The 2,000-year-old scrawls on the walls don’t say winning gladiator Lanceus Armstreus used performance enhancing nectar of the gods. However, they do reveal new clues to what fans of the famous sports stadium wrote all those centuries ago.

Recent restoration efforts at the Colosseum have resulted in uncovering of First Century tunnels that haven’t been seen in at least 60 years. Workers found the walls scrawled with explicit graffiti and writings dating all the way back from the earliest years. Some of the graphic artwork would make the scrawls on modern bathroom walls look tame in comparison.

Another interesting feature of the Colosseum is that it’s a traditional feral cat sanctuary. Of the estimated 300,000 stray cats roaming the streets of Rome, at least several hundred make their permanent home in the Colosseum. City volunteers care for the feeding and health of the stadium’s thriving cat colony.

About visiting hours, tours, fees and other information, go to the-colosseum.net/idx-en.htm