The Colosseum was the jewel of ancient Rome, wowing vast crowds with its extraordinary spectacles. It pushed the boundaries of technology and exhibited Rome's immense wealth and influence. But just as the structure embodied Rome's power, so too did it reflect the empire's downfall. 

On February 8, 2023, a sensational story came out in the news: three codebreaking enthusiasts announced that after a year of dedication and collaborative efforts, they finally had succeeded in decoding the secret correspondence of one of the most tragic characters in European history: Mary, Queen of Scots. Composed of 57 letters written in a code consisting of at least 150,000 different symbols, the correspondence between Mary and the French ambassador to England details Mary's efforts to free herself from imprisonment and gain advantage over her rival, Queen Elizabeth. After four centuries, Mary's urgent pleas can now be revealed.