The Gladiators of Rome
THE GLADIATORS OF ROME
In ancient times, the Romans enjoyed watching others get hurt, or even die in the form of Gladiator matches. Most Romans watched these fights in an arena. An arena is a central stage used for sports or spectators. Usually, people paid to watch these fights but on special occasions, the entire event was sponsored by one elite – wealthy Roman and the tickets were given to the general public for free. Although Gladiator fighting might seem barbaric to us today, in the Roman Era it was considered a lively and appropriate form of entertainment.
The Romans inherited Gladiators from the Etruscans. Gladiators are slaves or volunteers that fight against themselves or animals in venues that are considered entertainment for the people. They started fighting in 264 B.C.E. In the beginning of Gladiator fights, all of the games were linked to a specific person’s death. The first gladiators were slaves made to fight to death at the funeral of Junius Brutus Peirain in 264 B.C.E. Eventually gladiator fights became separate from funerals, and it was a way for promoters and sponsors of the fights to show their power in the local community. Gladiators usually fought because they were slaves, and other people had power over them. The purpose of fighting was so that the Roman citizens could be occupied by games in the arena. Gladiators died and lived well usually.
Gladiators were skilled fighters that were forced to fight and kill their opponent which might be another slave or even a wild animal. Gladiators were owned by rich people (lanista) who would purchase and train their gladiators and would then be paid large sums of money to have their gladiators fight. Most slaves were subjected to rigorous training. Slaves were fed a high energy diet and given expert medical attention. Gladiators were very expensive to maintain. Some gladiators were not slaves. Some were free-born volunteers. They would volunteer for the money paid as a
In ancient times, the Romans enjoyed watching others get hurt, or even die in the form of Gladiator matches. Most Romans watched these fights in an arena. An arena is a central stage used for sports or spectators. Usually, people paid to watch these fights but on special occasions, the entire event was sponsored by one elite – wealthy Roman and the tickets were given to the general public for free. Although Gladiator fighting might seem barbaric to us today, in the Roman Era it was considered a lively and appropriate form of entertainment.
The Romans inherited Gladiators from the Etruscans. Gladiators are slaves or volunteers that fight against themselves or animals in venues that are considered entertainment for the people. They started fighting in 264 B.C.E. In the beginning of Gladiator fights, all of the games were linked to a specific person’s death. The first gladiators were slaves made to fight to death at the funeral of Junius Brutus Peirain in 264 B.C.E. Eventually gladiator fights became separate from funerals, and it was a way for promoters and sponsors of the fights to show their power in the local community. Gladiators usually fought because they were slaves, and other people had power over them. The purpose of fighting was so that the Roman citizens could be occupied by games in the arena. Gladiators died and lived well usually.
Gladiators were skilled fighters that were forced to fight and kill their opponent which might be another slave or even a wild animal. Gladiators were owned by rich people (lanista) who would purchase and train their gladiators and would then be paid large sums of money to have their gladiators fight. Most slaves were subjected to rigorous training. Slaves were fed a high energy diet and given expert medical attention. Gladiators were very expensive to maintain. Some gladiators were not slaves. Some were free-born volunteers. They would volunteer for the money paid as a
Cited: http://abacus.bates.edu/~mimber/Rciv/gladiator.htm http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_did_the_gladiator_games_come_to_an_end_in_Roman_times http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladiator http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/romans/games/circus.htm http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/gladiators_01.shtml