 The inaugural games were held , on the orders of the Roman Emperor Titus , to celebrate the completion in AD 80 ( 81 according to some sources ) of the Colosseum , then known as the Flavian Amphitheatre ( Latin : <unk> <unk> ) . Vespasian began construction of the amphitheatre around AD 70 and it was completed by his son Titus who became emperor following Vespasian 's death in AD 79 . Titus ' reign began with months of disasters – including the eruption of Mount Vesuvius , a fire in Rome , and an outbreak of plague – he inaugurated the completion of the structure with lavish games that lasted for more than one hundred days , perhaps in an attempt to appease the Roman public and the gods . 
