Roman Gladiators Essay examples -- Roman History

GladiatorGladiatorial events were a token of the Roman civilization. A brutal form of sacrifice adapted from the earlier civilization of Etruscans, who believed when a person dies, his spirit relies on a blood sacrifice to brook in the afterlife. The first event to adjudge place in capital of Italy was in 264 BC, when Decimus Brutus held a sacrifice to honor his dead father (Roman Gladiator). before long after these events became an undeniable part of the Romans lives, used for political power and universal entertain manpowert. A gladiators life was far from easy. Most were slaves, prisoners of war, or hardened criminals, whence they were not free men. Often times they were trained and forced to take part in the events, hoping for their freedom if they were to conquer their grim fate and survived for a few years (wik). This was depicted in the most recent cinema GLADIATOR. In this film Russel Crowe Maximus starts out as an army general chthonian Marcus Aurelius, until Commudus murders his own father out of spite for his fathers loyalty to Maximus and not him. He then inherits the title of king, and condemns Maximus to a gruesome fate as a slave/gladiator. Though this doesnt sound like the ideal life, to some at the time is was an appealing, so much so that some free men degraded themselves so they could battle in the games. Was it for basic living? peradventure but more than likely it was for the Fame and Prestige of a Gladiator. These free men were known as Professional gladiators.Training was hard for these great warriors, they practically trained at special gladiator schools, the largest of which was connected to the great coliseum by underground passages. Here they learned how to fight skillfull with swords, daggers, nets, chains, and an... ...m. This bulky circular arena was the pinnacle of the Roman Gladiatorial games, and though it isnt fully intact, it is a great reminder of ancient culture. Though today these games attend inhumane and unnecessary, to their ancient culture it was a vacation from everyday stress. counterbalance the Emperor was said to understand that though money and grain would adjoin and individual, large spectacles were necessary for the contentment of the masses (wes civ). Works Cited1. Gladiator. Dreamworks Video. 2005. Directed by Ridley Scott.2. Gladiators. Wikepedia, 2007. http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladiator3. Jackson J. Spielvogel. Western Civilization Third Edition, A legal brief History volume 1 to 1715. 2005 Belmont CA. Wadsworth Publishing4. The Roman Gladiator. Classics Technology Center. 2005. http//ablemedia.com/ctcweb/ pool/gladiator1.html