The great amphitheater in Rome known as theColosseum held up to 50,000 spectators – few of our modern stadiums hold more.

罗马的大剧场叫罗马大斗兽场，它可容纳约5万名观众，即便是一座现代化的大城市的一座大体育场也容纳不了更多的人。

They were mainly used for gladiatorialcontests and animal-baiting, and, as you remember, many Christians died there.

那里主要举行斗剑士搏斗和斗兽。你知道，基督徒们也不得不在这样的剧场里丧命。

The tiers of seats for the spectators rosehigh above the arena, like a giant oval funnel.

剧场场地上方的观众席四下里陡峭地向上建去，像一只巨大的、椭圆形的漏斗。

Imagine the noise 50,000 people must havemade when they were all in there together!

如果5万名观众聚集在那里，这一定很壮观！

The emperor sat below in the royal boxbeneath a magnificent awning to protect him from the sun.

在下面的主包厢里坐着皇帝，头顶上方是一个给他遮阳的大遮蓬。

When he dropped his handkerchief into thearena, it was the signal for the games to begin.

他把一块布扔进比赛场地，扔进角斗场地，角斗便开始。

The gladiators would appear and, standingin front of the imperial box, cry: "Hail Caesar! We who are about to diesalute you!"

于是剑斗士们进场，站立在宫廷包厢前并呼喊：“皇帝万岁！将死的人问候你！”

But you mustn't imagine that emperors didnothing but sit in amphitheaters,

但是你不可以以为皇帝们无所事事，只会坐在剧场里，

or that they were all layabouts and ravinglunatics like Nero.

他们全都是像尼禄那样的纵情享乐的人和残忍的暴君。

On the contrary, they spent most of theirtime maintaining peace in the empire.

完全相反，他们为维护帝国的和平而忙碌着。