Roman Spectacles:

General knowledge of gladiators:

A gladiator in ancient times was an armed combatant who entered gladiatorial arenas to entertain the Roman Republic and Roman Empire for violent, gore and bloody purpose, all in which was to keep the people of Rome entertained. Majority of gladiators were slaves and were usually sold to gladiatorial schools for training where they'd be taught in the art of fighting.

These schools were costumed to harsh conditions of the slaves as there were trained endlessly to become fighting machines. Even though majority were slaves, there is evidence of gladiators who also volunteered for the fame and glory.

Gladiator battles was a means for the people of Rome to be entertained and was seen as much like today with out advertisement at sporting games as a way for the senate and politicians to be elected and used these matches to seek votes. At these battles bread and water would be given away free to also keep the people happy with evidence of bakery shops being advertised at the games.

These gladiators were considered heroes among the general population of room with even evidence of souvenirs sold at gladiatorial battles, they usually comprised of miniature copper soldiers. If the gladiators were able to win their freedom they'd receive a wooden sword, which they must have in their procession at all, times.

Rogerson interview

* Colosseum, a monument to imperial power * The most influential arena 'colosseum' * Vespasian built shops and buildings for the people over Nero's land to show he was anti-Nero * Took money from Jerusalem, Vespasian gives the wealth back to the people to gain public approval * Originally called Flavium Amphitheatre * Bring all these animals to the arena just to kill them symbolises the Roman imperial power * Gladiator merchandise; lamps and figurines (gives impression they are standing in society, considered famous, they are swooned over by the women) * 4 Gladiatorial camps around Rome, authorised by the emperor

* Moral quams about gladiator fights with philosophers said if you go to the gladiatorial games, will it destroy your rational or compassionate thought * Shows were about the emperor * 550 years gladiator games last because it was expensive to maintain, train, import and look after everything * Rome is a service area not an industrial * The public didn't like Commodus fighting as a gladiator it was degrading to the citizens

A Typical Day at the Colosseum
The colosseum usually hosted one day events
The day began well before sunrise, with the animals brought into the city and prepared for the arena
The arena's surface was prepared with clean sand, boulders and trees to create a setting
Those who weren't well off had to arrive very early in the bid to grab the best seats Novelty Events The events began at around 9am with a series of novelty performances
These performances involved acrobats and tamed animals and fights between dwarves, blind people, women and children with wooden swords
The emphasis of these events was comedy rather than killing Wild Beast Hunts The next event was the wild beast hunt, where the bestiarii slayed many beasts with their spear.
The next event was the animal combats, where different types of animals were matched up against each other
Often these animals had to be encouraged to fight by whipping or prodding the beasts
Once the slaying of the beasts had ended, slaves came on and removed the hundreds of carcasses and the odd human body from the arena
The boulders and trees were removed and the sand was replaced and raked Public Executions At midday, the Colosseum was used as a court of law for the punishment of criminals
Public executions were performed, with the use of crucifixions, prisoners being burnt alive and the prisoners being exposed to wild animals ways being used as entertaining ways to get rid of these