Roman Sports |
Roman sports were very important to their culture. Sports were their entertainment, workouts, and activities to do in their down time. Some Roman sports are mild, while others involve bloodthirsty carnage.
Boys would start playing sports at a very young age. They would engage in ball games, wrestling, fishing and hunting, and horseback riding. Romans believed that in order to stay fit and strong, they had to play sports. The Colosseum was a melting pot for all violent sports. From the crack of dawn to the middle of the night, the arena would host unspeakably cruel events such as gladiator fights, execution of Christian martyrs, and fantasy duels. Fantasy duels were fights between fairies, dwarfs, and the disabled. There were also indoor animal hunts, where professional hunters would slaughter mass numbers of wild animals indoors. The animals stood virtually no chance of survival. During lunchtime, executioners would kill Christian martyrs in mass numbers by burning them at the stake, shooting them with arrows, and throwing them to lions. And then there were the gladiator fights. Gladiators would stride into the arena on opposite sides, salute the emperor, and fight to the death. These fights were by far the most popular sport at the Colosseum. Since gladiators usually led a very short life, these fighters were often slaves, former slaves, and condemned prisoners. So there you have it! Roman sports were certainly worth remembering, even though they were more violent than most people would like them. But then again, the sports were not all about carnage. Many were about gaining respect, earning privileges, and making history. |
Wrestling/BoxingWrestling was a very important sport, especially amongst children and adolescents. This sport wasn't too violent, and there were no complicated rules. But one rule was final: you may not make contact with your opponent's eyes.
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The ColosseumThe Colosseum was a grand stadium of sorts for a variety of bloody, inhumane sports and events. The Colosseum was built by Vespasian during his reforms of Rome.
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Gladiatorial FightsGladiators are fighters who specialize in dueling with a specific weapon, usually a sword or a lance. Gladiators would fight to the death in front of a large crowd at a stadium like the Colosseum.
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