Colosseum: Rome's Arena Of Death
All new gladiators fight in small arenas scattered around Rome, and when Verus is defeated, he requests a second chance, knowing he will not be given another, and defeats his opponent. Contrary to popular myth, not all contests end in death. If a gladiator was killed the game's sponsor had to pay for his replacement. As a gladiator, you had a near 90% chance of surviving the fight. And if a gladiator was injured, he was given some of the best medical care available in Rome. Roman doctors were renowned for their treatment of flesh wounds. Doctors who worked with gladiators helped to pioneer the treatment of fractures. And they used an opium-based anesthetic for operations. For each victory in the arena, a gladiator is paid the equivalent of a Roman soldier's yearly pay, and he can purchase some personal items. Priscus obtains a small prayer statue and wall-shelf for his own Celtic devotions.
Colosseum: Rome's Arena of Death
Gladiators are admired by aristocratic women of Rome, especially rich widows, and are included in feasts and banquets hosted by public officials and members of the imperial court. Verus soon becomes known for his skill and victories. He is eyed by an Imperial lady, and is soon summoned to a party at night, hosted by Titus and the lady, where arriving he is suddenly attacked by another gladiator provoking a surprise fight arranged as "entertainment"; but he defeats his opponent, whose death the host commands. Verus kills him, his first: "not in the arena, but at a party for the rich." He is numb. Afterward, upon returning to his school, Verus discovers Priscus has been sold to another school; the trainer says, "it's only business."
The gladiators at Rome, the celebrity sportsmen of their day, gave life and limb for the entertainment of the imperial capital. Despite this, they were often from the lowest rungs of the social ladder, and gladiators were very often either slaves or criminals condemned to death. Some, such as Spartacus, rebelled against their fate, often in vain. Others would achieve fame, notoriety, and even wealth. Gladiators typically kept their prize money and other gifts, and their skills were highly valued. Suetonius even alleges that Emperor Tiberius offered several retired gladiators as much as 100,000 sesterces to return to the arena! They were trained in special schools. The largest in Rome is the Ludus Magnus, built by Domitian in the late 1st century CE directly to the east of the Colosseum.
Why was the spectacle of death so important to Roman society? Why did Romans go to such lengths to construct special buildings to display those spectacles in? What was it like to be a star in such a spectacle? And what does the Colosseum tell us about the society that created it?Based on archaeological and literary records, and using dramatic reconstruction and computer generated information techniques, Colosseum: Rome's Arena of Death (Tilman Remme, 2003) brings life to the drama of this arena.
The Colosseum was the largest amphitheater built in ancient Rome. The massive arena held thousands of spectators, who packed the stands to watch gladiators battle to the death and fight exotic animals, such as lions. Built in A.D. 72, the four-story amphitheater soon towered nearly 165 feet (50 meters) high. The Roman Empire used the Colosseum for more than four centuries before it ceased to function as a sporting arena as spectators lost interest in the type of grisly public entertainment it provided.
The Roman gladiators were usually slaves, criminals or prisoners of war. Some of the gladiators were allowed to fight for their freedom but many were criminals who were sentenced to death, thrown into the arena unnamed and unarmed to serve their sentence. Some people actually volunteered to be gladiators so they could honour their family name or wanted fame and glory.
(...) see "the majesty of the Colosseum" from its centre. He added: "It's another step forward (...) the archaeological structures while getting back to the original image of the Colosseum." (...) fought for their lives. Gladiators were used to entertain audiences during the Roman Empire by (...) the public by 2023. It is projected to cost around 18.5 million euro, or $22.2 million. The Colosseum currently (...) of underground tunnels. Mr Franceschini said the new floor would be "extraordinary" and would allow visitors to ( 1 ) Italy's government has given the green light for the refurbishment of Rome's famous ancient (...) built. It was completed over two millennia ago in AD 80. The plans will see the monument (...) Italy's Culture Minister Dario Franceschini announced the high-tech project and said it would open to (...) toward rebuilding the arena. It is an ambitious project that will aid the conservation of (...) fitted with a new floor that will allow visitors the chance to stand where Roman gladiators once (...) has no floor. Archaeologists removed the original floor in the 19th Century to expose the structure's network (...) Colosseum. The Colosseum is one of the world's most iconic sites and one of the New Seven Wonders (...) of the World. It is an oval amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome and is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever (...) fighting to the death with swords against other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals.
The gladiators themselves were usually slaves, criminals, or prisoners of war. Occasionally, the gladiators were able to fight for their freedom. Criminals who were sentenced to death were sometimes thrown into the arena unarmed to serve their sentence. Some people, including women, actually volunteered to be gladiators.
The Colosseum in Ancient Rome saw spectators cheering on as gladiators fought lions and other wild and hungry beasts unto death, accompanied by hangings or performances as the half-time show. Their lives were dispensable as they were being executed for crimes they committed, and the shows almost always ended with a tearing apart of the condemned prisoner by an unforgiving animal. This arena was not the only one of its kind; Medieval amphitheaters that served as spaces of performance as well as public punishment were commonplace across Europe. 041b061a72
