The Roman Colosseum is known by many as one of the most important traces of the Roman Empire, but it symbolizes more than an architectural feat. Vespasian and his son Titus used the Colosseum to pacify Roman citizens after an era of private luxury and tyranny. The Colosseum, built on the former gardens of Nero's palace, is the symbol of a new era, as well as a gift from the new ruling family who had no physical ties to the previous family. The use of the Colosseum is obvious, but the purpose it served the late Vespasian is unclear, although its physical location, the symbolism behind it, and the primary sources of the time period add to the monument's significance. The remains of the Colosseum are found in modern Rome, although its physical significance was much more evident at the end of the century under the rule of Vespasian. Before Vespasian restored the area to public use, the land was used as a pond for Nero's private garden at the Golden House. The Great Fire of Rome, in 64 AD, had destroyed the previous amphitheater (Rome Reborn); Vespasian had nobly restored the land making it public, rather than a private palace for a tyrant, or at least this is the opinion shown to the Roman citizens. The Colosseum, or Flavian amphitheater, is not at its full size today, but evidence of its massive structure is still physically visible. The building is no longer stable after its many uses over the thousand years that it has survived, although discussion of the monument's restoration reached the highest levels of Roman city government (Natason 2). The location of the monument, along with the Flavians' embrace of previous emperors such as Augustus, and attempts to distance themselves from Nero, all seem to suggest that the Fla...... middle of paper ....... Web . 05 May 2014.Frontino, Sesto I. "De Aquaeductu Urbis Romae." Trans. Rodgers. De AquaeductuUrbis Romae. Np: np, nd No. page The University of Vermont. Network. 02 May 2014.Jones, William "Some thoughts on the propaganda of Vespasian and Domitian", TheClassical Journal, p. 251Lewis, Naftali and Meyer Reinhold. Roman civilization. New York: Harper & Row, 1966.Print.MP Charleswroth, “Flaviana,” Journal of Roman Studies 27 (1938) 54–62Natason, Ann. "A colossal undertaking." Historical abstracts. EBSCO, October 2011. Web. 02 May 2014.Pepe, Andrea. "DESCRIPTION." The-Colosseum.net. Np, nd Web. 05 May 2014.Tacitus, Cornelius and Kenneth Wellesley. The Stories. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1972.Print.Tranquillus, Suetonis. "Life of the Twelve Caesars." Penelope. Trans. Bill Thayer. University of Chicago, nd Web. 02 May 2014.