The Colosseum and Gladiators
The Roman Arena was a place of entertainment for Romans. The games were often brutal and bloody. At first they were
mostly put on for memorials or funerals, but later they were put on for many occasions including birthdays and victories.
The games were paid for by wealthy individuals and were used for that person to gain popularity with the people. Julius
Caesar became very popular by putting on large public games and theatre.
Romans liked watching other people die. They thought that was fun, like
maybe you think going to horror movies or watching Cops on TV is fun.
They also believed that their gods liked gladiatorial fights, so that going to
the fights was a sort of religious experience as well as being fun. Many
Roman people went to big amphitheaters (like our football stadiums today)
to see professionals fight (like boxers today). One of the most famous
amphitheaters was the Colosseum in Rome.
The Colosseum could seat 45,000 spectators. Some people were not lucky enough to have a seat in the Colosseum. If you
didn't mind standing, the Colosseum could hold up to 70,000 spectators! The ancient Romans were great builders. They
built things to last. The Colosseum was built of concrete, faced with stone, as were most amphitheaters. It was built in the
early days of the Roman Empire. It was designed to host huge spectacles. Anyone could attend the events in the
Colosseum.
The Colosseum is where the ancient Romans gathered to watch bloody
combat between gladiators, and battles between men and wild animals. This
is where they threw people to the lions! To see men being killed was very
entertaining to the ancient Romans. On occasion, they flooded the
Colosseum with water, to hold naval battles. During the battles, many
competitors died.
The main attraction in the Colosseum was the gladiators. People called gladiators fought each other, or wild animals like
lions, to the death. Generally, gladiators were condemned criminals, prisoners of war, or slaves. Professional gladiators were
free men who volunteered to participate in the games. Gladiators were paid each time they fought. Criminals who had been
found guilty of murder and condemned to death went into combat without weapons. Criminals who had committed other
crimes were trained in special gladiator schools, called ludi, and they fought with weapons of their choice. They could earn
their freedom if they survived 3-5 years of combat. However, although gladiators generally fought about 3 times a year, few
survived 3-5 years.
When one of the gladiators in a contest was wounded, the crowd went wild.
If one of the gladiators felt he was defeated, he would raise his left hand with
one finger extended. This was to ask for mercy. It is believed that the crowd
voted for death or to spare him by signaling with their thumbs: thumbs up
and the gladiator lived, thumbs down and his opponent was to kill him. The
defeated gladiator knelt at the feet of the winner and was killed. The winner
would receive a prize, such as a golden bowl, crown, or gold coin, along with
a palm leaf that symbolized victory.
Successful gladiators, or those who fought in a spectacular way, were regarded
as heroes, like exceptional athletes are today. They would also become rich
and famous.
Women gladiators, known as gladiatrix, once competed in the arena. Emperor Septimius Severus, who ruled from 193 to
211 AD, allowed women to fight but later banned the practice in 200 AD.
Name: ________________________
The Colosseum and Gladiators
What are big amphitheaters of Roman times similar to today?
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What is one of the most famous amphitheaters?
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How many people could it hold?
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Who were the gladiators?
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How long did gladiators have to survive to gain their freedom?
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Compare and contrast the Roman amphitheaters and gladiators to sports stadiums and athletes of today.
(Give at least 2 pints for each.)
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