08: The Pagan | Colosseum

Duration: 45'56''

Synopsis

By the 4th century AD, the Roman Empire is in decline, and the Colosseum, once a proud symbol of the Empire's glory, lies empty. One man turns to the arena to restore Rome.

Further Information

More clips from Colosseum

01: The Gladiators | Colosseum

01: The Gladiators | Colosseum

BBC Four | 2023 | 47'02''

In AD80, the Colosseum is open for business. Roman emperor Titus plans 100 days of games to commemorate, including an epic battle to the death...

02: The Builder | Colosseum

02: The Builder | Colosseum

BBC Four | 2023 | 46'28''

Although master builder Haterius constructs the Colosseum where Nero’s Golden House once stood, his work is far from over. Rome's new emperor, Do...

03: The Beastmaster | Colosseum

03: The Beastmaster | Colosseum

BBC Four | 2023 | 46'32''

Over a million animals are slaughtered on the sands of the arena by trained beastmasters, none more famous than Carpophorus. But when met wit...

04: The Gladiatrix | Colosseum

04: The Gladiatrix | Colosseum

BBC Four | 2023 | 46'32''

When the Emperor Trajan stages his great games of AD107, the crowd is treated to a rare spectacle - female gladiators. A Roman named Mevia ill...

05: The Martyr | Colosseum

05: The Martyr | Colosseum

BBC Four | 2023 | 46'09''

The public execution of criminals is a staple in the Colosseum, but during Trajan's games, one of these victims is no common prisoner. Bishop Igna...

06: The Scientist | Colosseum

06: The Scientist | Colosseum

BBC Four | 2023 | 46'30''

One of the most famous scientists of the ancient world, Galen of Pergamon, makes a name for himself as a doctor for gladiators in the arena.

07: Commodus | Colosseum

07: Commodus | Colosseum

BBC Four | 2023 | 46'54''

All Roman rulers put great value on spectacles and games, but only one, the son of Marcus Aurelius, steps out of the imperial box and onto the sands...

More resources about The Romans

Colosseum: Rome's Arena of Death

Colosseum: Rome's Arena of Death

BBC One | 2003 | 57'25''

Drama documentary real-life gladiator, Verus, who fought during the opening games of the Colosseum in Rome AD 80. The programme follows Veru...

Horrible Histories: The Movie (2019)

Horrible Histories: The Movie (2019)

CBBC | 2021 | 1'28'05''

When Roman lad Atti offends edgy Emperor Nero, he is drafted to fight in far-flung Britain, where local Celt lass Orla itches to join Bo...

01: The Bodies | Pompeii: The New Dig

01: The Bodies | Pompeii: The New Dig

BBC Two | 2024 | 58'54''

At Pompeii, Italian archaeologists begin the biggest dig in a generation, where they find a bakery, a wealthy house and a fresco of a s...

Medicine Through Time (1998): 01: Medicine and Religion | History File

Medicine Through Time (1998): 01: Medicine and Religion | History File

BBC Two | 1998 | 24'02''

Programme begins with looking at Ancient Greece, then the Roman Empire then looking at Muslim and Chri...

01: Boudicca's Rebellion | Battlefield Britain

01: Boudicca's Rebellion | Battlefield Britain

BBC Two | 2004 | 58'57''

Peter and Dan Snow on the battles that shaped our nation, starting almost 2,000 years ago with the revolt of the Iceni, led by...

Mount Vesuvius erupts | Pompeii: The Mystery of the People Frozen in Time

Mount Vesuvius erupts | Pompeii: The Mystery of the People Frozen in Time

BBC One | 2013 | 2'32''

An exploration of what happened when Mount Vesuvius first erupted in 79AD.

01: The Gladiators | Colosseum

01: The Gladiators | Colosseum

BBC Four | 2023 | 47'02''

In AD80, the Colosseum is open for business. Roman emperor Titus plans 100 days of games to commemorate, including an epic battle to the death...

02: Augustus: First of the Emperors | I, Caesar

02: Augustus: First of the Emperors | I, Caesar

BBC Two | 1997 | 48'58''

In 44 BC, a teenage relative of Julius Caesar stepped in and triumphed over Mark Antony and Cleopatra in a brutal civil war, ...

Medicine Through Time (1989): 02: Medicine, Public Health and Government | History File

Medicine Through Time (1989): 02: Medicine, Public Health and Government | History File

BBC Two | 1989 | 18'57''

With the fall of the Roman Empire came the collapse of the public health system which...

Murder In Rome | Timewatch

Murder In Rome | Timewatch

BBC Two | 2005 | 49'15''

Rome, 81BC. Sextus Roscius is accused of patricide. If found guilty, he faces brutal execution. Includes actual trial records to recreate one of t...

S01E01: Dark Ages | The Worst Jobs In History

S01E01: Dark Ages | The Worst Jobs In History

Channel 4 | 2004 | 48'53''

Some of the worst jobs of the Dark Ages in Britain were mining gold for the Romans, ploughing fields with a wooden plough and o...

03: Nero: Power and the Madness | I, Caesar

03: Nero: Power and the Madness | I, Caesar

BBC Two | 1997 | 48'49''

Nero's rule was characterized by an obsession with his artistic talents, and sullied by corruption, sexual debauchery, matricide,...

S03E04: The Lost Souls | Meet the Ancestors

S03E04: The Lost Souls | Meet the Ancestors

BBC Four | 2001 | 29'06''

Julian RICHARDS pres 4th of 6 archaeological discoveries that illuminate lives of ancient peoples. In this prog a burial ground u...

The Roman Empire | Learning Zone

The Roman Empire | Learning Zone

BBC Two | 2013 | 6'18''

Bettany Hughes explains why the Romans were keen to invade Britain.

What historians now believe happened at Pompeii | Pompeii: The Mystery of the People Frozen in Time

What historians now believe happened at Pompeii | Pompeii: The Mystery of the People Frozen in Time

BBC One | 2013 | 3'41''

What historians now believe happened at Pompeii

01: Julius Caesar: I Am Not King, But Caesar | I, Caesar

01: Julius Caesar: I Am Not King, But Caesar | I, Caesar

BBC Two | 1997 | 49'04''

First of a six-part series that charts the rise and fall of the Roman Empire as reflected through six of its greates...

02: Invasion | What the Romans Did for Us

02: Invasion | What the Romans Did for Us

BBC Two | 2000 | 28'43''

Hart-Davis analyses the military strength and effectiveness of the Roman army and visits the Lunt, a reconstruction of an early woo...

04: The Gladiatrix | Colosseum

04: The Gladiatrix | Colosseum

BBC Four | 2023 | 46'32''

When the Emperor Trajan stages his great games of AD107, the crowd is treated to a rare spectacle - female gladiators. A Roman named Mevia ill...

Pompeii: The Mystery of the People Frozen in Time

Pompeii: The Mystery of the People Frozen in Time

BBC One | 2013 | 58'36''

Margaret Mountford examines new evidence to reveal the sequence of events that destroyed the city of Pompeii and attempts t...

S03E02: The Princess and the Pauper: Part 2 | Meet the Ancestors

S03E02: The Princess and the Pauper: Part 2 | Meet the Ancestors

BBC Two | 2000 | 34'09''

The investigation continues as the objects found at the site are re-created in an attempt to fill out the li...