Did Gladiators really exist and were the fights really just punishments?
The Roman Colosseum was a great place for many viewers who came to view he gladiatorial sport. However, for the competitors it was not so fun.
The crowds would turn up in hundreds to watch the gladiators fight. They would cheer and shout, supporting certain gladiators all the way. Nevertheless, this was not the same for everyone. Few people did not like the idea of gladiator fights. Even so, some went to the games and came back bitterly disappointed about the games.
The facts about the gladiator fights come from artefacts, paintings and carvings, as well as letters written by certain historical figures in the Roman era.
"I turned in to the games one mid-day hoping for a little wit and humour there. I was bitterly disappointed. It was really mere butchery. The morning's show was merciful compared to it. Then men were thrown to lions and to bears: but at midday to the audience. There was no escape for them. The slayer was kept fighting until he could be slain. "Kill him! flog him! burn him alive" was the cry: "Why is he such a coward? Why won't he rush on the steel? Why does he fall so meekly? Why won't he die willingly?" Unhappy that I am, how have I deserved that I must look on such a scene as this? Do not, my Lucilius, attend the games, I pray you. Either you will be corrupted by the multitude, or, if you show disgust, be hated by them. So stay away."
This letter is written by a philosopher and senate called Seneca. He has written this letter for the Emperor, Nero to read and think about what he has said in this letter. He has talked about some points that should concern the Emperor. The fact that the games can be so murderous and cruel. It has outraged Seneca.
The crowds would turn up in hundreds to watch the gladiators fight. They would cheer and shout, supporting certain gladiators all the way. Nevertheless, this was not the same for everyone. Few people did not like the idea of gladiator fights. Even so, some went to the games and came back bitterly disappointed about the games.
The facts about the gladiator fights come from artefacts, paintings and carvings, as well as letters written by certain historical figures in the Roman era.
"I turned in to the games one mid-day hoping for a little wit and humour there. I was bitterly disappointed. It was really mere butchery. The morning's show was merciful compared to it. Then men were thrown to lions and to bears: but at midday to the audience. There was no escape for them. The slayer was kept fighting until he could be slain. "Kill him! flog him! burn him alive" was the cry: "Why is he such a coward? Why won't he rush on the steel? Why does he fall so meekly? Why won't he die willingly?" Unhappy that I am, how have I deserved that I must look on such a scene as this? Do not, my Lucilius, attend the games, I pray you. Either you will be corrupted by the multitude, or, if you show disgust, be hated by them. So stay away."
This letter is written by a philosopher and senate called Seneca. He has written this letter for the Emperor, Nero to read and think about what he has said in this letter. He has talked about some points that should concern the Emperor. The fact that the games can be so murderous and cruel. It has outraged Seneca.
But the fact that there are copies of the letter still around, proves that Roman Gladiators and Gladiatorial Games did in fact exist. As proved by this letter.
Now you may think that this letter proves nothing. You may think that it is based on myth that someone had recently wrote. However, this letter is supported by many artefacts, paintings and Roman carvings and mosaics of gladiators.
They all support the claim that Roman Gladiators did exist. As they are from a gladiator or of a gladiator.
As you can see from all of these mosaics and artefacts, Roman Gladiator themes were very popular in the time.
To me this proves that Roman Gladiators did in fact exist and fought exactly how we thought. They used the same weapons and wore the same kind of clothes and armour as we would have predicted. They were very real.
To me this proves that Roman Gladiators did in fact exist and fought exactly how we thought. They used the same weapons and wore the same kind of clothes and armour as we would have predicted. They were very real.