These included shows of religious nature, animal fights, and performances by magicians and acrobats. The Colosseum is often seen as a symbol of “Roman cruelty” due to the nature of the events that occurred within its walls (Welch 1). This was important to those who were in positions of power during the time, because they were the ones who were in control of the events, showcasing their power and establishing their dominance over the Roman public (Welch 2). Often, a life or death decision rested in the hands of the Emperor or the high ranked officials watching the games. In this sense, class was also important in society and establishing your class status was done here; the lowest classes were the fighters, the middle classes were the viewers,
