Roman Gladiators Essay - 976 Words

Gladiator Gladiatorial events were a token of the Roman civilization. A brutal form of sacrifice adapted from the earlier civilization of Etruscans, who believed when a person dies, his spirit relies on a blood sacrifice to survive in the afterlife. The first event to take place in Rome was in 264 BC, when Decimus Brutus held a sacrifice to honor his dead father (Roman Gladiator). Soon after these events became an undeniable part of the Romans lives, used for political power and general entertainment. A gladiators life was far from easy. Most were slaves, prisoners of war, or hardened criminals, therefore they were not free men. Often times they were trained and forced to take part in the events, hoping for their freedom if†¦show more content†¦An individual on average would fight about three times a year, and for the rest of the time travel with the troop. The troops swore an oath to their master, and traveled from city to city looking for work (Roman Gladiator). The social c lass of the Gladiators was rather ironic in itself. On one hand they were considered slaves, thats the lowest class in a social structure, but on the other hand, some gained popularity and were looked upon as great warriors and heroes. Some rose to celebrity status in a short time as in the movie when Maximus became a hero to the public eye, worthy of praise of greater importance than even the king himself. In the movie this was a direct result in the downfall of Commodus, but this isnt factual, as Maximus is a fictional character. It just demonstrates the influence the Gladiators had on the public eye, he was the ‘Rockstar of the Roman Empire. Like anything else, these shows were often times politically based to gain support for an Emperor. Aside from this they made for great entertainment to divert ones thoughts away from everyday troubles. What a better way than to see masses of people brutally slaughtered. In reality and the movie alike, the gladiators wore crude armo r, not of military status to depict the difference in class. Nonetheless they were equipped with the armor andShow MoreRelatedThe Gladiator Of The Roman Empire1150 Words   |  5 PagesScott Galati Mr. Berger World history 1010 11/30/14 Roman Gladiators The Romans liked watching other people die; their gladiator games were there live entertainment. It is believed that the first gladiators were slaves who were made to fight to the death at the funeral of a famous aristocrat, Junius Brutus Pera, in 264 BC. The fight between the two was arranged in his honor. Gradually the gladiator games became separated from funeral ceremonies and were staged by the wealthy as a means of displayingRead MoreWho were the Roman Gladiators? Essay813 Words   |  4 Pages Gladiator The gladiators where the pro football players of their time. They fought in arenas for the people of Rome’s entertainment. 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