Every world-famous architectural structure has its own story behind it. The Taj Mahal and the Colosseum have their own. The stark contrast in the reasons that led to the construction of these two structures makes them interesting. The love story of the Taj Mahal gives everlasting hope while the vastness of the Colosseum personifies power, politics and brutality. “Jewel of India,” the Taj Mahal was commissioned by the fifth Mughal emperor of India Shah Jahan as a final monument in dedication to his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Mumtaz Mahal was one of the Emperor's three wives and died on the Deccan plateau while giving birth to their thirteenth child Gauhara Begum. Although Mumtaz was originally buried in Buhanpur, it was not her final destination. Shah Jahan wanted to build a suitable mausoleum and funerary garden in Agra for his wife. Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632 and employed more than twenty thousand workers from northern India. This magnificent piece of architectural structure also employed a team of builders from Persia, Delhi and Iran under the supervision of Emperor Shah Jahan. The structure's influential design showcases traditional Persian (dome-shaped), Indian (lotus-shaped "chattri" atop domes and minarets) and Islamic (minarets) architecture of the time. According to Zahoor and Haq, “The Taj stands on a raised square platform with the four corners truncated, forming an unequal octagon. The architectural design uses the concept of the interlocking arabesque, in which each element stands alone and integrates perfectly with the main structure. It uses the principles of self-replicating geometry and the symmetry of architectural elements." The central dome 58 feet in diameter and 240 feet high is surrounded by four 162.5 foot tall......center of card......these ancient structures may soon be forgotten, but the size, the grandeur, the charismatic The majestic beauty of the structures will always be present in the next centuries to come. These ancient relics have and will stand the test of time and may be seen in a different light by the next generation. Works Cited "Sacred Destinations". Colosseum. Np, nd Web. 25 May 2014. < http://www.sacredDestinations.com/italy/rome-colosseum> "The Colosseum". Colosseum. Np, nd Web. May 25, 2014."Welcome to the official website of the Taj Mahal." Welcome to the official website of the Taj Mahal. UttarPradesh Tourism and Web. 25 May 2014.Zahoor, A. and Z. Haq. "The Taj Mahal, India." The Taj Mahal, India. Np, nd Web. May 252014.