The Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheater, is an elliptical amphitheater in Rome, Italy, just east of the Roman Forum. It is the largest ancient amphitheater in the world and a symbol of Rome’s greatness.

The Roman Forum was the center of political, social, and religious life in ancient Rome. Situated in a valley between the Palatine and Capitoline hills, the Forum was the site of public meetings, law courts, elections, and gladiatorial combats. The area was originally a marsh but was drained in the 6th century BCE by the Cloaca Maxima, one of the world's first sewer systems.

The Palatine Hill is the centermost of Rome's seven hills and one of the most ancient parts of the city. It rises 40 meters (131 feet) above the Roman Forum and 51 meters (168 feet) above sea level. The Palatine Hill is considered the birthplace of Rome and was once the residential area for emperors and nobility