Entiertainment in Anceint Rome

Entertainment in Ancient Rome

Gladiators have been apart of Ancient Rome and its traditions for thousands of years. People all around Rome would come to see spectacles also including animals form exotic lands fight, and naval reenactments. Roman Holidays going back to the 2nd century featured gladiators fight; it was usually put on by the state for the people's (and the emperors) entertainment. The fights had a religious component to them, many of the deaths were scarifies for the gods or also a show of worship. The Roman Gladiators originated not from Rome but from the Etruscans. The Etruscans would usually put on a show when a king of war or a leader died. The Romans picked up this tradition and modified to their own. They made the fights more compatible for huge masses (and their entertainment), and they also made it possible to be able to continue fights through the years. Many of these adjustments were adding some drama into it and training the gladiators to fight and give on a show. But as the Etruscans did the Romans held a funeral service for the dead gladiators. Through the times gladiator shows were constantly trying to be halted by some parts of government. During the rise of the senate they limited it to two shows a year. But the people got around mostly by the help of emperors. During Augustus' reign though he only held 8 gladiator shows; he reigned for 60 plus years so you do the math.
The gladiators would be trained to fight since they were very young. They would start with wooden swords and mannequins and work their way up. At the age of about 15 the gladiators would start to fight real people with wooden swords, and after they master that the practice fight with real swords. After many years of practice they are ready for the games. The life of a gladiator was like the life of a person in the circus, although they don't travel. They wouldn't be paid but they would have room and board, paid by the state. After a great gladiator is done, he may have been killed or released, there would be a ceremony held for them by the people. Gladiators became an icon for Rome because of it's uniqueness and the tradition it gave Rome. With out the Gladiators the life style would have been very different for the Roman people, and Rome could have been very different today.