The kids and I have listened to several audio books from a series called The Roman Mysteries by Caroline Lawrence. The one we're currently reading aloud is The Gladiators from Capua. Within the first chapter (or scroll, as it's known in these books) several types of gladiators are identified. There's a handy glossary at the end that explains the particular weapons and armor of the different fighters.
Watching the BBC docu-drama last night, we were struck with how similar the gladiators were to contemporary sports stars. They were hand-picked, trained, sold to other gladiator-training schools, and, obviously, pitted against each other. These ancient men were also desired by the women and wagered on by the men. They enjoyed the perks of the day (e.g., frequent baths and massages) as well as an income that far surpassed that of the Roman soldier.
A true upside - if you were a successful gladiator as well as a slave, and if you fought well enough and long enough, you could buy your freedom. The big downside - dying was a very real possibility each time you entered the arena.
The film also focused on the opening of the Colosseum with its Inaugural Games that lasted 100 days. Our Roman mystery book takes place during these days. We're looking forward to reading more of the story today.
And, of course, to seeing the Colosseum in person.
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