The Colosseum wasn't the biggest stadium in Ancient Rome — it was the Circus Maximus, where chariot races took place.

It once held 250,000 spectators.

Why so big? Because chariot racing — not gladiatorial combat — was the most popular Roman sport... The Ancient Romans were serious about mass entertainment.

They built hundreds of arenas and theatres all over their empire, and most of them would be major venues even by today's standards.

Many had capacities of more than 30,000.

A short introduction to Gothic Architecture: When talking about Gothic Architecture — the architecture of Medieval Europe between the 12th and 16th centuries — people tend to focus on the outward appearance of buildings.

We say Gothic Architecture is about things like pointed arches, flying buttresses, and gargoyles.

The First World War ended 106 years ago today.

Here are some ways it has been remembered since, in art and architecture — beginning with this simple but moving memorial in Hungary... It's almost impossible to understand the scale of the First World War, which lasted from 1914 to 1918, until you've seen the cemeteries that had to be created after it ended.

At the Douaumont Ossuary in France, for example, 146,000 soldiers are buried.

The Museum of Modern Art in New York opened 95 years ago today.

So, from Vincent van Gogh to Minecraft, here's a brief tour through MoMA... New York's Museum of Modern Art — opened on 7th November 1929 — was founded by Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, Lillie P. Bliss, and Mary Quinn Sullivan.

First based in the Crown Building, MoMA changed location several times and quickly grew in scale, popularity, and influence.

A short history of purple: The best place to begin is with the word itself.

The English word purple descends from the Latin "purpura", which also meant "purple-dyed" rather than just referring to the colour.

Purpura came from the older Greek word "porphyra", which had the same meaning.

Some of the strangest and most frightening paintings ever made:

1. The Dog by Francisco Goya (1823) 2. Stormtroopers Advancing Under Gas by Otto Dix (1924)

The First World War was filled with horrors previously unknown, and few artists captured them more vividly than Otto Dix.

These, and his other portrayals of warfare in the trenches, are nightmarish.

555 years ago today Erasmus was born.

You've probably heard his name before — but who was Erasmus and why does he matter?

This is the story of history's greatest educator... The first thing to know about Erasmus is that he was born in 1469 and died in 1536.

So his life coincided with one of the most turbulent and influential periods in history: the Renaissance, the Reformation, the rise of the printing press...

And Erasmus was involved in it all.

This is Borobudur in Indonesia, one of the world's most important and mysterious buildings.

Why? Because it's the largest Buddhist temple ever built — and it was also abandoned for nearly one thousand years... First, who built Borobudur?

It was constructed in the 9th century AD under the relatively mysterious Shailendra Dynasty, which ruled the island of Java at that time.

The Shailendras built dozens of Buddhist temples in central Java, and Borobudur was their grandest.

A short guide to Neoclassical Architecture... The story begins over two thousand years ago with the architecture of Greece and (later) Rome.

The Ancient Greeks had first built their temples with wood, and — influenced by the Egyptians and Mycenaeans — slowly developed a codified way of building.

Classical Architecture.

This window is over 400 years old.

It's the perfect example of a "jali", an intricately carved stone window common in Indian Architecture.

And it's just one of the many things that make Indian Architecture so special... The term "Indian Architecture" is impossibly broad — it covers thousands of years, dozens of styles, and countless wonders, from the Hawa Mahal to Kirti Stambha.

But, as a basic introduction, there are certain design methods and types of building that can be mentioned.

John Atkinson Grimshaw is one of the best painters you've never heard of.

He was wildly popular in the 19th century, and for one very specific reason — Grimshaw was a master of painting the night... John Atkinson Grimshaw was born to an ordinary family in northern England in 1836.

At first he worked for the local railway company, but at the age of 24 he made the bold decision to quit his job and become a painter.

Grimshaw had no artistic training — he taught himself.

In the year 1582 something strange happened.

Thursday 4th October was followed immediately by Friday 15th October.

This is the story of history's 10 missing days... And it begins with Julius Caesar.

The year was 46 BC and he had just become "Dictator for Life" — Caesar was the sole ruler of Rome.

Among the many problems he needed to solve was the Roman Calendar, which had fallen into total chaos.

This is Grauman's Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles, built in 1922 and inspired by Ancient Egyptian temples.

It's a perfect example of the "Egyptian Revival", one of the most interesting architectural styles in history... The story begins with Napoleon and his invasion of Egypt in 1798 — painted below by Jean-Léon Gérôme.

He brought a team of scholars who studied the ruins of Ancient Egypt and published their findings.

It triggered a fashion in Europe and the US known as "Egyptomania".

A brief introduction to John Singer Sargent, one of the greatest portrait painters in history: John Singer Sargent was born to American parents in Florence, Italy, in 1856.

He spent his early life wandering Europe, studying art in Paris along the way and quickly establishing himself as a painter.

El Jaleo, painted in 1882, was inspired by Sargent's time in Spain:

The best of Autumn in art:

1. Three Worlds by MC Escher (1955) 2. November by John Atkinson Grimshaw (1879)

A painting that makes you feel cold just looking at it.

Grimshaw was a specialist at nocturnal scenes and here he captures perfectly the damp chill of an autumnal night, infusing it with a darkly dreamlike, Gothic atmosphere.

This is Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavík, Iceland.

And it's the perfect example of an unusual architectural style called Expressionism... This is about architecture — but the story begins with art.

The Scream by Edvard Munch (of which he made several versions) is probably the most famous example of Expressionism in art.

Expressionism was about painting how the world *felt* rather than how it *looked*.

Portugal has some of the most delightful architecture in the world.

Why? Because it's normal for buildings to be covered in hundreds of colourful, patterned tiles.

They are called "azulejos" — and they show just how easy it is to make cities more interesting... The etymology of the word "azulejo" tells you where it originated.

It comes from the Arabic word "al-zillij", or "zellij", a form of colourful, decorative tilework that emerged in North Africa in the 10th century.

Here's an example from the Al-Attarine Madrasa in Fes, Morocco:

Why do some cities just feel more interesting?

It's not only because of architecture — it's also details like benches, bus stops, signs, and lighting.

So here's a brief introduction to "street furniture", one of the most underrated parts of urban design... Architecture and urban design aren't only about buildings.

They're also about "street furniture" — all the details that every city needs to function.

Benches, bins, bus stops, bollards, lights, signs, post boxes, fences, bicycle racks, fountains, manholes, and so on.

358 years ago today the Great Fire of London finally came to an end.

The city had been destroyed — and it was rebuilt in a very strange way.

This is the story of what makes London's urban design so unique... London is strange.

It has a confusing Medieval layout with winding streets and narrow lanes... but with very little Medieval architecture.

Just compare it to other cities like York or Durham, full of Gothic towers and timber-framed houses.

This is the only painting Vincent van Gogh ever sold.

It's called The Red Vineyard and it was bought by his friend's sister.

So how did van Gogh go from selling just one painting to being the world's most famous artist? It's all because of his family... It was October of 1888 and Vincent van Gogh was in Arles, southern France.

He had moved there from Paris in the summer, and in Arles he finally found the style for which he is now so beloved around the world.

It was here that van Gogh made some of his most famous paintings:

Mount Vesuvius erupted 1,945 years ago today.

Here's what happened, hour by hour, as told by somebody who witnessed it... (The date is actually contested and some think it was 24th October, but more on that later...)

Mount Vesuvius is a volcano on the south-west coast of Italy, overlooking the Bay of Naples.

This was a thriving place in Roman times, surrounded by bustling towns and seaside villas.