The Colosseum is situated in Rome, Italy on the ruins of emperor Nero's Palace. In the year 70, emperor Vespasian decided to build something that would change the Roman Empire for ever. He decided to build an amphitheater.Vespasian died the year 79, shortly before the Colosseum was completed in 80 by his son and successor emperor Titus. It was the called the Flavian Amphitheater, and later called the Colosseum after the 250 foot statue of the emperor Nero.