NOVA 42x14 - Colosseum - Roman Death Trap

One of the ancient world's most iconic buildings, theColosseum is a monument to Roman imperial power and cruelty.Its graceful lines and harmonious proportions concealed ahighly efficient design and advanced construction methods thatmade hundreds of arches out of 100,000 tons of stone. In itselliptical arena, tens of thousands of gladiators, slaves,prisoners, and wild animals met their deaths. Ancient textsreport lions and elephants emerging from beneath the floor, asif by magic, to ravage gladiators and people condemned todeath. Then, just as quickly, the Colosseum could be floodedwith so much water that ships could engage in sea battles tothe delight of the crowd. Now, archaeologists and engineersare teaming up to recreate a 25-foot lifting machine and trapdoor system capable of releasing a wolf into the Colosseum'sarena for the first time in 1,500 years. Do they have what ittakes to replicate the innovation and ingenuity of the Romans?