The Importance Of The Roman Coliseum

The many events held at the Roman Coliseum reflect Roman society and culture. This amphitheatre hosted a multitude of public spectacles and events including gladiator fights, animal hunts, mock naval battles, and public executions. Sometimes thousands of animals were killed in a single day’s event and often “brutality was deliberate in order to achieve crudeliter -- the correct amount of cruelty” ( Mark Cartwright ). The games also demonstrated the generosity of the Emperor to the people and provided an opportunity for ordinary people to see their rule in person. These events were ritual gifts from the emperor to the ruling class. All Roman citizens who wanted to attend were given free tickets. During this time, carnage and bloodshed were part of the entertainment. Outside the walls of the Coliseum, the acts portrayed would be an act of war; but inside the walls, it was purely entertainment. Generally, gladiatorial games were fought by trained gladiators, but slaves or prisoners were often forced to battle too. They were matched up based on ability. The gladiators that fought during battles were often dressed up as Roman mythological characters or enemies of Rome. Some well-known types of gladiators are “Bestiarrii,” who fought beasts (bears, lions, tigers, elephants, leopards, hippopotamuses, and bulls). These animal hunts involved

This grand structure provides a perfect example of what Romans valued, their traditions, and how they spent their free time. The gladiators upheld the Roman values of respect, bravery, courage, strength, and the most important to society the willingness to die for the Roman Empire. This portrayed the ideal Roman citizen. The Roman Coliseum was a cultural center and brought many people together. It created traditions to be carried on through generations. It brought many generations together, and they bonded over the fights and other