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[[File<youtube>https: Gladiators_from_the_Zilten_mosaic//www.jpg|300px|thumbnail|left|Mosaic Depicting Gladiators Fighting and a Referee]]__NOTOC__The gladiatorial games of ancient Rome are well-known today due to the numerous films produced over the last few decades where they play a role. The fictional accounts of the gladiators do in fact show a lot of truthful elements of the games, but often mix different events from various periods of Roman historyyoutube. com/watch?v=c4RuWmmt8To</youtube>

===Gladiatorial Games Defined===[[File: Fighting_gladiatorGladiators_from_the_Zilten_mosaic.jpg|300px250px|thumbnail|left|Mosaic of Depicting Gladiators Fighting and a Beast Hunt or <i>Venatio</i>Referee]]__NOTOC__When one thinks The gladiatorial games of gladiatorial events ancient Rome are well-known today, images of men fighting each other with nets and tridents often first come due to mind, but for the numerous films produced over the last few decades where they play a role. The gladiators' fictional accounts show many, images truthful elements of men fighting ferocious big cats and other animals is also evoked. Actually, gladiatorial the games and beast hunts were two but often mix different events, but they were both known as <i>munera</i>, which translated from Latin means “blood sports.” Blood sports became a hallmark of Roman culture from an early point, but another trademark various periods of Roman culture was the tendency to categorize things, which the Romans did with their blood sports. The blood sport of hunting and killing animals for crowds, known as <i>venation</i>, is known from the Roman Republic era (509-first century BC), often playing a prominent role in military triumphs and public showshistory.

Although The reality is that the Romans made beast hunting into gladiatorial games played a public event, its origins can be traced back to major role in Roman culture from the early days of the Near East, where Republic and the kings days of Egypt, Assyria and other kingdoms killed lions to demonstrate their power and virility. <ref> Kyle, Donald G. <i>Sport and Spectacle decline in the Ancient WorldEmpire.</i> (MaldenArchaeological, Massachusetts: Blackwellart historical, 2007), p. 264</ref> The first public beast hunt and textual evidence have allowed modern scholars to be held in Rome took place in 186 BC and trace the evolution of the gladiatorial games from small private occasions that point on they became a regular occurrence in the amphitheaters around the city. The men hunting were associated with religion and killing rituals to the animals were usually free and professionalsmajor events most people think of, but part of the entertainer class so they which were low on for the Roman social scale. <ref> Kyle, pgs. 268-9</ref> The development of most part designed to keep the gladiatorial games is a bit harder people content and to trace, although they also became a part eliminate enemies of Roman culture at an early pointthe state.

The earliest depictions ====Gladiatorial Games Defined====[[File: Fighting_gladiator.jpg|250px|thumbnail|left|Mosaic of a Beast Hunt or <i>Venatio</i>]]When one thinks of gladiatorial combat in Italy are the so-called Campanian gladiator frescoesevents today, which are dated images of men fighting each other with nets and tridents often first come to the fourth century BCmind. Although there is no text that accompanies the frescoesStill, it is believed that they show part for many, images of a funeral game probably fought by volunteers to the first bloodshedmen fighting ferocious big cats and other animals are also evoked. Many other early gladiators Actually, gladiatorial games and beast hunts were probably prisoners of war forced to fight in funeral gamestwo different events, which then evolved into skilled, professional fighters. The name “gladiator” is derived from the name of the sword many of the early gladiators used in the names, the but they were both known as <i>gladiusmunera</i>, indication the martial background of the activity. <ref> Kyle, pwhich translated from Latin means “blood sports. 271</ref>”

===Gladiator Games in Bloodsports became a hallmark of Roman culture from an early point, but another trademark of Roman culture was the Roman Republic===The first gladiatorial games recorded in Rome took place in 264 BCtendency to categorize things, when which the sons Romans did with their blood sports. The blood sport of Decimus Junius Brutus organized an event hunting and killing animals for their recently deceased father. crowds, known as <refi> Kyle, p. 273venation</refi> After those games, there are no more records of gladiatorial events in Rome until 216 BC, probably because is known from the Romans were too preoccupied with the increasingly tenuous geo-political situation with Carthage, which eventually led to the Second Punic War Roman Republic era (218509-202 first century BC). Interestingly, the historian Livy wrote that the Carthaginian general Hannibal conducted his own type of blood sports when he invaded Rome often playing a prominent role in 218 BCmilitary triumphs and public shows. He wrote:

“He formed his troops Although the Romans made beast hunting into a circlepublic event, and had some prisoners, whom he had captured in its origins can be traced back to the mountainsNear East, brought into where the middle kings of it in chains. Gallic weapons were laid on the ground in front of themEgypt, Assyria, and an interpreter was told other kingdoms killed lions to ask if any of them would be willing to fight in single combat if he were released from his chains demonstrate their power and offered a horse, together with the weapons, as the prize of victoryvirility.” <ref> LivyKyle, Donald G. <i> The War with Hannibal: Books XXI-XXX of The History of Rome form its FoundationSport and Spectacle in the Ancient World.</i> Translated by Aubrey de Sélincourt. (LondonMalden, Massachusetts: PenguinBlackwell, 19722007), XXIp. 264</ref> The first public beast hunt to be held in Rome took place in 186 BC, and from that point on, 42 they became a regular occurrence in the amphitheaters around the city. The men hunting and killing the animals were usually free and professionals, but part of the entertainer class, so they were low on the Roman social scale. <ref> Kyle, pgs. 268-9</ref>The gladiatorial games' development is a bit harder to trace, although they also became a part of the Roman culture at an early point.

It is unknown how much Hannibal’s “games” had on The earliest depictions of gladiatorial combat in Italy are the Roman blood sportsso-called Campanian gladiator frescoes, but it cannot be discounted since dated to the Roman blood sports were quite eclectic in their originsfourth century BC. By Although no text accompanies the late Republic gladiatorial games were highly institutionalized – frescoes, it is believed that they show part of a funeral game probably fought by volunteers to the first bloodshed. Many other early gladiators were well-trained and valuable probably prisoners of warforced to fight in funeral games, which then evolved into skilled, who fought in distinct stylesprofessional fighters. All gladiators were dressed as and fought in The name “gladiator” is derived from the style name of one the sword many of Rome’s three the early enemies: Samnitegladiators used in the names, Thracianthe <i>gladius</i>, and Gaul. These three designations were introduced at an early point but were retained as long as gladiators fought in Romeindicating the martial background of the activity. <ref> Kyle, p. 281271</ref>

===When did Gladiator Games and Beast Hunts begin in the Early Empire=Roman Republic? ==During The first gladiatorial games recorded in Rome took place in 264 BC when the Civil Wars sons of the second half Decimus Junius Brutus organized an event for their recently deceased father. <ref> Kyle, p. 273</ref> After those games, there are no more records of the last century gladiatorial events in Rome until 216 BC and in , probably because the early years of Romans were too preoccupied with the Roman Empireincreasingly tenuous geopolitical situation with Carthage, gladiator games and beast hunts went from being minor events which eventually led to big business. Julius Caesar the Second Punic War (100218-44 202 BC). Interestingly, ever the astute and pragmatic politician, saw the potential for using historian Livy wrote that the games for political advantage. In Carthaginian general Hannibal conducted his efforts to combine Roman own blood sports and politics, Caesar ended the tradition of only holding gladiatorial games for funerals and introduced <i>naumachias</i>, staged sea battles, into amphitheaters. Caesar also became known for sparing particularly skilled and popular gladiators. <ref>Kyle, p. 287</ref> The first century AD Roman biographer Suetonius noted this abrupt transition-type when he invaded Rome in 218 BC.He wrote:

“During “He formed his aedileshiptroops into a circle and had some prisoners, Caesar filled whom he had captured in the Comitiummountains, brought into the Forummiddle of it in chains. Gallic weapons were laid on the ground in front of them, its adjacent basilicas and the Capitol itself with a display an interpreter was told to ask if any of the material which he meant them would be willing to use fight in single combat if he were released from his public showschains and offered a horse, building temporary colonnades for together with the purpose. He exhibited wild-beast hunts and stage playsweapons, some at his own expense. . . Caesar also put on a gladiatorial show, but had collected so immense a troop of combatants that his terrified political opponents rushed through a bill limiting as the number prize of gladiators that anyone might keep in Romevictory.” <ref> SuetoniusLivy. <i> The Twelve CaesarsWar with Hannibal: Books XXI-XXX of The History of Rome from its Foundation.</i> Translated by Robert GravesAubrey de Sélincourt. (London: Penguin, 1972), Divus JuliusXXI, X 42 </ref>

After another round of Civil War following It is unknown how much Hannibal’s “games” had on the assassination of CaesarRoman blood sports, Octavianbut it cannot be discounted since the Roman blood sports were quite eclectic in their origins. By the late Republic, gladiatorial games were highly institutionalized – the nephew gladiators were well-trained and adopted son valuable prisoners of Caesar, took war who fought in distinct styles. All gladiators were dressed as and fought in the mantle style of emperor one of Rome’s three early enemies: Samnite, Thracian, and changed his name to Augustus CaesarGaul. Known more for his erudition and ability to read people, both enemies and alliesThese three designations were introduced at an early point but were retained as long as gladiators fought in Rome. <ref> Kyle, Augustus followed Caesar’s footsteps by using a variety of different games to placate the peoplep. 281</ref>

“No one before had ever provided so many, so different, or such splendid == What type of Gladiator matches were shown to the public shows. He records ?==During the Civil Wars of the presentation second half of four games in his own name the last century BC and twenty-three in the names early years of other magistrates who were either absent or could not afford the expenseRoman Empire, gladiator games and beast hunts went from minor events to big business. Sometimes plays were shown in all Julius Caesar (100-44 BC), ever the astute and pragmatic politician, saw the potential for using the various city districts games for political advantage. In his efforts to combine Roman blood sports and on several stagespolitics, Caesar ended the actors speaking a variety tradition of languages; only holding gladiatorial games for funerals and gladiators fought not only in the Forum or the amphitheatreintroduced <i>naumachias</i>, staged sea battles, but in the Circus into amphitheaters. Caesar also became known for sparing particularly skilled and Saepta as wellpopular gladiators.” <ref> SuetoniusKyle, Divus Augustus, XLIIIp. 287</ref>The first century AD Roman biographer Suetonius noted this abrupt transition.

Julius “During his aedileship, Caesar filled the Comitium, the Forum, its adjacent basilicas, and Augustus truly set the precedent for how Capitol itself with a display of the later emperors would material he meant to use blood sports – they would continue to grow in size his public shows, building temporary colonnades for the purpose. He exhibited wild-beast hunts and scopestage plays, truly becoming some at his own expense. . . Caesar also put on a gladiatorial show. Still, he had collected so immense a troop of combatants that his terrified political opponents rushed through a bill limiting the “bread and circuses” number of which they are known todaygladiators that anyone might keep in Rome.” <ref> Suetonius. <i> The Twelve Caesars.</i> Translated by Robert Graves. (London: Penguin, 1972), Divus Julius, X </ref>

After another round of Civil War following the assassination of Caesar, Octavian, the nephew and adopted son of Caesar, took the mantle of the emperor and changed his name to Augustus Caesar. Known more for his erudition and ability to read people, enemies, and allies, Augustus followed Caesar’s footsteps by using various games to placate the people.  “No one before had ever provided so many, so different, or such splendid public shows. He records the presentation of four games in his own name and twenty-three in the names of other magistrates who were either absent or could not afford the expense. Sometimes plays were shown in all the various city districts. On several stages, the actors speaking a variety of languages and gladiators fought not only in the Forum or the amphitheater but also in the Circus and Saepta as well.” <ref> Suetonius, Divus Augustus, XLIII</ref> Julius Caesar and Augustus truly set a precedent for how the later emperors would use blood sports – they would continue to grow in size and scope, truly becoming the “bread and circuses” of which they are known today. ===Blood Sports and Why did the number of Gladiator games increase as the Later Emperors=Roman Empire faltered? ==

As Rome’s political, social, and economic problems continued to increase, succeeding emperors increased the games' number and frequency of the games. For example, under the Emperor Marcus Aurelius (ruled AD 161-180), often thought of as one of the most enlightened emperors, state -funded games comprised 135 days of the 230 -day festival schedule. <ref> Kyle, p. 301</ref> The games became so big that even some emperors, Caligula and Commodus , for example, personally took part. Although those two are among the least popular, corrupt, and ineffective of Rome’s emperors, their involvement demonstrates the increasing cultural importance of the blood sports. And as the games became more popular, they also became more complex in some ways. The Romans' compartmentalized thinking was on full display in their scheduling of blood sports by the early Roman Empire, which usually followed a regular, day-long schedule. The events would usually begin in the morning with a beast hunt or mass execution via animals. The violent spectacles would be interrupted by dancing or athletic competitions at lunch, which was then followed by the main event of gladiatorial combat. Group battles, which were usually fought by condemned criminals who were not true gladiators, were conducted just before the gladiator battles if there were any scheduled for the day. <ref>Kyle, pgs. 312-14</ref> These events could be held in any of the thousands of amphitheaters in Roman territory, but the most visible stadium was the Colosseum in Rome.

By Construction on the early Roman Empire, Colosseum first began under the compartmentalized thinking of the Romans Emperor Vespasian rule (reigned AD 69-79) and was on full display completed in their scheduling of blood sportsAD 80 by his successor and son, which usually followed a regular, day long scheduleTitus (ruled AD 79-81). The events would usually begin in famous stadium was a state of the morning art facility, with a beast huntthe capacity to hold 50, or mass execution via animals000 fans. The violent spectacles would be interrupted by dancing or athletic competitions at lunchIt had seventy-six entrances and 160 passages to make movement easier, which was then followed by the main event of gladiatorial combat. Group battlesand on hot and sunny days, which were usually fought by condemned criminals who were not true gladiators, were conducted just before the gladiator battles if there were any scheduled for was an adjustable canvass awning that covered the daystands. <ref>KyleScarre, pgsChris. <i>The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Rome. 312-14</refi> These events could be held in any of the thousands of amphitheaters in Roman territory(London: Penguin, 1995), but the most visible stadium was of course the Colosseum in Romep.83</ref>

Construction on The size of the Colosseum first began under allowed for a seemingly endless line of blood sports to take place. Thousands of gladiators fought on its soil, and even more, animals were killed for the rule amusement of cheering fans. In the year 107 alone, during the reign of Emperor Vespasian (reigned AD 69-79) and was completed in AD 80 by his successor and son, Titus Trajan (ruled AD 7998-81117). The famous stadium was a state of the art facility, with the capacity to hold 50it is estimated that as many as 11,000 fans. It had seventy-six entrances and 160 passages to make movement easier animals were killed in hunts and on hot and sunny days there was an adjustable canvass awning that covered the standsvarious other games. <ref> Scarre, Chris. <i>The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Romep.82</iref> (London: PenguinTruly, 1995)by the second century AD, pRoman blood sports had evolved into a major industry that was an important part of the culture. 83</ref>

The size of ==Conclusion==Bloodsports are perhaps the Colosseum allowed for a seemingly endless line most intriguing aspect of blood sports Roman culture to take placemany modern people. Thousands The idea of gladiators fought on its soil and even more animals were killed men fighting to the death for the amusement entertainment of cheering fansothers may be difficult to understand. In the year 107 aloneStill, during the reign an examination of the Emperor Trajan (ruled AD 98-117), primary sources reveals that it is estimated that as many as 11,000 animals were killed in hunts and various other gameswas a logical evolution. <ref> ScarreFrom small, p. 82</ref> Trulymodest events, by gladiatorial games and beast hunts were an occasional past time during the second century AD Roman blood sports had evolved into Republic. Still, they became a major industry when the early emperors realized that they could keep the people content. Truly, the idea of “bread and circuses” did not happen overnight in Rome but was an important part of the culturea long and sometimes well-thought-out process.

===Conclusion=References====Blood sports are perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Roman culture to many modern people. The idea of men fighting to the death for the entertainment of others may be difficult to understand, but an examination of the primary sources reveals that it was a logical evolution. From small, modest events, gladiatorial games and beast hunts were an occasional past time during the Roman Republic but became a major industry when the early emperors realized that they could be used to keep the people content. Truly, the idea of “bread and circuses” did not happen overnight in Rome but was part of a long and sometimes well-thought out process.<references/>

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