Violence In Roman Violence

Roman Violence Imagine a gruesome accident taking place in front of you, blood, brains, and guts spewed everywhere, but instead of a crowd rushing in to get aid, it’s a stadium full of people ecstatic with bloodlust. This is a wild overview of an everyday scene back in Roman times. Violence played such a huge role in Roman times. The renowned gladiator games occurred at a staggering 230 days a year of bloodshed and extermination, and it is recorded that the audiences would go many sleepless days just to witness these executions. Consequently, violence still plays the same role in society today as much as it did in Rome years ago by creating a ruthless and cruel environment and disrupting the economic system as we see in our media and daily …show more content…
It is still reflected in today’s society, which derails our development into becoming more humane beings by restoring the primitive ways of the Roman Empire. For starters, “If an army unit was judged disobedient or cowardly in battle, one soldier in ten was selected by lot and cudgelled to death by his former comrades” (Hopkins 103). This shows barbarism, by arbitrarily choosing a victim. The Romans’ disciplinary actions made death humiliating with an unjustified method, likewise in today’s times where police can be seen using extreme methods and power-abuse through violence is witnessed by the case of Prexy Nesbitt, who intervened when he witnessed a police harassing a woman and was immediately put at gunpoint for simply putting his car in between the police cruiser and the woman’s vehicle. Now these kind of actions, stops our development, by making citizens afraid of to stand up for other people because of the repercussions. Furthermore, this article states that prisoners were “Forced to fight in gladiatorial contests, or were thrown to wild beasts for popular entertainment” (Hopkins 103) This way of punishment was merciless, by giving the same, brutal, death penalty to the prisoners, regardless of the degree of crime shows extremist methods. This characteristic can still be seen in our law enforcers today. For example, on the recent South California news, two police officers can be seen holding …show more content…
A good piece of evidence from the opposing viewpoint is Julius Caesar’s idea to use the games, “This is a perfect way to try out new weapons and fighting techniques” (Mannix 34), he explains. This piece of evidence is flawed because a progressive society is managed with freedom for its people. Utilizing the games to garner the best weapons and fighting technique may be an advantage to their military but it takes away the freedom from the the Gladiators that are forced into battle against their own will, showing a lack of freedom. Again, another piece of evidence the other side may use is stated in Murderous Games by Keith Hopkins, “Public executions were a gruesome reminder to non-combatants, citizens, subjects, and slaves, that vengeance would be exacted if they rebelled or betrayed their country”. Although this violent method may work in keeping the people compliant for a time, a great community prospers when its people are loyal and dedicated to the wellness of their community. Fear does not breed loyalty, by striking fear among their people. They are creating a society of people concerned with only their individual wellness and self-preservation, hindering any feelings of loyalty to their community. On the whole, as a society we have definitely come a long way from the savagery and bloodlust of the Roman times, but as human beings