1. Ancient Rome Gladiatorial Tradition Braden Sparks

2. This blood bath the Romans called entertainment originated in the year 264bc. The very first gladiator fights were fought to honor Janius Brutus’s deceased father. They are thought to replace out right sacrifice to the gods and to honor the dead

3. The famous Colosseum in Rome. The largest ever created by the Romans. There were many places where private fights took place, but the spectacle of blood and valor became a public frenzy. Magnificent amphitheatres were constructed. The great colosseum of Rome could seat 50,000 maybe as many as 87,000. And the floor could be flooded in order to have mock sea battles. The colosseum held hundreds of games, as well as public executions held before gladiators took the stage in the fight to the death.

4. Gladiators were criminals, slaves and prisoners of war. The word gladiator comes from the Latin word swordsman. Gladiators would fight to the death, in this picture the victor is awaiting the approval of the host of the games whether or not to spare the defeated gladiators life. If he begged for his life (shown by the two raised) sometimes their life was spared due to his prior successes or a impressive display.

5. The Rudis Some gladiators, when victorious and pleasing to the crowd, received money and an award from the host (editor) of the games. The ultimate prize, though, for a lifetime of blood and gore in the arena, presented only to the most famous and victorious of gladiators was the RUDIS. This wooden sword grants freedom to the gladiator. Some gladiators who received the Rudis still continued to fight long after being freed

6. “Those who are about to die salute you.” These famous words capture the heroic nature of these gladiators. They were expected to win and glorify Rome with their victory. Especially when they lost, they were expected to stare death in the face and await the death thrust. The spectators saw men representing a Roman warrior displaying courage, strength and honor. The loser in a fight would hold on to the left knee of the victor who was towering above them holding his blade to the losers right side of the neck so he could pierce into the spinal column. Those who fell on the sands of the arena and died honorably were remembered, those who trembled and ran were ridiculed and given no HEROIC DEATH that gladiators deserved