Sports In Rome
Rome had many different sports: Chariot Racing, Gladiator Competitions, Track and Field, Wrestling, Boxing, Swimming, and Simple Ball Games. These games were often watched in the Colosseum or the Circus Maximus. The Colosseum was mostly used for the gladiators' competitions and could seat 45,000 people, while the Circus Maximus was used for chariot racing and could hold 250,000 people. Chariot Racing
Chariot races were held in a long narrow stone building. Heavy gambling went on during the races and the winner would most likely become very wealthy. The chariots were very light consisting of two to eight horses pulling them. Charioteers usually were slaves that had been trained ...
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to watch bloody combat between gladiators and between men and wild animals. The gladiators were mostly men, who were slaves, condemned criminals, prisoners of war, and sometimes Christians. They were forced to learn how to fight and attended schools called ludi. Special measures were taken to make sure they would not commit suicide. A successful gladiator was praised by poets, his portrait was put on gems and vases, and patrician ladies pampered him.
According to their arms and methods of fighting, the men were divided into various light and heavy-armed classes. For example, the retiarius, clad in a short tunic, attempted to entangle his fully armed opponent with a net and then kill him with a trident. Other classes used different weapons, or rode horses or chariots. When a gladiator had overpowered his opponent, he would look to the crowd. If the waved their handkerchiefs, the man would be spared. If the put their thumbs down, he would be killed.
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"Sports In Rome." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 4 Oct. 2007. Web. 2 Jul. 2025. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Sports-In-Rome/72168>
"Sports In Rome." Essayworld.com. October 4, 2007. Accessed July 2, 2025. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Sports-In-Rome/72168.
"Sports In Rome." Essayworld.com. October 4, 2007. Accessed July 2, 2025. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Sports-In-Rome/72168.
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