Our world and our time on it is filled with interesting facts and tidbits.. some are incredible, but true! This is the start of a new series that will explore little known facts that ought to be shared. Check out the first installment of..

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Did You Know..??

Roman Colosseum Flooded for Battle

It's true! Ancient Romans were known for their love of spectacle. Likewise, Roman Emperors liked to display their wealth and accolades to their subjects. A popular event was when mock sea battles were performed. These naval war games were so popular, they had a name for them: Naumachiae.

The first recorded Naumachia was staged in 46 BC, in honor of Julius Caesar. Caesar had just returned from a triumphant victory over his rival, Pompey the Great. A massive party was thrown to celebrate, and Caesar had a basin area near the Tiber River excavated, and filled with water to create a lake around 1,800 feet long and 1,200 feet wide. Marble stands were installed around the lake. About 3000 fought upon 12 roman galleys to recreate Caesar's military campaign against Gaul and Egypt.

Over 100 years later, in the year 70 AD, Emperor Flavius Vespasian started construction on a grandiose structure known locally at the time as the Flavian Amphitheater, or what we now call, The Colosseum. The project was ambitious and grand in scale, and Vespasian never saw it completed. However, his mantle was taken up by his son Emperor Titus Flavius, who used war spoils to fund the completion of the building.

The Colosseum was completed in 80 AD, and Titus held 100 days of games to mark the grand opening. The games saw executions, gladiatorial battles, exotic animals on parade, chariot races, and dramatic productions. However, the most awe inspiring of all events was saved until the end. 65,000+ spectators watched in amazement as the the arena filled with water and a naval battle ensued inside the Colosseum!

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Historical Scientists still don't know how this incredible feat was accomplished. Some suspect a large aqueduct was diverted, while other believe that the sluice gates and chambers which drained the water could have also been filled beforehand and served to allow the water to rush into the theater.

However it was done, it must have been done fairly quickly at risk of losing the interest of the spectators. Historians believe that the Colosseum was flooded with over a million gallons of water to create a depth of 5ft in a few hours time. Due to its relatively diminutive size compared to the nearby lakes, special flat bottom replica galleys from famous battles had to be constructed in order to fit. The miniature boats were only 5-17 meters in length, and the flat bottom made sure the Colosseum floor wasn't scratched.

By all accounts this was an inspiring but arduous and expensive process. The crowds interest also must have waned because the last known Naumachia in the Colosseum was in 89 AD under the orchestration of Emperor Domitian. After which, the arena was renovate, with emperor Domitian adding The Hypogeum, a series of underground tunnels and trap doors to hold animals and slaves, etc. This addition made further flooding of the Colosseum virtually impossible.

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So Roman's ingenuity and amazing feats of engineering still serve to inspire and impress us today, and if you didn't know, well..
..Now You Know!..