in 217, the colosseum was badly damaged by fire. cassius dio said the fire was started by lightning. the fire destroyed the wooden upper levels inside the amphitheatre. it was not fully repaired until about 240 and underwent further repairs in 250 or 252 and again in 320. theodosius ii and valentinian iii (ruled 425–450), repaired damage caused by an earthquake in 443; more work followed in 484 and 508. the last record of gladiator fights is about 435, while animal hunts continued until at least 523.