Amhitheatre
The amphitheatre was the main source of free entertainment for all social groups in Roman times. The most popular event to watch at the amphitheatre was the blood games. The blood games consisted of boxing, gladiator combat and wild beast shows; these were either man vs. animal or animal vs. animal. The largest amphitheatre that was excavated was found in Pompeii and seated around 15-20,000 people. During the excavations there were many inscriptions, mosaics and wall paintings about the shows that were put on for the people.
Under the seating of the stadium were barracks, this is where the gladiators prepared before entering the arena. During the excavation of Pompeii’s amphitheatre, 60 gladiators were found in and near these barracks. This could be because they thought it would be a safe place to hide from the falling ash and chaos outside. There were also many parts of the gladiator outfits found.
The eruption preserved these grounds and kept them in almost perfect condition. The barracks being preserved in ash has given historians information on what weapons the gladiators used and what protection they had invented. Although this architecture has given information about the Roman social life to archaeologists that others have not, it does still have its limitations. The events that occurred in the Amphitheatre were only recorded via paintings and mosaics, this means historians have had to annotate the photos and retell the stories as well as they can.
Under the seating of the stadium were barracks, this is where the gladiators prepared before entering the arena. During the excavation of Pompeii’s amphitheatre, 60 gladiators were found in and near these barracks. This could be because they thought it would be a safe place to hide from the falling ash and chaos outside. There were also many parts of the gladiator outfits found.
The eruption preserved these grounds and kept them in almost perfect condition. The barracks being preserved in ash has given historians information on what weapons the gladiators used and what protection they had invented. Although this architecture has given information about the Roman social life to archaeologists that others have not, it does still have its limitations. The events that occurred in the Amphitheatre were only recorded via paintings and mosaics, this means historians have had to annotate the photos and retell the stories as well as they can.
Pompeii Amphitheatre
The class structure was reinforced everywhere, especially in the amphitheatre. Seats are located around the outside of the centre of the amphitheatre. The rich sat closest to the front with the best views, middle class behind them, then the poor, and lastly the slaves.
Centre of the amphitheatre, this is where the fighting would have taken place.
Entrance to the battle grounds, from the barracks
Gladiators
Here we can see what looks like gladiator boxing. This is when two gladiators enter the arena with what looks like a small shield. They then fight to the death.
This is an example of what gladiator combat would have looked like. This is when 2-3 gladiators are put in the arena to fight to the death. They appear to have swords, a shield, head arm and shin protection.
This is an example of what gladiator combat would have looked like. This is when 2-3 gladiators are put in the arena to fight to the death. They appear to have swords, a shield, head arm and shin protection.
Animal combat was one of the more popular events to watch. This was when a man and animal fort to the death, or when two animals were made to fight each other to the death. Usually the man vs. animal combat resulted in many innocent animals being slaughtered. In the animal vs. animal combat it was most likely for the winning animal to be killed anyway.
In both of these mosaic artifacts we can see the different types of gladiator fighting. If it wasn’t for Mount Vesuvius preserving these mosaics they would have most likely have been destroyed by the elements or social change. If that had happened historians would have no primary evidence that gladiators existed and they could have been passed off as a myth. Although these sources have given a large variety of information about the types of fighting, they have their limitations as there is no descriptions of what happens to the winner of the fight for the man, although it is thought that the animals were killed anyway.