Contrast of Romes Gladiatorial Games Agressive Sports of Today essays

Contrast of Romes Gladiatorial Games Agressive Sports of Today essays The Contrast of Rome's Gladiatorial Games In every society, some form of entertainment is present. From board games to athletic events to theatrical spectacles, people throughout time have sought ways to occupy their leisure time. In all of the ancient societies I have studied, none has enjoyed a form of entertainment as brutal as the gladiatorial games of ancient Rome. Gladiatorial games consisted of men fighting with spears and swords against each other until one of them killed the other. Games would be held all day with the main feature being the contests where trained fighters would fight to their deaths. Trained in gladiatorial schools, slaves and criminals made up most of the gladiators. Sometimes even free men lured by the possibility of rewards would volunteer for these games. Gladiators fought even when they were wounded, with spears sticking into their legs, while still holding up their shields trying to escape death. At other "Games," men would measure their strength against wild animals. The animals were driven into the coliseum through a tall doorway at one end, and the fighters came in from all around the floor. Criminals of all ages and sexes were sent into the arena without weapons to confront animals who would tear them apart, assuring their ultimate death. Sharp swords and daggers would then be brought in. So serious were these fights that the weapons would be presented to the Emperor to test their sharpness. With each and every type of game, the crowds would be merciless, crying for more gladiators and bloodshed. When the day's events would be just about over, barred doors were opened and hundreds of worn out and half naked Jews of all ages would be driven into the center of the arena. The crowds would then scream for more barred doors to be lifted so that starved, man-eating lions and tigers could be released to attack the unarmed prey. After all the events o ...