The Colosseum is a Roman amphitheatre that once held over 50,000 spectators. It was completed in 80 CE after eight years of construction. The Colosseum was known for its gladiator combats as well as other spectacles, such as mock sea battles, dramas, and executions. Its original Latin name is Amphitheatrum Flavium (or Flavian Amphitheatre). The Colosseum has also been linked with Christianity, specifically with the deaths of many Christian martyrs. Pope Benedict XIV in 1749 claimed that the site was sacred and installed Stations of the Cross. (There is little historical or theological evidence, however, for Benedict’s claim.) Today, the site is one of Rome’s most popular tourist attractions.