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New Indian Express, India
October 4, 2012 Thursday
The warriors of the Roman Empire
CHENNAI
CHENNAI, Oct. 4 -- We all loved the movie, The Gladiator - even those
of us who don't love history found the movie absolutely riveting.
Today, we will delve a little deeper into the fascinating tale of
these tragic fighters who risked their lives to entertain the rulers
and the commoners of ancient Rome.
The gladiator was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the
Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild
animals or condemned criminals. These were no harmless fights and were
fought till death, either of the gladiator or his hapless adversary,
animal or human. Some gladiators were even volunteers who risked their
lives in the arena. Most were slaves who were despised and socially
marginalised and trained for these bloody battles in harsh conditions.
These slaves were segregated even in death.
However, despite their harsh treatment and irrespective of their
origin, the gladiators offered their audiences an example of the
martial ethics of Rome. Thus, by fighting and dying honourably, they
inspired admiration of the commoners and the rulers. They were
glorified and celebrated in art and their value as entertainers was
commemorated in precious and even ordinary objects of art all over the
Roman Empire.
The popularity of these games reached their zenith between the 1st
century BCE and the 2nd century CE and it was only when Christianity
was adopted as the state religion in the 390s, that these games began
to be frowned upon and they finally declined. However, the beast hunts
or the fights between the men and wild animals still continued into
the 6th century.
In the later years of the Roman Empire, the gladiator games provided
their sponsors with extravagantly expensive but effective
opportunities for self-promotion and also offered cheap, exciting
entertainment to their clients. Gladiators became big business for
trainers and owners, for rising politicians and also those who had
reached the top.
The trade in gladiators took place across the Empire and was subject
to official supervision. Rome's military success produced an influx of
soldier-prisoners who were redistributed for use in state mines or
amphitheatres and for sale on the open market. For example, in the
aftermath of the Jewish Revolt, the gladiator schools received an
influx of Jews. The granting of the slave status to soldiers who had
surrendered or allowed their own capture was regarded as a gift of
life and gladiator training was an opportunity for them to regain
their lost honour.
Two other sources of gladiators were slaves condemned to the arena, to
gladiator schools or games as punishment for crimes, and paid
volunteers who by the late Republic may have comprised approximately
half of all gladiators. For those who were poor or non-citizens, the
gladiator schools offered a trade, regular food, housing of sorts and
a fighting chance of fame and fortune. Gladiators customarily kept
their prize money and any gifts they received.
Some female gladiators were also used at times and in 66 CE, Nero had
Ethiopian women, men and children fight to impress King Tiridates I of
Armenia. Female gladiators were probably submitted to same regulations
and training as their male counterparts. Roman morality required that
all gladiators be of the lowest social classes, and emperors who
failed to respect this distinction earned the scorn of posterity.
Published by HT Syndication with permission from New Indian Express.
October 4, 2012 Thursday
The warriors of the Roman Empire
CHENNAI
CHENNAI, Oct. 4 -- We all loved the movie, The Gladiator - even those
of us who don't love history found the movie absolutely riveting.
Today, we will delve a little deeper into the fascinating tale of
these tragic fighters who risked their lives to entertain the rulers
and the commoners of ancient Rome.
The gladiator was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the
Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild
animals or condemned criminals. These were no harmless fights and were
fought till death, either of the gladiator or his hapless adversary,
animal or human. Some gladiators were even volunteers who risked their
lives in the arena. Most were slaves who were despised and socially
marginalised and trained for these bloody battles in harsh conditions.
These slaves were segregated even in death.
However, despite their harsh treatment and irrespective of their
origin, the gladiators offered their audiences an example of the
martial ethics of Rome. Thus, by fighting and dying honourably, they
inspired admiration of the commoners and the rulers. They were
glorified and celebrated in art and their value as entertainers was
commemorated in precious and even ordinary objects of art all over the
Roman Empire.
The popularity of these games reached their zenith between the 1st
century BCE and the 2nd century CE and it was only when Christianity
was adopted as the state religion in the 390s, that these games began
to be frowned upon and they finally declined. However, the beast hunts
or the fights between the men and wild animals still continued into
the 6th century.
In the later years of the Roman Empire, the gladiator games provided
their sponsors with extravagantly expensive but effective
opportunities for self-promotion and also offered cheap, exciting
entertainment to their clients. Gladiators became big business for
trainers and owners, for rising politicians and also those who had
reached the top.
The trade in gladiators took place across the Empire and was subject
to official supervision. Rome's military success produced an influx of
soldier-prisoners who were redistributed for use in state mines or
amphitheatres and for sale on the open market. For example, in the
aftermath of the Jewish Revolt, the gladiator schools received an
influx of Jews. The granting of the slave status to soldiers who had
surrendered or allowed their own capture was regarded as a gift of
life and gladiator training was an opportunity for them to regain
their lost honour.
Two other sources of gladiators were slaves condemned to the arena, to
gladiator schools or games as punishment for crimes, and paid
volunteers who by the late Republic may have comprised approximately
half of all gladiators. For those who were poor or non-citizens, the
gladiator schools offered a trade, regular food, housing of sorts and
a fighting chance of fame and fortune. Gladiators customarily kept
their prize money and any gifts they received.
Some female gladiators were also used at times and in 66 CE, Nero had
Ethiopian women, men and children fight to impress King Tiridates I of
Armenia. Female gladiators were probably submitted to same regulations
and training as their male counterparts. Roman morality required that
all gladiators be of the lowest social classes, and emperors who
failed to respect this distinction earned the scorn of posterity.
Published by HT Syndication with permission from New Indian Express.