How Bloody Was The Arena?

[caldrail]

Meat? If there was any. Barley was considered an animal feed by soldiers hence a suitable diet for gladiators.

 

I wouldn't be suprised if on rare occaisions a lanista allowed a good man to be killed if sufficiently renumerated

To be fair I have to point out that this is a very unlikely scenario. Both the lanista and the games editor had financial reasons to reduce the death count. The lanista had to buy a replacement, train him, feed him, equip him, and his loss meant no further profit from an experienced man. The games editor on the other hand had to pay a higher compensatory rent price if th gladiator died. Although the crowd were keen to see blood spilled, the organisers therefore were not.

 

There was no moral compulsion to avoid death and injury. Far from it. Roman society was more violent than today and it was an accepted part of life. We read learned romans criticising the games, the contestants, and the crowd, but actually this had less to do with human decency than a disdain for what was considered a lower class entertainment, not really fit for wealthy people even though plenty of them cheered the fighters on.

 

Modern statistics show a grim prospect to anyone embarking on this career. First, you must survive the training process. Although much of this was done with heavy blunt practice weapons there was adequate scope for injury. Those of you who've seen the kirk douglas 'Spartacus' film might remember a rotating post with two bars that alternately sweep at the head and ankles. This is authentic. Training was a very strenuous regimen. In fact, studies reveal that one in three trainees did not complete training due to death or injury.

 

The next big obstacle was the first professional bout, the first time you enter the arena for real. Your opponent is no longer going to pull his punches! Again, statistics suggest that one in three gladiators died in their first fight. Experience is a great teacher and until a gladiator has accumulated this he's at risk of making rash decisions and fatal mistakes.

 

Overall, a gladiator might expect a one in nine chance of meeting a sticky end during combat. Its not clear how many were killed during a frantic fight or were condemned to death after being unable to continue.

 

The average life expectancy of a gladiator is reckoned on four years. This is based on the number of fights survived before death. Therefore, the majority of gladiators would die before their term of service was finished. Without doubt, entering the ring was a risk business and it really does say something about the macho, violent, greedy, and glory seeking mindset of romans from all walks of life.

 

Dead gladiators were buried seperately from everyday folk. This was because of their 'infamy', or lowly status. Even the very successful famous gladiators were treated this way.