the building of the colosseum began under the rule of the emperor vespasian in around 70–72 ad. the area was flat, in a valley between the caelian, esquiline and palatine hills. there was a stream flowing through the valley, but this had been made into a canal. people had been living in this area for over 200 years, but the houses were destroyed in the great fire of rome in 64 ad. the emperor nero took much of the land for his own use. he built a grand palace, the "domus aurea" which had a lake, gardens, paths covered with a roof held up by columns (porticoes), and large shelters (pavilions) to sit in. he had the "aqua claudia" aqueduct made longer to supply water to the area. there was also a big bronze statue of nero, the colossus of nero, at the front of the domus aurea. in 68 ad, nero lost control of the government. the senate made him a public outlaw, and he killed himself soon after.