Some scholars suspect the secret may be hidden in the Colosseum's basement. The hypogeum, the Greek word for "underground," is a maze of corridors and collapsed walls.

The Colosseum in Rome before excavations of the hypogeum (the underground chambers beneath the arena), in about 1870. Photo courtesy of the Italian Culture Ministry.

Once the Roman Empire collapsed in 476 A.D., almost two-thirds of the Colosseum—including the network of subterranean chambers, also known as the hypogeum—fell into a state of disrepair.

During the four centuries that the Romans used the Colosseum, the hypogeum, or network of underground tunnels beneath the arena floor, resembled a “huge sailing ship,” wrote Tom Mueller for ...

Colosseum’s underground tunnels, cages to open to the public By Hannah Frishberg Published June 28, 2021 ...

Her Colosseum tour typically includes the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, the Arch of Constantine, Via Sacra and the House of Vestal Virgin. Be sure to specify if you want to visit the hypogeum ...