Vain beyond belief, Commodus officially renamed Rome after himself: "Colonia Commodiana." Not content with honors due him as Caesar, he gave himself more titles so the twelve months of the year could also be named for him.

The threat to Rome's frontiers continued after the death of Marcus Aurelius, but Commodus did not carry out his father's plans to protect the borders. In the winter of 170, when fighting against Germanic tribes was especially fierce, and men fought on the frozen Danube River, Marcus Aurelius still found time to run the battles and the government. Not his son. Commodus didn't care about running the government. He was more interested in the world of make-believe battles. He preferred the arena field to the battlefield.

Rome's arena, the Colosseum (initially called “The Flavian Amphitheater”), was ultimately named (the videos, based on detailed historical records, are about its early days and inaugural games) for a colossal statue of Nero that once stood nearby (at the Domus Aurea). Holding fewer spectators (55,000) than the nearby Circus Maximus (which accommodated more than 200,000 people), the Colosseum had 80 arched entrances on the ground floor. Originally made of wood, it was rebuilt of stone, brick, and marble. Its diameter was 620 feet (190 meters). Under the floor (explore this animation to learn how the whole structure was built) were a series of labyrinth passageways. Even today it is an impressive structure, but during the reign of Commodus, it became a place of shame. To use the words of Cassius Dio: