Editing Titus (section)

===Public works===
[[Image:Colosseum in Rome, Italy - April 2007.jpg|thumb|left|The Flavian Amphitheatre, better known as the [[Colosseum]], was completed after 10 years construction during the reign of Titus and inaugurated with spectacular games that lasted for 100 days. See ''[[Inaugural games of the Flavian Amphitheatre]]''.]]

Construction of the Flavian Amphitheatre, now better known as the [[Colosseum]], was begun in 70 under [[Vespasian]] and was finally completed in 80 under Titus.<ref>{{Cite book | first=Leland M. | last=Roth | year=1993 | title=Understanding Architecture: Its Elements, History and Meaning | edition=1st | publisher=Westview Press | location=Boulder, CO | isbn=978-0-06-430158-9 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/understandingarc00roth }}</ref> In addition to providing spectacular entertainments to the Roman populace, the building was also conceived as a gigantic triumphal monument to commemorate the military achievements of the Flavians during the [[First Jewish-Roman War|Jewish Wars]].<ref>{{Cite book | first=Amanda | last=Claridge | year=1998 | title=Rome: An Oxford Archaeological Guide | edition=1st | publisher=[[Oxford University Press]], 1998 | location=Oxford, UK | isbn=978-0-19-288003-1 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/romeoxfordarchae00aman/page/276 276–282] | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/romeoxfordarchae00aman/page/276 }}</ref>

The [[inaugural games of the Flavian Amphitheatre|inaugural games]] lasted for a hundred days and were said to be extremely elaborate, including [[gladiatorial combat]], fights between wild animals ([[elephant]]s and [[crane (bird)|cranes]]), [[Naumachia|mock naval battles]] for which the theatre was flooded, horse races and chariot races.<ref name="dio-romanhistory-lxvi-25">[[Cassius Dio]], ''[[Roman History (Cassius Dio)|Roman History]]'' [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/66*.html#25 LXVI.25]</ref> During the games, wooden balls were dropped into the audience, inscribed with various prizes (clothing, gold or even [[Slavery in antiquity#Slavery in Rome|slaves]]), which could then be traded for the designated item.<ref name="dio-romanhistory-lxvi-25"/>

Adjacent to the amphitheatre, within the precinct of Nero's [[Golden House]], Titus had also ordered the construction of a new public [[thermae|bath house]], the [[Baths of Titus]].<ref name="dio-romanhistory-lxvi-25"/> Construction of the building was hastily finished to coincide with the completion of the Flavian Amphitheatre.<ref name="suetonius-titus-7"/>

Practice of the [[Imperial cult of ancient Rome|imperial cult]] was revived by Titus, but apparently, it met with some difficulty since Vespasian was not deified until six months after his death.<ref>Coins bearing the inscription ''Divus Vespasianus'' were not issued until 80 or 81 by Titus.</ref> To honour and glorify the [[Flavian dynasty]] further, foundations were laid for what would later become the [[Temple of Vespasian and Titus]], which was finished by Domitian.<ref>Jones, Brian W. ''The Emperor Titus''. New York: St. Martin's P, 1984. 143.</ref><ref>[[Suetonius]], ''[[The Lives of Twelve Caesars]]'', Life of Domitian [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Domitian*.html#5 5]</ref>