<P> Although the Colossus was preserved , much of the Domus Aurea was torn down . The lake was filled in and the land reused as the location for the new Flavian Amphitheatre . Gladiatorial schools and other support buildings were constructed nearby within the former grounds of the Domus Aurea . Vespasian 's decision to build the Colosseum on the site of Nero 's lake can be seen as a populist gesture of returning to the people an area of the city which Nero had appropriated for his own use . In contrast to many other amphitheatres , which were located on the outskirts of a city , the Colosseum was constructed in the city centre ; in effect , placing it both symbolically and precisely at the heart of Rome . </P>
<P> Although the Colossus was preserved , much of the Domus Aurea was torn down . The lake was filled in and the land reused as the location for the new Flavian Amphitheatre . Gladiatorial schools and other support buildings were constructed nearby within the former grounds of the Domus Aurea . Vespasian 's decision to build the Colosseum on the site of Nero 's lake can be seen as a populist gesture of returning to the people an area of the city which Nero had appropriated for his own use . In contrast to many other amphitheatres , which were located on the outskirts of a city , the Colosseum was constructed in the city centre ; in effect , placing it both symbolically and precisely at the heart of Rome . </P>
what was the colosseum built on top of
what was the colosseum built on top of
the site of Nero 's lake
the site of Nero 's lake