Gladiator fights were one of the most important spectacles in Rome, there was no shortage of fans fanatically devoted to gladiators. History has recorded the disastrous consequences of this passion – v 27 r. n.e. During the competition in Fideny, a poorly constructed arena collapsed, burying 50,000 people under the rubble. people.
However, fans were not limited only to arenas. Archaeological discoveries from Pompeii have revealed that even taverns were decorated with paintings depicting brutal fight scenes. There were also gladiators topic of everyday conversations – the Roman writer Petronius in his satire “Satyricon” presented a banquet where guests animatedly discuss the characteristics of various warriors. Motifs related to gladiators also decorated wine glasses, so the theme of fights was an integral part of social life.
The fascination with gladiators was also a source of violence. They broke out in Majorca during the times of Emperor Tiberius riots due to the lack of gladiators at the funeral of a local notable. In Pompeii, however, v 59 r. p.n.e., local residents attacked their neighbors from Nuceria during the competition, which led to a ban on organizing fights in the city and the expulsion of the initiator of the riots.
Gladiators as cultural icons
Gladiators were admired not only for their skills in the arena, but also for their appearance. They were given nicknames that emphasized their physical features e.g. Chrysomallos or Xanthos, meaning “golden lamb” and “blond”. They were also the object of desires – the Roman poet Juvenal wrote about the senator Eppia, who left her husband for the gladiator Sergius.
Some of these stories, however, were more a manifestation of elite misogyny than reality. Women were often the authors of fan graffiti in Pompeii, which indicates their equally strong interest in fighting, and not only in the warriors’ beauty.
Gladiators in the eyes of the elite
Gladiators fascinated not only the people, but also the elites. Emperors willingly participated in spectacles to gain the support of the people. We also know that they were also lovers of specific types of gladiators – for example, Titus preferred light “parmularius” and Domitian preferred heavy-armed “murmillones”.
Many literary authors, including Seneca or Saint Augustyn, criticized the shows for their brutality and impact on the viewers’ emotions. Philosophers, however, have often used gladiators themselves as a metaphor for perseverance in the face of adversity.
Sports were more popular in Rome
Ordinary people also expressed their love for gladiators in various ways. Graffiti from Pompeii featured images of warriors with captions that documented their victories, defeats, and the schools where they trained. The passion for statistics accompanied fans even in ancient times. The fans of that time, like those of today, also created organized groups celebrating the successes of their favorites together.
While gladiators are today a symbol of Roman entertainment, contemporary inhabitants were more excited by other spectacles. Usually this chariot races aroused the greatest emotions and were able to cause riots on the largest scale. There were even cases when an ardent fan threw himself on the funeral pyre of his favorite coachman.
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Source: geekweek.interia.pl
