The Colosseum in Rome is one of the world's great ancient buildings, but its beauty felies its purpose - as a place where men, women and animals fought, often bloody and brutal battles as entertainment for the people of Rome. This film focuses on the story of Verus, a gladiator known to have fought in the arena in the inaugural games of 80AD, when hundreds of gladiators and animals were used by the Emperor Titus as a political ploy to gain popularity.