The emperor Vespasian rose to power in around 70 AD, he entered Rome in a period of turmoil. The Emperor Nero had bankrupted the Empire to pay for a magnificent palace, known as the Golden House. Then a Great Fire destroyed Rome, soon after, Nero was declared an enemy of the Senate, rather than face death, he comitted suicide. Rome was now in complete chaos, it needed a strong leader who would piece together the Empire after Nero had pulled it apart. Powerful legions in Italy decided that the General Vespasian was the best man for the job. He was called from a prolongued siege at Jerusalem where Jewish Rebels were protesting Roman rule and taxes. When Vespasian was coronated, he said that he would replace Nero's hated palace with a magnificent new Amphitheatre. But the only suitable place had a temple in it, he could not remove this so he chose a new place, only this was underwater. He removed the Domus Aurea, or the lake that Nero had placed there and began construction on the foundation of the Amphitheatre, what we now call the Coloseum. Soon however, Vespasian became dangerously low on funds, he turned to a city that he had held under siege, the city of Jerusalem. The city's occupants were sold as slaves and the city's fabulous treasures were brought back to Rome to build the Coloseum. Even with the new funds it would be 10+ years before the amphitheatre would be complete and Vespasian would die before it was completed. His son Titus opened the Coloseum after one year into his reign, even though it was open, however it still wasn't completed, and wouldn't be complete until Titus's brother Domitian ruled Rome. Domitian built a network of tunnels under the Coloseum, it became known as the hypogeum, it allowed gladiators and wild beasts to enter the Coloseum while "The Games" were going on, it greatly added to the excitement in attending "The Games". The Coloseum is famous for the bloodthirsty shows that occurred inside it, but few pay attention to the amazing history of this building, a building that still stands today.