gladiators & games

UFC is for wimps

GLADIATORS & GAMES

EtruscansFuneral “games” 216 BC – first Roman ones – 3 days of gamesOften during military campaigns or wars to raise

moraleEventually accompanied by a feast“Given” by everyone from local politicians to the

emperor

ORIGINS

Often slaves & POWsVolunteers allowedTrained in a school (ludus)

Lanistae“Nos morituri te salutamus”Usually kinda chubby…Wooden sword – rudis

GLADIATORS

Several variationsRomans vs. non-Romans

KINDS OF GLADIATORS

Flavian Amphitheatre; 80 A.D.Colossus of Nero nearby -> ColosseumSeated 50,000 –1/2 of Neyland StadiumBesides gladiatorial games:

Venationes Naumachiae Public Executions

THE COLOSSEUM

80 entrances; 3 levels = 240 archesAll 3 kinds of ancient columnsVelarium – awningHypogeum – underground; trapdoors

ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES

Defeated gladiator couldbe killed or spared

Victor asks crowdEmperor/giver of the

games has the final sayPollice verso =

“with thumb turned”Victories and times

spared recorded like amodern athlete’s stats Reported on gravestone

Popular and successfulgladiators would be morelikely to be spared

POLLICE VERSO

“Bread and games”Appeasement of the masses through food and

entertainmentAbandonment of civic duty by the massesMoral and political decline

“Panem” is from what?What are some other similarities?

PANEM & CIRCENSES

ARE WE ANY DIFFERENT?