Gladiator Games

Gladiators were professional combatants who fought to the death in Roman public shows which began sometime around 264 BC. Much time, money, and effort was put into producing worthy gladiators. They were sent to training schools owned by the state or by private citizens. These training schools were extremely rigourous. Gladiators were treated like true athletes, fed genorously, provided with medical care, and trained on different weaponry. The weapons they excelled with, were the weapons they eventually used in combat. They achieved much fame and glory if they were continuously victorious. However, death was a constant cloud looming overhead, as each new battle could easily be their last. At times the life of a gladiator was so tolling that many attempted to escape, even if the only means of escape was suicide.

Most gladiators were either slaves or priosiners. Although, by the time Julius Cesar was in power, the gladitorial games had become so popular that free men would engage in these competitions voluntarily. Some were Roman citizens who had lost their estates, while others were men of fortune who either enjoyed the thrill that came along with participating in these matches, or simply wanted to please an emperor by enlisting in these games.

The fascination of the ancient Romans with these gladitorial games has carried on throughout the centuries. Various films such as Ben Hur (1959), Sparatucus (1960), Gladiator (2000), and 300 (2007), have achieved high popularity and gained many fans. There is something babrbaric about the bloody slayings of gladiators for sheer entertainment purposes, yet it keeps the everyone wanting more. Perhaps it is the ancient weaponry; shiny armour, helmets, daggers, and swords that attract individuals. Maybe it is the competition between man and beast. It could also be the gambling, bets placed over who was the best fighter. Whatever it is, the gladiator and the games they participated in centuries ago continues to be a major source of intrigue.