jjares reviewed The Roman Games: A Captivating Guide to the Gladiators, Chariot Races, and Games in Ancient Rome on + 3429 more book reviews
It is surprising that people would find tearing another person apart, or even an animal apart, as entertainment. However, it seems that Romans looked forward to entertainment after Roman pagan rituals or funerals were held. At first, it seems that after the ritual killing of an animal (to pay homage to a god), animals and gladiators marched around. Before long, teams of gladiators were supplying the entertainment as part of a political gathering.
These entertainments had athletic events in the early days, similar to the Greek Olympics, along with cirque-type acts. But they changed and became more dangerous because it took more to get a crowd to convene. Chariot races were very popular.
Before Christianity became the faith of the country, Christians were slaughtered for entertainment, along with Jewish slaves, political dissidents, and common thieves and murderers. I thought the explanation of the reenactment of wars and naval battles must have been wildly expensive to pull off. Some of the most provocative acts were the reenactments of famous plays with the star being the one eventually killed (the original snuff films - without film).
Women gladiators had a limited run because gladiators were supposed to be from the lower classes and it was considered unseemly to have women demoted to the lower classes. However, some of the Roman leaders were very fond of these acts. It seems that thousands of animals were slain during these games; what a horrible and gory sight to see so much death in the Colosseum.
It wasn't until the Romans converted to Christianity and intellectuals began to question the carnage, that the games disappeared.
These entertainments had athletic events in the early days, similar to the Greek Olympics, along with cirque-type acts. But they changed and became more dangerous because it took more to get a crowd to convene. Chariot races were very popular.
Before Christianity became the faith of the country, Christians were slaughtered for entertainment, along with Jewish slaves, political dissidents, and common thieves and murderers. I thought the explanation of the reenactment of wars and naval battles must have been wildly expensive to pull off. Some of the most provocative acts were the reenactments of famous plays with the star being the one eventually killed (the original snuff films - without film).
Women gladiators had a limited run because gladiators were supposed to be from the lower classes and it was considered unseemly to have women demoted to the lower classes. However, some of the Roman leaders were very fond of these acts. It seems that thousands of animals were slain during these games; what a horrible and gory sight to see so much death in the Colosseum.
It wasn't until the Romans converted to Christianity and intellectuals began to question the carnage, that the games disappeared.
