Colosseum / Rome, Italy&&Taj Mahal / Agra, India

Colosseum / Rome, Italy

The Colosseum, or the Coliseum, originally the Amphitheatrum Flavium is an elliptical amphitheatre in the
centre of the city of Rome, Italy, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire, constructed of concrete and
stone, which was initially built as an arena. It is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture
and engineering. Its construction started in 72 AD under Emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 AD
under Emperor Titus.
Throughout history, the Coliseum hosted many a bloody fight. Roman Emperors organized here gladiator
fights to entertain the people of the city and foremost to entertain themselves. In addition, from time to time,
public demonstrations, staged sea battles, animal hunting demonstrations, executions, revitalization of famous
wars, tragedies based on classical mythology took place in this arena. The Coliseum was later used for
various purposes, as shelter, for workshops, as religious barracks, as quarry and as Christian shrine. Today,
the Coliseum is mainly a historical site visited by tourists. A great torchlight procession is organized here with
the participation of the Pope each year before Easter.

Taj Mahal / Agra, India

Taj Mahal is known as India’s symbol, an architectural treasure
and the monumental expression of a great passion. Built in the
17th century, the monument commissioned by the Mughal Emperor
Shah Jahan in remembrance of the love of his life, his wife
Mumtaz Mahal, is more than just a structure; it is the embodiment
of love converted into a building. Reportedly Shah Jahan
wanted to build an unprecedented monument for his beloved and
beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal who died while
giving birth to their fourteenth child. More
than 20 thousand workers including the most
skilled craftsmen of the empire worked in the
construction of Taj Mahal built on the
banks of the Yamuna River in Agra.
Visible from many points of the city
of Agra, it is a leading example of
Turkish-Islamic Architecture.
In addition to thousands of
agate, mother of pearl and
turquoise, 42 emeralds,
142 rubies, 625 diamonds
and 50 very large
size pearls are embedded
in its walls.
Taj Mahal who inspired
many a poet in the East
and the West as a romantic
apparition shines
brighter than the moon
even in moonlit nights