Rome was an empire that was founded off of the death and destruction of other empires. This capacity for violence by their empire is well known throughout history by all. Whether it was the Spartan army at the Battle of Thermopylae or the destruction of Carthage, the Romans are renowned for their violence. This sense of violence was also apparent in their cities as gladiatorial games quickly became a centerpiece for Roman society and history. The gladiatorial games were not initially designed to serve as entertainment for the masses. Gladiatorial fights were initially held after the death of someone. These fights were usually held at the funeral and were seen as a sort of sacrifice to appease pagan gods. These fights became part of the ritual
