusing it?), as no one is going there for entertainment.
I read some reviews on Trip Advisor and one mentioned "This is where gladiators wrestled" (wrestled?), and another talked about how his tour guide went into the building and dismantling of parts of it and not about its human history.
In the first few werks of the Colisseum's opening, one thousand animals were pitted against each other and killed for human enjoyment. Just in the first few weeks. Excuse me if that bothers me.
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I just think more should be made of its purpose and the real torture and gore involved . I am NOT saying people shouldn't go to see it.

OK, whatever, but don't kid yourself that people aren't finding the horrors of MyaNmar entertaining. If idiot reviewers on TA don't understand history, that's surely no surprise.

There is the concept of relativism and the relativist often wishes to allow for a plurality of equally valid values or even truths.

It is an absurd notion to apply 21st century public morals or individual ethics to ancient practices. Religions that are practiced today are steeped in blood and prejudice but that is often either ignored or excused. Where is the horror and indignation for that?

I just think more should be made of its purpose and the real torture and gore involved .

What would be your suggestion for doing so?

I think that those interested in history (not history-light) will do their homework in anticipation, not rely on someone else to enlighten them, and those interested in selfies at the "must-sees" will be happy in their ignorance. Something for everyone.

I think enough has been made of the gruesome history of the Colosseum = part of the attraction may well be partly that - imagining Christians v Lions (lions always won!) and gladiatorial fights, etc.

Actually, historians, including Roman Catholic historians, agree that probably there were no Christian-versus-lions matches in the Colosseum. Such matches weren't all that common and those that did take place were probably in smaller venues. Most Christians condemned to death were crucified. St. Paul was a Roman citizen, entitled to the kinder-and-gentler death by decapitation.

Likewise, the myth that St. Peter was held in the Mamertine Prison (adjacent to the Colosseum) is totally without foundation. This small cell was used as a temporary holding cell for high profile foreign captives, before they were displayed in a triumphal procession, and then executed. St. Peter was a nobody in imperial Rome, and was executed like a common criminal.

Most historical sites are linked to deeply unpleasant practices- ruins are often composed of arenas for violence like the colleseum, temples where millions of animals and humans were sacrificed to the Gods and graveyards and necropoli; beautiful mosques, churches and bascilicas are built on the blood and tears of defeated and persecuted faiths; we commemorate dungeons, battlefields, giant public baths where slaves toiled in agony in the steamy hellish boiler rooms. We are an unpleasant lot and always have been.

It would be nice if these sites could serve as a reminder that humans should try to do better, but I'm afraid it's in our nature even as we try to deny it.

'Welcome to a place of incredible cruelty.]

DD, welcome to the Civil War.

In the 20th century over 150,000,000 lost their lives at the hands of other humans. Not even an afternoon at the Coliseum.

We just visited the Roman arena in Nimes where you can walk upon the arena floor. It was as strange as visiting the WWI battlefields in Belgium or Auschwitz. Hannah Arendt coined the phrase "banality of evil" while referring to the Nazis. But there is an eerie and distant silence about standing in all these places.