Coliseum ( Maerimydra ) The Coliseum was an enormous structure built by the drow of Maerimydra to entertain the masses with battles between slaves , prisoners , and exotic beasts . Location . Located in the southern end of Maerimydra , the coliseum was more than half a mile from northern entrance to the city . Structure . Exterior . The Coliseum of Maerimydra was an enormous oval building with its outer walls reaching a height of 60 ft ( 18 . 2 m ) . The top of the outer walls were lined with crenelations and windows peppered the sides . Along the north - eastern side of the coliseum , six great double doors opened for the public to enter . On the opposite side of the arena lay a smaller public entrance . Two more sets of double doors lay either end of the coliseum to provide access to the arena directly . Interior . Beyond the six large doors that formed the public entrance , a public gallery , nearly 200 ft ( 60 . 9 m ) long and 40 ft ( 12 . 1 m ) wide , was situated beneath the coliseum ' s stands . Impressive staircases led up to the seating area above at three points . Torches of flickering " continual flame " hung from the ceiling to illuminate the chamber . Numerous inner rooms housed and supported the staff and inhabitants of the coliseum . These included an armory with a variety of exotic and gladiatorial weapons , slave pens for keeping dozens of prisoners and monstrous denizens of the Underdark , holding pens for larger animals or slaves to be shepherded into the arena , a kitchen to feed the captives and staff , and guard quarters to house the guards who tended the slaves held nearby . In addition , the coliseum held quarters for the Master of Games within an extravagant suite decorated with murals of arena battles and ancient weapons displayed on the walls . The arena itself was ringed by a steep seating gallery fully 40 ft ( 12 . 1 m ) wide and starting 20 ft ( 6 m ) above the arena floor before rising to about 60 ft ( 18 . 2 m ) at the rear . Three staircases from the lower levels rose up to punctuate the eastern side of these stands while another set was centered on the western side . At either end of the arena floor , enormous 20 - ft - wide ( 6 m ) iron portcullises sealed the arena during fights and provided access for prisoners and beasts from the cells . It was possible to hear the sounds of battles in the arena from outside of the coliseum , especially when the crowd filled the seats . Services . Built primarily to entertain the drow of Maerimydra , the coliseum was also used as a means of dealing with prisoners who had crossed the drow . Defenses . Intimidatingly large and sporting battlements along the length of the outer wall , the coliseum was well protected against threats , both outside and inside . With two rooms to quarter guards , and dozens of slaves , prisoners and exotic beast fit for fighting , the coliseum could muster some highly dangerous opponents for any who assailed it . In addition , heavy iron portcullis ' and large double doors could be sealed against even especially strong creatures . However the open - air arena meant that flying attackers could easily enter the heart of the coliseum . History . For centuries , the coliseum of Maerimydra stood as the crowning achievement of their drow culture . Through the arena thousands of exotic beasts , prisoners , and slaves fought and died for the amusement of their drow masters . Yet in 1372 DR , during the Silence of Lolth that threw the city into chaos , the half - fiend fire giant Kurgoth Hellspawn stormed Maerimydra with an army of goblinoid s , giant s , and demon s . The conqueror of Maerimydra made the coliseum the seat of his power while he laid siege to the last bastion of drow defiance at Castle Maerimydra . While he waited , Kurgoth continued to use the coliseum as a source of entertainment for himself and his troops . He would send captured drow to their deaths in the arena and punished his disobedient soldiers by forcing them to fight his fiendish elephant , Tusk .