Gladiators

This is a short and easily read book which is as revealing as it is enjoyable. It covers the origins of the gladiators of ancient Rome from the Bronze Age world of Greece and Italy, and its subsequent development into the big business of the professional gladiator in the Roman Empire. It is valuable for explaining the reality behind famous films (often very accurate) such as 'Spartacus', 'Troy', and of course, 'Gladiator' itself. Chapter one: the grim and deep roots of gladiatorial combat in the religious human sacrifice of prisoners of war amongst the Scythians of Thrace, the Etruscans, the Greeks who waged the Trojan war, and the early Republic of Rome. (Certain characters in the Roman arena who entered to drag away the dead bodies appeared in costume relating to a god of the dead.) Also covers the less well-known specialist gladiators known as the 'bestiarii', who fought wild beasts in the arena and whose descendents are still seen today in the bull-fighters of Spain. Chapter two: famous Romans, such as Julius Caesar, who were involved in owning and staging gladiator shows; the training schools and methods (such as beefing them up on barley and beans); and the organisation of gladiators throughout the empire of Rome. Chapter three: the technicalities of the different types of gladiator, their weapons and armour; procedure in the arena; the arena itself; and famous re-enacted sea battles. Chapter four: the ambiguous position of gladiators in society, as despised and yet often highly paid celebrities; the attitudes of the rulers and the spectators; the attitudes of the Roman writers such as Seneca and Tacitus (generally moralistic); and the eventual abolition of gladiators after Constantine and the rise of Christianity. There are useful notes and references supplied.

Michael Grant, in his concise summation of the Roman games in "Gladiator," covers the origins of the gladiatorial shows during the Republic until their final end in AD 404 under the emperor Honorius. In this brief work, which consists of many vivid illustrations and citations from classic texts, Michael Grant expounds upon the nature of the Gladiators from their general social origins and stand in society, to their vocation, training, and combats within, or even, outside the amphitheater. The accomplished classical scholar Michael Grant also furnishes a short discourse on the views that philosophers such as Cicero and Seneca--and other prominent figures--had on the games. He also discusses how these spectacles were ultimately forbidden. And finally, he provides a few theories on just how the people of Rome showed such unabashed toleration for these sanguinary spectacles. This work will be a highly informative, quick read, which will be of profound interest for anyone enthralled by the world of classical antiquity.

Published 1995 by Barnes & Noble Books, USA. 124 pages of good info. Many photographs. Michael Grant explains the profession, the types of gladiators and the procedure of the arena. He looks at their position in society and the attitudes of rulers, spectators and writers towards gladiators. Easy going language makes exciting reading. A fine piece of work.

With the movie Gladiator now out I was very pleased to find acopy of this book ............ Mr. Grant is a superb Roman historian, but this book is under 200 pages and is more of a handbook than anything else, but it's a very good handbook. Full of pictures, illustrations and a very readable text Mr. Grant gives the reader a look into the life of the Gladiators and the society which loved to watch them fight and die. For either the general reader or the more involved Roman history buff this book is worth the money.