In every society, some form of entertainment is present. From board games to athletic events to theatrical spectacles, people throughout time have sought ways to occupy their leisure time. In all of the ancient societies I have studied, none has enjoyed a form of entertainment as brutal as the gladiatorial games of ancient Rome.

Gladiatorial games consisted of men fighting with spears and swords against each other until one of them killed the other. Games would be held all day with the main feature being the contests where trained fighters would fight to their deaths. Trained in gladiatorial schools, slaves and criminals made up most of the gladiators. Sometimes even free men lured by the possibility of rewards would volunteer for these games. Gladiators fought even when they were wounded, with spears sticking into their legs, while still holding up their shields trying to escape death.

At other "Games," men would measure their strength against wild animals. The animals were driven into the coliseum through a tall doorway at one end, and the fighters came in from all aro

When the day's events would be just about over, barred doors were opened and hundreds of worn out and half naked Jews of all ages would be driven into the center of the arena. The crowds would then scream for more barred doors to be lifted so that starved, man-eating lions and tigers could be released to attack the unarmed prey. After all the events of the day were finally over, mounds of corpses would be removed and armies of slaves would prepare the arena for the next day. This practice, lasted for days, and went on for years.

The Games were part of the Roman's entertainment program and therefore part of their culture. The people who created and promoted these events benefited from them financially. The visitors paid a fee to visit the Games in the amphitheater and therefore contributed to the wealth of some civilized individuals. The ones who participated readily were the men who tried to achieve popularity and success. Sound familiar?

Some common words found in the essay are:
Rome Gladiatorial, Rome Tracks, Games Roman's, Aggressive Sports, Circus Maximus, gladiatorial games, form entertainment, barred doors,
Approximate Word count = 787
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)