Реферат: The Rise Of Gladiatorial Combat In Rome

The criminal was given a small sword, and if he could kill the lion his life was

spared. Another way in which they opened the games was to tie the criminal to a

pillar and lower him into a pit of hungry beasts. After these morbid killings

took place, the animal events would take center stage. The most common of these

fights would be a lion against bear. To make the beast ready for fighting they

would starved the animals and poked them with sticks while in the cage.(5:17)

These events were followed by a break, during this break Gladiatores Meridiane

took place. This event consisted of a fully armed gladiator against an unarmed

man. The object was simple, to kill your opponent, the winner went on to fight

the next combatant. The overall winner was the person that was standing in the

end.(2:88) The afternoon brought about the beginning of the gladiatorial events.

Staged with a dramatic sense of climax, the afternoon started with second rate

displays that were bloodless. These mock fighters were called

paegniarii.(1:176) After these mock battles came the real fights, the tamest of

these would be the hand to hand combats with one opponent. However, most of the

contests were worst, ranging from armed fighters against unarmed, two criminals

versus a gladiator, and even a group of gladiators versus another group.

While the fighters were at grips, their trainers (lanista) stood beside

them and hounded them on much like a modern boxers trainer would. Meanwhile the

crowd shouted commands of their own including beat, kill and burn. When a man

fell, the herald raised their trumpets, and spectators yelled ?Got him! He’s had

it!’ (habet, hoc habet). The fallen fighter if he was in a state to move, laid

down his shield, and raised one finger of his left hand for mercy. The decision

whether his life should be spared, rested with the provider of the games, but

he generally let the crowd make the decision. Thumbs up, and a waving of

handkerchiefs, meant his life would be spared, thumbs down and he would be

killed without hesitation. While African boys raked over the bloodstained sand,

fallen gladiators were taken away. A Charon would verify the gladiators death

and finish him off it was necessary. The costumes of the Charon were designed