In what ways were gladiatorial games entertainment and in what ways were they combat?

Answer 1

Gladiatorial games were both entertainment and combat. As entertainment, they provided a spectacle for the audience, with the gladiators often performing elaborate and choreographed moves. As combat, they were a form of ritualized violence, with the gladiators fighting to the death in a battle for survival. The games were also a way for the Roman elite to demonstrate their power and wealth, as they were often held in large arenas and were expensive to stage.