 Dio , Suetonius and Martial all record naumachiae , the commonly used Greek term for what the Romans also called navalia proelia , re @-@ creations of famous sea battles . While Dio claims that both the purpose @-@ built naumachia of Augustus and the amphitheatre itself were flooded for two separate shows , Suetonius states only that the event took place on the old artificial lake ( which would have been that of Augustus ) . Martial does not specify where the naumachiae took place , but he is clear that whatever location he is discussing could be flooded and drained at will : 
