Реферат: The Rise Of Gladiatorial Combat In Rome

passionate infatuation which teenage females have for pop singers today.

Although gladiators lived relatively short lives it was possible to win

liberation and retire on receipt of the symbolical wooden sword (rudis). It was

also noted that some ex-gladiators moved upwards into respectable smart circles

of local bourgeoisie’s (9:96)

Opposition and Abolition

It was probably assumed that the munera would go on forever, and that

nothing would stop their growth. With the rise of Christianity a religious

presence lingered about such contests once again. The Roman ruling classes

began to view these contest with a favorable eye. The excuse of encouragement

to warlike toughness continued to be put forward until the eve of the Middle

Ages, although it started to become lame and inhumane. Another purpose present

in the minds of Rome’s rulers was the desire that potentially unruly and

dangerous city population should be amused and kept quiet. They should be given

entertainment that they wanted, no matter how disgusting if might be.

The games gradually lost its original intentions and connections to the

earlier funeral games. Once defenseless human beings are thrown to wild

animals, the original purpose is lost, the purpose now is blood-thirsty

spectators viewing inhumane, unjust executions. (2:87) The new religion however

ended them for good. With the rise of emperor Constantine and Christianity came

the fall of the gladiatorial spectacles. In AD 326, Constantine abolished

gladiators’ games altogether. He also stated that all criminals who would have

in the past have been enrolled for the games must in the future be condemned to

forced labor in the mines instead. By the end of the fourth century,

gladiatorial shows had disappeared from the Eastern Empire. (2:87)

Bibliography

1. Cowell, F. Everyday Life in Ancient Rome. London: B.T Batsford Ltd., 1961.

2. Dining, M. A History of Physical Education: Ancient Rome. Toronto: Captus

Press, 1987.