The Gladiators History's Most Deadly Sport

by Meijer, Fik

• ISBN13: 9780312348748
• ISBN10: 0312348746
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-11-29
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books

Summary

"Meijer traces the origins of the gladiators over 2,500 years, from the initial belief that their blood spilled on a grave would sustain the dead on its journey to the underworld. Yet, as centuries passed and the Roman Empire grew, gladiators became part of vaster, more brutal entertainments staged by successive emperors eager to manipulate the public with "bread and circuses" and to exhibit their supreme power over men and animals, life and death."--BOOK JACKET.

Author Biography

FIK MEIJER is a Professor of Ancient History at the University of Amsterdam and is the author of Emperors Don't Die in Bed. His next book will be a study of Rome's charioteers.

Table of Contents

Chronology	xv
Introduction	1	(12)
How the Gladiator Games Evolved	13	(26)
Chariot Races and Plays	18	(7)
Early Gladiator Fights	25	(5)
Spartacus	30	(3)
Gladiator Games under the Early Emperors	33	(6)
The Gladiators	39	(57)
Their Prestige	39	(3)
Their Backgrounds	42	(8)
Their Training	50	(8)
Their Life Expectancy	58	(10)
Their Love Life	68	(8)
Female Gladiators	76	(3)
What Did It All Cost?	79	(7)
Types of Gladiator	86	(10)
The Scene of Action	96	(39)
The Building of the Colosseum	99	(9)
Safety	108	(5)
Comfort	113	(3)
Copies of the Colosseum	116	(5)
The Animals	121	(14)
A Day at the Colosseum	135	(41)
The Morning Programme: Hunting and Animal Fights	138	(9)
The Interval Attractions: Executions	147	(12)
The Afternoon Programme: Gladiator Fights	159	(17)
Sea Battles (Naumachiae)	176	(8)
Dead Meat	184	(10)
Gladiator Burials	184	(4)
Carcasses: Disposed of or Eaten?	188	(6)
The End of Gladiator Shows	194	(26)
Objections to Gladiator Fights	195	(4)
The Demise of Gladiator Shows	199	(9)
The Decline and Fall of the Colosseum	208	(12)
Gladiator Films	220	(12)
Spartacus	223	(3)
Gladiator	226	(6)
Epilogue	232	(4)
Glossary	236	(4)
List of Amphitheatres	240	(3)
References	243	(8)
Bibliography	251	(4)
Index	255