Question
They started as funeral functions. Swelled into spectacles to distract people from their poverty. Spawned schools, stadiums, and souvenirs. Made the "thumbs up" sign a thing. And maybe, just maybe, developed one of the world's first sports drinks.
We're talking about ancient Roman gladiator fights!
The first gladiator fights were staged as tributes to nobles who'd passed away. Dictator Julius Caesar made hundreds of fighters battle to honor the memory of his father and daughter. The events became so popular that emperors later sponsored them to keep the poor entertained. The fights also helped ward off any ideas of revolt.
Many gladiators were enslaved people, and some were prisoners. When they fought, it sent a message meant to keep people in line. If you rebelled against the emperor, you could be forced to fight.
There were, however, free men and women who wanted to fight. They signed up to attend gladiator school for the glory of it.
Wait, gladiator school?
Fighting Fortresses
There were more than 100 gladiator schools in the Roman Empire. These boarding schools for fighters were often located in fortresses. They were near public stadiums or amphitheaters where battles took place. Some had heated floors for winter training, baths, and medical facilities.
Ex-soldiers, knights, and senators signed up to train alongside enslaved people who were forced into gladiator school. Enslaved people could earn their freedom by winning battles. But why would a free person want to battle to the death?
Well, like we said earlier, there was the glory. Gladiators were the celebrities of the Roman Empire. There were also prizes. And the idea that trained gladiators always fought to the death isn't true. Gladiators were too valuable to their trainers and the empire. Housing and training a gladiator wasn't cheap. Losing one was like losing money, so these gladiators fought for entertainment, not to kill. Also, a referee was there to call it off if someone was badly injured. When a battle got too rough, referees may have signaled with a fist, thumb pressed on top. Then, the match would be stopped.
Does that mean gladiator battles weren't as bloody as they are in the movies? Nope. They were pretty bloody. But prisoners sentenced to death for their crimes were the ones who had the worst fates. They were thrown into battles unarmed.
The Hostile Thumb
Speaking of thumb signals…a "thumbs up" is a good sign in many cultures these days. Well, in ancient Rome, it probably wasn't. Though there's still some debate, historians think it was likely the signal given by a rowdy crowd. It showed that they didn't want to see any mercy from the referee. The thumb was considered hostile, according to ancient texts. Films often portray it the other way around: A thumbs down signaled the crowd's displeasure. Too bad there's no ancient gladiator game footage to prove it either way!
What we do have are souvenirs, unearthed by archaeologists. Just as you can get ballcaps and foam fingers at a baseball game, there were mementos available for battle spectators. Wealthy fans got trinkets made of metal, gemstones, and other valuables. Clay and bronze figurines were made for the masses.
Gladiator Gatorade
Despite the rules and referees, most gladiators still died young. Some gladiator schools even had cemeteries nearby. In one of these cemeteries, researchers made a discovery about the fighters. They may have had a drink to help them recover from battle. It was like a gladiator Gatorade, but not as tasty. According to the findings, gladiators may have used a mix made from charred plant ashes to promote bone healing. How does a burnt plant help with that? The ashes were full of calcium, which is necessary for building bones.
Gladiator fights were banned in 404 CE, 72 years before the fall of Western Rome. They were expensive and Rome's economy was failing.
Still, these legendary battles and the men and women who fought them live on in art and film. Modern images may not always be accurate, though. The trim, muscular men often featured in movies? That's just one example of something that wasn't really true. Some historians believe gladiators actually packed on extra fat to protect their bodies from slashes.
QUESTION 7
7 / 8
Which passage from the Article best supports the idea that gladiator fighting is not always shown realistically today?
Does that mean gladiator battles weren't as bloody as they are in the movies? Nope. They were pretty bloody. But prisoners sentenced to death for their crimes were the ones who had the worst fates. They were thrown into battles unarmed.
Modern images may not always be accurate, though. The trim, muscular men often featured in movies? That's just one example of something that wasn't really true. Some historians believe gladiators actually packed on extra fat to protect their bodies from slashes.
There were more than 100 gladiator schools in the Roman Empire. These boarding schools for fighters were often located in fortresses. They were near public stadiums or amphitheaters where battles took place.
Just as you can get ballcaps and foam fingers at a baseball game, there were mementos available for battle spectators. Wealthy fans got trinkets made of metal, gemstones, and other valuables. Clay and bronze figurines were made for the masses.
We're talking about ancient Roman gladiator fights!
The first gladiator fights were staged as tributes to nobles who'd passed away. Dictator Julius Caesar made hundreds of fighters battle to honor the memory of his father and daughter. The events became so popular that emperors later sponsored them to keep the poor entertained. The fights also helped ward off any ideas of revolt.
Many gladiators were enslaved people, and some were prisoners. When they fought, it sent a message meant to keep people in line. If you rebelled against the emperor, you could be forced to fight.
There were, however, free men and women who wanted to fight. They signed up to attend gladiator school for the glory of it.
Wait, gladiator school?
Fighting Fortresses
There were more than 100 gladiator schools in the Roman Empire. These boarding schools for fighters were often located in fortresses. They were near public stadiums or amphitheaters where battles took place. Some had heated floors for winter training, baths, and medical facilities.
Ex-soldiers, knights, and senators signed up to train alongside enslaved people who were forced into gladiator school. Enslaved people could earn their freedom by winning battles. But why would a free person want to battle to the death?
Well, like we said earlier, there was the glory. Gladiators were the celebrities of the Roman Empire. There were also prizes. And the idea that trained gladiators always fought to the death isn't true. Gladiators were too valuable to their trainers and the empire. Housing and training a gladiator wasn't cheap. Losing one was like losing money, so these gladiators fought for entertainment, not to kill. Also, a referee was there to call it off if someone was badly injured. When a battle got too rough, referees may have signaled with a fist, thumb pressed on top. Then, the match would be stopped.
Does that mean gladiator battles weren't as bloody as they are in the movies? Nope. They were pretty bloody. But prisoners sentenced to death for their crimes were the ones who had the worst fates. They were thrown into battles unarmed.
The Hostile Thumb
Speaking of thumb signals…a "thumbs up" is a good sign in many cultures these days. Well, in ancient Rome, it probably wasn't. Though there's still some debate, historians think it was likely the signal given by a rowdy crowd. It showed that they didn't want to see any mercy from the referee. The thumb was considered hostile, according to ancient texts. Films often portray it the other way around: A thumbs down signaled the crowd's displeasure. Too bad there's no ancient gladiator game footage to prove it either way!
What we do have are souvenirs, unearthed by archaeologists. Just as you can get ballcaps and foam fingers at a baseball game, there were mementos available for battle spectators. Wealthy fans got trinkets made of metal, gemstones, and other valuables. Clay and bronze figurines were made for the masses.
Gladiator Gatorade
Despite the rules and referees, most gladiators still died young. Some gladiator schools even had cemeteries nearby. In one of these cemeteries, researchers made a discovery about the fighters. They may have had a drink to help them recover from battle. It was like a gladiator Gatorade, but not as tasty. According to the findings, gladiators may have used a mix made from charred plant ashes to promote bone healing. How does a burnt plant help with that? The ashes were full of calcium, which is necessary for building bones.
Gladiator fights were banned in 404 CE, 72 years before the fall of Western Rome. They were expensive and Rome's economy was failing.
Still, these legendary battles and the men and women who fought them live on in art and film. Modern images may not always be accurate, though. The trim, muscular men often featured in movies? That's just one example of something that wasn't really true. Some historians believe gladiators actually packed on extra fat to protect their bodies from slashes.
QUESTION 7
7 / 8
Which passage from the Article best supports the idea that gladiator fighting is not always shown realistically today?
Does that mean gladiator battles weren't as bloody as they are in the movies? Nope. They were pretty bloody. But prisoners sentenced to death for their crimes were the ones who had the worst fates. They were thrown into battles unarmed.
Modern images may not always be accurate, though. The trim, muscular men often featured in movies? That's just one example of something that wasn't really true. Some historians believe gladiators actually packed on extra fat to protect their bodies from slashes.
There were more than 100 gladiator schools in the Roman Empire. These boarding schools for fighters were often located in fortresses. They were near public stadiums or amphitheaters where battles took place.
Just as you can get ballcaps and foam fingers at a baseball game, there were mementos available for battle spectators. Wealthy fans got trinkets made of metal, gemstones, and other valuables. Clay and bronze figurines were made for the masses.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The passage that best supports the idea that gladiator fighting is not always shown realistically today is:
"Modern images may not always be accurate, though. The trim, muscular men often featured in movies? That's just one example of something that wasn't really true. Some historians believe gladiators actually packed on extra fat to protect their bodies from slashes."
This passage explicitly addresses the discrepancy between the portrayal of gladiators in modern media and the historical realities of their appearances and conditions.
"Modern images may not always be accurate, though. The trim, muscular men often featured in movies? That's just one example of something that wasn't really true. Some historians believe gladiators actually packed on extra fat to protect their bodies from slashes."
This passage explicitly addresses the discrepancy between the portrayal of gladiators in modern media and the historical realities of their appearances and conditions.