"The Coliseum" is a poem by Edgar Allan Poe that explores the historical and metaphorical significance of Rome's Colosseum. It serves as a meditation on the grandeur and decay of empires, the passage of time, and the inevitable fall of all that is considered great. The Colosseum, once a symbol of Rome's might, is portrayed as a ruin that still holds a haunting beauty. This arena, once filled with the roars of crowds and the clash of gladiatorial combat, now stands as a testament to human ambition and the ephemeral nature of glory. The poem can be seen as a reflection on mortality, societal values, and the transient nature of human achievements.