By Kitty kat (aka K'lee)Gladiators were loved by the Roman people. For 650 years people gathered in arenas to watch these trained fighters. What most people do not know about the gladiators is that they were not always slaves. Some of the warriors were criminals paying for what they had done and others owed some kind of debt. Even wealthy patricians volunteered to become a gladiator.
The gladiators rarely fought against animals. Warriors known as venatores and bestiaril were left to tangeling wild animals. These special warriors fought everything from deer, ostrich, bears, and even elephants. Animal hunts were opening events for the games, nine thousand animals were killed in a one hundred day ceremony to mark the opening of the Colosseum. Another eleven thousand were slaughtered during a 123 day festival held by emperor Trajan. Most animals were killed for sport but some were taught tricks. Wild animals were a very popular form of execution. Criminals and Christians were thrown to lions, bears, and dogs as the days entertainment. People often ask why and how did the gladiator fights get started? Well the Roman games come form the Etruscan's, but the fights got there start as a blood right at a wealthy nobles funeral. These fights were between slaves or condemned prisoners as a eulogy for what the deceased person had done in their life. The Romans believed that human blood purified the passed away persons soul, these contestants were also used as a substitute for human sacrifice. When Julius Ceasar became the ruler of Rome he staged these fights between hundreds of gladiators in honor of his deceased father and daughter. They were so popular that the government officials started hosting state funded games. The games declined in the 5th century after Rome converted to Christianity. |
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