By the time the Roman Colosseum was abandoned in the sixth century A.D., it had already been damaged due to earthquakes and lightning strikes. It had also been neglected and had deteriorated significantly as a result, according to National Geographic. With the spread of Christianity, Romans’ views significantly changed. One significant event triggered the ban of gladiatorial games. In A.D. 404, a monk stepped in between two gladiators who were battling. The large crowd was disgruntled by the disturbance and stoned the monk to death. As a result, Emperor Honorius officially banned gladiatorial combats (via World History). Animal hunts were still held in Colosseum for another century before it was stopped.

The Roman Colosseum became nothing but a gigantic structure when the activities ceased. Throughout the years, some emperors ordered repairs to the damages caused by the environment, but with it came expenditures that the Roman Empire could use elsewhere, per Tribunes and Triumphs.

By the 20th century, the Roman Colosseum has lost about two-thirds of its original structure due to natural disasters and abandonment. Restoration started in the 1990s and today, it remains one of the most popular attractions in Italy that draws more than 4 million tourists from around the world, per The Colosseum.