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Spectacle Returns to the Colosseum
Rome's Colosseum - the ancient arena which hosted bloody battles between gladiators and wild beasts - has hosted a spectacle again after 1,500 years.
The only blood spilt was theatrical blood, in the classical Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex.
A two-week-long festival at the Roman amphitheatre marks the end of eight years of restoration work costing 40bn Lira ($19.3m).
Wednesday's audience included Italian President Carlo Ciampi who described the experience as reliving ancient times.
"It is moving to see the Colosseum as it is tonight, as it has always been seen as an historical monument," Mr Ciampi said.
The amphitheatre, completed under Emperor Titus in 80 AD, once drew crowds of up to 75,000, who cheered as men were slaughtered in front of them.
For the current shows,put on by the Greek National Theatre, the audiences are limited to just 700 spectators because of the fragile state of the building.
Many of the building's upper tiers are in ruins,damaged by earthquakes and neglect.
A new wooden stage costing 1.5bn Lira has been constructed inside the arena for the event.
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