Roman amphitheatres are theatres  large, circular or oval open-air venues with raised seating  built by the ancient Romans. They were used for events such as gladiator combats, venationes (animal slayings) and executions. About 230 Roman amphitheatres have been found across the area of the Roman Empire.

The Colosseum (/kRlYsiYm/ KOL-Y-SEE-Ym; Italian: Colosseo [koloss[o]) is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, just east of the Roman Forum. It is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built, and is still the largest standing amphitheatre in the world, despite its age.