The Roman Gladiatorial Games
The Roman Gladiator was a fighter, they were trained to fight. Some were made to fight, some fought just to survive, others wanted the fame. Whether they were forced to fight, just wanted to survive or wanted the fame, they all had one thing in mind. They wanted to win!
The Roman Gladiator was a fighter, they were trained to fight. Some were made to fight, some fought just to survive, others wanted the fame. Whether they were forced to fight, just wanted to survive or wanted the fame, they all had one thing in mind. They wanted to win!
The Roman Gladiatorial Games (Munera, what they were referred as) were first introduced as a kind of blood sacrifice to the spirits of the dead.
They were introduced to Rome in 264 BC, when the sons of Junius Brutus honoured their father by matching three pairs of Gladiators.
Traditionally Munera were the obligatory funerary offerings owed to aristocratic men at their death, although the games were not viewed publicly then.
In 65 BC Julius Caesar commemorated his father, who died 20 years prior to the event, with 320 pairs of gladiators in silvered armour. Still mindful of the Spartacus rebellion, a nervous Senate limited the number of gladiators allowed in Rome at one time.
In 46 BC, after recent wars and victories in Gaul and Egypt, Caesar again hosted elaborate games at the tomb of his daughter Julia, who had died 8 years prior. Once again the gladiators were prisoners of war and made to fight to the death.
This display was heavily criticised for its extravagance and the sheer number of human beings slain, including several of Caesar's own soldiers, who had protested that none of their money was being allocated to them.
But How Does this link in with Roman Crime and punishment?
The games were when many gladiators fought each other and fierce animals. This links into Roman Crime and Punishment because of who the gladiators were.
The actual individuals were mainly prisoners of war or people who had committed a serious crime, including criticising the Emperor any way. It would also be a way to not be executed if you had been sentenced to death. You may be made to fight, or you could volunteer to fight and then there may be a very, very slim chance of you being let back into the community of Rome and get your freedom back.
For the criminals it was a serious punishment. It was just as bad as being sentenced to death. It was the ultimate punishment other than just being sentenced to death. You would not like to be punished in this way. However, it was not all bad, as it was a chance to gain back your freedom.
For the prisoners of war, it was almost like a second chance. They had lost their war against Rome, many of their friends and family were killed and they were at the brink of death from hard labour. However, then if you were called up to fight in the games, you could show that you are a worthy fighter to have, or it could just be a way to survive. Nevertheless, most of them did not
like the fact that they had to fight; they would rather die working than fight to the death. It was just as bad for them as it was for the Criminals, even though all they did was try to protect themselves and their family.
The Emperor and some of his highest men knew that the prisoners of war were an easy way of getting people to fight in the gladiatorial games. So many of them were made to fight as a punishment. Some of the criminals were also made to fight in their games as a punishment of the terrible crimes that they had committed.
They were introduced to Rome in 264 BC, when the sons of Junius Brutus honoured their father by matching three pairs of Gladiators.
Traditionally Munera were the obligatory funerary offerings owed to aristocratic men at their death, although the games were not viewed publicly then.
In 65 BC Julius Caesar commemorated his father, who died 20 years prior to the event, with 320 pairs of gladiators in silvered armour. Still mindful of the Spartacus rebellion, a nervous Senate limited the number of gladiators allowed in Rome at one time.
In 46 BC, after recent wars and victories in Gaul and Egypt, Caesar again hosted elaborate games at the tomb of his daughter Julia, who had died 8 years prior. Once again the gladiators were prisoners of war and made to fight to the death.
This display was heavily criticised for its extravagance and the sheer number of human beings slain, including several of Caesar's own soldiers, who had protested that none of their money was being allocated to them.
But How Does this link in with Roman Crime and punishment?
The games were when many gladiators fought each other and fierce animals. This links into Roman Crime and Punishment because of who the gladiators were.
The actual individuals were mainly prisoners of war or people who had committed a serious crime, including criticising the Emperor any way. It would also be a way to not be executed if you had been sentenced to death. You may be made to fight, or you could volunteer to fight and then there may be a very, very slim chance of you being let back into the community of Rome and get your freedom back.
For the criminals it was a serious punishment. It was just as bad as being sentenced to death. It was the ultimate punishment other than just being sentenced to death. You would not like to be punished in this way. However, it was not all bad, as it was a chance to gain back your freedom.
For the prisoners of war, it was almost like a second chance. They had lost their war against Rome, many of their friends and family were killed and they were at the brink of death from hard labour. However, then if you were called up to fight in the games, you could show that you are a worthy fighter to have, or it could just be a way to survive. Nevertheless, most of them did not
like the fact that they had to fight; they would rather die working than fight to the death. It was just as bad for them as it was for the Criminals, even though all they did was try to protect themselves and their family.
The Emperor and some of his highest men knew that the prisoners of war were an easy way of getting people to fight in the gladiatorial games. So many of them were made to fight as a punishment. Some of the criminals were also made to fight in their games as a punishment of the terrible crimes that they had committed.