A world where cities increased taxes to provide larger and more prestigious arenas, and professional fighters were richer and more popular than public officials and most citizens? Once again, history proves that the more things change, the more they stay the same. In this interesting and fast-paced video, Prof. David Potter looks at the role of the gladiators in their time and debunks myths about them in our own. Rather than being forced to fight to the death, fines and penalties were often levied against an opponent if a gladiator died in the arena. While frequently growing wealthy and highly admired by the public, gladiators were in their own social caste among other athletes--at the bottom of the scale, after gymnasts and charioteers, sort of like professional wrestlers today. Also, like professional wrestlers, they wore flashy garb for their fights according to their type: a Samnite wore a visored helmet with plumes and fought with a sword, while a Retiarius wore a kind of fish-styled helmet and fought with a trident and net. (However, history does not record a gladiator ever being elected governor.) An amazing total of forty-four museums cooperated in the making of this video production. For high schools and colleges with world history courses, this interesting tape is highly recommended; public libraries should also purchase for homeschoolers and history buffs. Aud: I, H, C, P. (R. Reagan)
Gladiators: Sports and Entertainment in the Roman World
(1996) 22 min. $24.95 (glossary included). Institute for Mediterranean Studies. PPR. Color cover. Vol. 14, Issue 2
Gladiators: Sports and Entertainment in the Roman World
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