The construction utilized a careful combination of types: concrete for the foundations, travertine for the piers and arcades, tufa infill between piers for the walls of the lower two levels, and brick-faced concrete used for the upper levels and for most of the vaults. Roman concrete vaults were extraordinarily strong. The real strength of the structure was in the vaults; the facing could
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fall away and still leave the structure intact, “firmness”. The way the building elements were arranged provides “delight”.
Part 2 - Essay
Discuss the role of the Gladiators and the attitude shown towards them by Roman Society
The ancient Romans are often seen as incredibly advanced and ahead of their time. They are credited to have brought civilisation to the western world, but they regarded the slaying of gladiators as a form of entertainment. I will examine the role of the Gladiator and examine the society that accepted such barbarity without question.
Today, the idea of Gladiators and of fighting to the death whilst watched and applauded by an eager audience seems barbaric and totally alien to our society. Yet, to the Romans the whole institution of the arena and the games were defining features of their civilisation. In general no voice would question the morality of the combat and being a Gladiator was a profession with no shame or resentment attached.
The Romans believe that the first gladiators were slaves, made to fight to the death at the funeral of an aristocrat, Junius Brutus Pera in 264BC. The fight
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was arranged by the heirs of the aristocrat to honour his memory. Over time the gladiatorial spectacle became a form of entertainment, staged by the rich as a means of displaying their power and influence over the local community. No longer used as a means of honouring the dead, the gladiator spectacles had a role in political life of the Roman elite. The political purpose became increasing complex over time.
What gladiators did and what they were trained to do was kill and die well. These were tasks of extraordinary urgency for Romans. A Roman at the age of 20 knew he would probably die before he was 30, and he wanted to meet death with honour and dignity. He could observe gladiators do it in the arena. Conversely, as members of a relentlessly militaristic culture, Romans valued the art of killing in a way we simply don't understand. Those who choose the life of a Gladiator, although they were outnumbered by those forced, could acquire status, popularity and fame. It was not un-common for emperors as well as empresses to develop erotic obsessions with the Gladiators, fuelled by the charisma and power of the Gladiator events.
Most Gladiators were slaves. They were subjected to Gladiator schools, involving rigorous training. They were fed on high energy diets and given expert medical attention. They were “owned” by their trainer, or Lanista and
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were an expensive investment. Those who choose the life of a Gladiator were made to take the Gladiator oath. This oath meant that the Lanista had total - control over the Gladiators life, they to become slaves.
The importance of the role of the Gladiators in Roman society is underlined by the depiction of them in art forms of the time. They were considered worthy to be immortalized in works such as mosaic, some of which were found in villas in Germany. The Nennig Mosaic shows scenes of the arena. These form part
of the evidence for what went on in the actual battles. The evidence in The Nenning Mosaic seems consistent with other art of the time. The Gladiators are portrayed as strong individuals, fighting animals or each other. We know from these mosaics and from surviving skeletons that the Gladiators aimed at major arteries under the arm and behind the knee, they also tried to batter their opponent’s skull. Though dramatic at the time the events have been recreated in modern day literature, art and film providing some sense of the extraordinary events.
As well as visual evidence of the gladiators and the games, the more educated elite were able to express their view in written form. Cicero, a famous lawyer and politician living in the time of the late Roman Republic
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provides us with written evidence that there were contrary opinions about the games. He expressed reservations about the games.
“If some bodily pain or weakness of health has prevented your coming to the games, I put it down to fortune rather than your own wisdom: but if you have made up your mind that these things which the rest of the world admires are only worthy of contempt, and, though your health would have allowed of it, you yet were unwilling to come, then I rejoice at both facts - that you were free
from bodily pain, and that you had the sound sense to disdain what others causelessly admire.”
In other written works he portrays that the games were object lessons in strength, greatness and stamina that had made the city great. He recognised that the games played at part in obtaining prestige and power for those in political life.
“My word! You have purchased a fine troop! Your gladiators, I am told, fight superbly. If you had chosen to let them out you would have cleared your expenses by the last two spectacles.”
To be looking from some Christian voice to introduce some ideas of mercy and value for human life, would be looking in vain. Christian fathers scorned the area, not for the brutality of the games but for the lack of self-control of the
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spectators. It would seem then that the entertainment provided by the gladiators attracted people of all faiths and beliefs including Christianity.
The fighting skills of gladiators were an expansion of the militaristic culture of the society. The skills the fighters had were considered something that should be displayed and watched almost as an art form. From a modern prospective it is difficult to understand the culture that enjoyed the games as a form of entertainment. It is clear from the evidence left through arts and writing and the gladiators were an importance element of Roman society. The fact that the stories of the gladiators are still about today, told and re-told underline the impact the whole institution had on Rome and in fact the world.
