Ancient Rome was a clear picture of dichotomy; Rome was considered as one of the most civil societies in the Ancient world- so it would come as a surprise that Ancient Rome’s foundations were built on bloodshed, tyranny by Emperor Lucius Commodus, savagery and slavery. Although to the Roman people, bloodshed was not viewed as a cruelty but rather as a source of entertainment. This is how the Gladiatorial Games were brought upon the Roman Empire. Entertainment in any modern or ancient society has always been a crucial part of its culture. In our modern day societies, we use entertainment such as sporting events, as a way to socialize and take a break from our daily stresses. This was the same in Ancient Rome. Although nowadays, our forms of
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This great piece of architecture was built on the private lake of the former Emperor, Nero, in the hopes of conveying a message of selflessness, as he wanted to please his Roman people. Although Vespasian did not live to see the completion of the coliseum, his son Titus finished construction and opened it to the public for the commencement of the first gladiatorial games held in the Coliseum in 80 AD, with the games running for 100 days. The occurrence of having long lasting games was very common and they would span over many days. The games would consist of comical acts, displays of exotic beasts and gladiators fighting these beasts and each other. The men and women who fought in the games were generally condemned criminals, slaves, prisoners captured from war or even freedmen and women. The only emperor that actually participated in the games was Emperor Commodus. Commodus never let his opponents win because they were poorly trained, and he would never allow his own defeat- he was emperor after all. The fall of the gladiatorial games was a long, and slow process, spanning most of Late Antiquity and was finally banned at the transition between the fifth and six centuries. This was due to the decline of the …show more content…
In the case of Lucius Commodus, Roman Emperor in 177-92 AD, it was also a way to participate in the games. The Roman people thought Commodus to be a cruel and bloodthirsty tyrant, unlike his father Marcus Aurelius. Commodus would always win his battles, being emperor, and would slay hundreds of beasts during his reign of terror; he would call himself ‘Hercules Reborn’. Although Commodus was a nasty, power driven ruler, not all of the Roman Emperors were alike. The early ruler of Rome, Augustus, was not a cruel tyrant. He, like all other Roman leaders, held the gladiatorial games, however limited the number of displays per year to two. Augustus also took a special interest in another form of entertainment- the Olympic Games. Although many of the Emperors used the gladiatorial games to boost their own political status and to boost their popularity with the Roman masses, Commodus was not the kind of Emperor to use the games to make his people
This great piece of architecture was built on the private lake of the former Emperor, Nero, in the hopes of conveying a message of selflessness, as he wanted to please his Roman people. Although Vespasian did not live to see the completion of the coliseum, his son Titus finished construction and opened it to the public for the commencement of the first gladiatorial games held in the Coliseum in 80 AD, with the games running for 100 days. The occurrence of having long lasting games was very common and they would span over many days. The games would consist of comical acts, displays of exotic beasts and gladiators fighting these beasts and each other. The men and women who fought in the games were generally condemned criminals, slaves, prisoners captured from war or even freedmen and women. The only emperor that actually participated in the games was Emperor Commodus. Commodus never let his opponents win because they were poorly trained, and he would never allow his own defeat- he was emperor after all. The fall of the gladiatorial games was a long, and slow process, spanning most of Late Antiquity and was finally banned at the transition between the fifth and six centuries. This was due to the decline of the …show more content…
In the case of Lucius Commodus, Roman Emperor in 177-92 AD, it was also a way to participate in the games. The Roman people thought Commodus to be a cruel and bloodthirsty tyrant, unlike his father Marcus Aurelius. Commodus would always win his battles, being emperor, and would slay hundreds of beasts during his reign of terror; he would call himself ‘Hercules Reborn’. Although Commodus was a nasty, power driven ruler, not all of the Roman Emperors were alike. The early ruler of Rome, Augustus, was not a cruel tyrant. He, like all other Roman leaders, held the gladiatorial games, however limited the number of displays per year to two. Augustus also took a special interest in another form of entertainment- the Olympic Games. Although many of the Emperors used the gladiatorial games to boost their own political status and to boost their popularity with the Roman masses, Commodus was not the kind of Emperor to use the games to make his people