We can thank the Romans for myriad useful things, from modern plumbing to sturdy roads, surgical tools, aqueducts, and much more, what they created and built typically withstood the test of time. 

However, Rome’s great amphitheater’s, the Colosseum’s, flooring has not been so lucky. This historic arena has, for the most part, remained in fantastic condition — especially when bearing in mind it was built some 2,000 years ago in 80 A.D. That said, the main floor of the massive over 50,000-seater arena has mostly disappeared, leaving the rooms and corridors below ground open to the elements. 

The impressive Colosseum, known as the Flavian Amphitheater when it first opened, measures some 190 by 155 meters (620 by 513 feet), and back in its day, it was the largest amphitheater in the Roman world.

Archaeologists removed parts of the last floor so that they could get a better view of these intricate rooms where gladiators and wild animals were kept before their deadly fights, Reuters reports.

In a bid to bring back the Colosseum’s former glory with a modern twist, Italy’s Culture Ministry announced on May 2 (in Italian) that it was commissioning an engineering firm to carry out the inspiring project 

The firm in question is Milan Ingegneria, who plans to complete the project by 2023. 

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