Gladiators In Ancient Rome

Warpath of Success or Death

Hearts pounding with sword, and shield in hand dripping blood, and covered in dust. Men

gather around to watch death and pain in a glorious battle of life and death. Arenas full of blood thirty people ready for a gruesome fight to the dead. Arenas big enough to hold thousands of screaming fans all shouting “death!”, and with a swift blow the crowd cheering. Anything could happen a lion, bear, or tiger attack were all possible in the deadly game played by the best players alive. The only goal of a gladiator was to live one more day. Gladiators were such a big part of Rome from their history to the lifestyle they maintained, they faced gruesome battles for the pure entertainment of others, they endured suffering.

Gladiators helped shape a significant part of Ancient Rome.
Gladiators were a great part of Ancient Rome; Rome was a warrior state.
Gladiatorial shows were private affairs in earlier times but became popular with the Romans they
began to be fascinated and pleasured by extreme violence and human suffering (Treble and King 70). For the purpose of exhibition immensive amounts of prisoners of war, condemned criminals, and slaves were purchased for the entertainment of others (Payne 303-304). Not many Romans took up professions in combat many gladiators were foreigners (Treble and King 71). Gladiator shows reached various heights of popularity even women and dwarfs appeared as combatants (Payne 304). There were various varieties of gladiatorial fights (Treble and King 71). There were different styles of fights some gladiators wore armour, others carried nets or daggers, men vs exotic beast were also a popular style of fighting (Treble and King 71). Opening ceremonies began with spiritual services and sacrifices gladiators entered the gate of life and saluted the emperor with a ritual phrase “we who are about to die, salute you” leaving the emperor with all the power(Hronis 33). Men were forced to fight, their fate left at the mercy of the crowd. The victor appealed to the audience if the gladiator had fought bravely his life might be spared; if not the roaring noise Jugula meaning throat was heard, the losing gladiator was then killed by being stabbed in the throat (Treble and King 72). Gladiatorial games were right at the center of Roman society (Lids 64). Gladiators were used for the pure purpose of entertainment in Ancient Rome yet a vital part of their everyday life.
Gladiators have a gruesome and morbid history full of death and suffering. Gladiators
stood for a lot in Roman society “The term gladiator comes from the latin word swards-man “gladius” meaning “sword” In battles swords were their one chance of surviving .

Its is believed that the first fights were introduced in Rome in 264 BC when three pairs of gladiators fighting were introduced to Brutus by his son as honorary tokens” leading a way for generations of games (Hronis 32). Rome was a great warrior state during its expansion of the great empire with 60 million people (Hopkins 16). Evidence shows that the games were connected to funerals thus,called funeral games (Hopkins 17). During two centuries of the Roman Empire gladiator shows grew and in 65 BC Julius Caesar hosted the games for his father with 650 fighters who were forced to fight to the death (Hopkins

17).
Religious components in a gladiator fight where very important; crowds often dressed up as gods in costume for the games (Hopkins 17). By the end of the games politics took over ceremonies which was the big intro to games bringing a lively atmosphere to the coliseum
(Hopkins 17). Gladiators were very religious and prayed to the gods to have favor over them in
battle and if they were to die then they would ask to go to heaven. Children dressed up as gods
at the games and would play fight during the games pretending to be their favourite warrior.
As fast as the fights started the would be ended under rule of Emperor Constantine
(Showerman 34). Constantine banned the games in 325 AD however research shows the games
appeared for a brief time after. A full and final bin was placed by Emperor Honorius as the
Empire failed (Showerman 34). Even with the games being previously banned “The last known gladiatorial battle occurred on January 404. Despite the fact gladiatorial contest ended centuries ago” people began to see the brutality behind gladiator shows (Showerman 34). Gladiators have a dark and somewhat still mysterious history about who they really were.
In the day and age of the Romans there were limited means of entertainment so they decided to display dominance for excitement. During the early times there were religious practices taking place within Roman circus acts ,but as the days flew by into years the connection between religious worship and performances became slighter (Treble and King 65). Battles in the colosseum got very gruesome to the point that the arena would be flooded and the fighters who could not swim were forced to fight (Chapter 1). Roman entertainment in the empire’s later days is rivaled by the violence in accordance with Romanian chariot races (Chapter 1). In a single day hundreds of men would take action to recreate the worst battles in history (Chapter 1). Citizens no matter poor or social status would be allowed to watch these battles or the races to cheer on his or her favorite gladiator. Gladiatorial shows were very popular, children would dress up to pretend they were their favorite Gladiators (Chapter 4).Parties were common for gladiators to throw after a victory and women would be there for men benefit (Chapter 3).Gladiators represented the everyday life in Rome. The Romans were entertained by all things gruesome, yet extravagant explaining their fascination for Gladiatorial shows.
Gladiators had a lifestyle like no other, packed with intense training every day and the fame of the games.

Gladiatorial games were at the center of Rome for hundreds of years

because Romans simply couldn’t get enough blood (Lids 1). There was a vast diversity of

fighters in the arena, many were criminals and prisoners of war, condemned to battle often and

trained at a school's expense (Witherbee 2). Successful gladiators received praise by poets, their

the portraits would appear in painting and on vases, and the finest women in Rome pampered them (Lids 1). From a single fight, a man could win more than a year pay than that of a Roman soldier..

An oath was taken to be initiated as a gladiator to fight for glory. Being burned, beaten,

or killed would be punishment for not obeying the commands of the master, often referred to

as
“pianist” (Witherbee 11). A lifetime was spent training but not even the best training could
prepare them for the real test in the arena against Rome’s best. Since the beginning of time
athletes have been trying to get an edge on their opponents. Even before steroids they guzzled
herbal stimulants. To keep strong bones men would drink vile brew of charred wood and bone
ash which is both rich in calcium (Witherbee 2). A gladiator had bulging muscles from heavy
armor often just with the thin layer of fat to protect them (Lids 15). Some men fought with two
swords, tridents, one sword, and even nets (Payne 304). A gladiator had a strange diet and tough
training with strict rules to follow, for minor infractions he was bound in chains.
A gladiator is a hard earned name they learned to fight for survival. They were seen as nothing more than slaves and entertainment. Men fought hard Often never making it longer than a few years in the arena. Gladiators fought for freedom and the hope to make it out alive. The gladiators made Rome what it was it shaped the Roman lifestyle their ways of entertainment, and over all their history. With the horrid history of Gladiatorial games it's amazing how it lasted so long with so much death gore. Gladiatorial games were just to make the people of Rome have some type of entertainment. The Romans began to see the reality behind the Gladiatorial games, and began to see that the gore and killing was wrong. With the decline of Rome gladiator sports began to die out and the games eventually went away as did the fame. All this for a warpath to success and death.