Arnold Ryan, age 11, of Billings, Mont., for his question:

HOW MANY PEOPLE DID THE ROMAN COLOSSEUM HOLD?

About 45,000 people were able to be seated at one time in the ancient Roman Colosseum. The giant amphitheater, shaped much like our present day football stadiums, is perhaps the finest surviving

example of ancient Roman architectural engineering. It stands near the center of present day Rome.

Construction of the Colosseum was started during the reign of Emperor Vespasian, who ruled from A.D. 69 until 79. It was completed in A.D. 80 during the rule of Titus.

The Colosseum is 161 feet high, about 600 feet long and 500 feet wide. The structure is about as high as a four story building.

The arena originally could be flooded for water spectacles. Generally it was used for fights between gladiators and between men and wild animals.