Author Description

The Romans were fastidious about keeping records of everything. However, there are no records of who designed the iconic building of The Coliseum in Rome. This book has one explanation. During Julius Caesar’s conquest of southern Britain in the year 55 BC, one of his centurions kills a farmer and his wife. A baby is found at the house, and the centurion, Marcus Marcello, takes the baby back to Rome and brings the boy up as his own. The boy Claudius is sent to a gladiator school, where he eventually becomes the owner. His exploits cause him to be shipwrecked off Malta, and he loses his memory. Still, he eventually returns to Rome, where he is encouraged by the then Emperor Augustus, who asks Claudius to design an arena to the envy of the world. He is a gladiator, not an architect; he knows what he wants but cannot put it into practice. A ghost has been following him all his life, aiding him where necessary, and she provides him with the answer. The Colosseum was not built until after his death, and then Emperor Vespasian did not give credit to Claudius.