Gladiatoral Games
The Roman Empire was the undoubted pinnacle of society prior to the Middle Ages, and nothing came close to expressing its might, culture and subjects as the Gladiatorial games did. Views on such Roman sports being cruel and barbaric are merely superficial as these events were deeply integrated within this ancient empire, representing its ideals. Often these were spectacular battles in awe-inspiring arenas which were themselves an architectural masterpiece of those times. Above all, the games portrayed the glory of success, the satisfaction of which nothing else could give.To the Romans, from the Emperor to the commoner, their empire was the epitome of power. These games were showpiece events that displayed the might and glory of victory that Romans hold so close to their hearts, especially so, at a time when war and territorial conquests was getting infrequent. As seen in Gladiator, the sight of a victorious competitor in the arena after a bloody battle brought immense cheering and approval from the fans. Only the best gladiators were deemed appropriate to compete in the Colosseum which greatly raised the games' standard. The replication of these games in the provinces served to highlight the influence these games had and indi
The Colosseum was the largest and perhaps most elegantly crafted structure in Rome, and it was only fitting that such a magnificent arena should stage important events such as gladiatorial games. The retired gladiator, Tigris of Gaul, in the movie Gladiator was definitely revered by the crowd, as shown by his four-horse drawn carriage, his elegant dressing and the roars of approval from the fans. Hence, the spectators were what Rome was all about. Some events were so special and rare that it required advertising to draw its presence to the crowd, such as the competing of female fighters as mentioned in the article about female gladiators. Although it was the Emperor who was in supreme command, the decision of the battles could be said to lie solely in the unified chanting of the crowd. Besides, there were also several classes of gladiators, each unique in his array of equipment and skills such as the essedarii (charioteers), sagittarii (archers) and many others as evidence in the article Gladiators and the movie itself show. Although most things about the Roman civilization have been well documented, it is interesting to note the paradoxical attitude the civilians displayed towards the gladiators. The competitors adorned elegant armor, stylish helmets and wielded well-crafted weapons. As per the readings and the movie, the games served as a tool through which the Caesar could firmly establish his rule amongst the masses. The high regard to this value is more evident when we consider that the gladiators had formal training in gladiator schools to hone their fighting ability and were not just mere street fighters. They could not be simply labeled as sadistic, as they were used to waging war and conquering territories very often. The sponsor of the Games (usually the Emperor) also showed his overall might over the empire by bringing in thousands of exotic beasts from all far flung provinces and having them butchered in the name of sport, as reported in the article Gladiators. The battle arenas themselves symbolized power in the architectural sense. In a way the games "intoxicated" the people and quenched their bloodlust. This, together with the throwing bread loaves won over their loyalty, much like how a person would support the government if presented with tax rebates and incentives.
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