Page 35 - SYTYGIB: Ancient Rome

Even children could be brought in to fight on special occasions, although thankfully this was rare. Children saw gladiators and charioteers as hErOeS in much the same way that sports stars are heroes for today’s children. The fights may have been gRuEsOmE and bLoOdThIrStY but interest in them was encouraged from a young age – a terracotta baby’s bottle found in the ancient Roman town of Pompeii is decorated with the figure of a gladiator. What next? A sword instead of a rattle?
So while you might enjoy playing sports in school, just think yourself lucky that most of them don’t end up with you as a LeOpArD’S LuNcH.
Maximus! Can I get your autograph?
FANCY THAT!
When a person started at gladiator training school (voluntarily or not), they had to make a vow to allow themselves to be burned, whipped and killed with steel (GULP!), and gave up the rights to their life. They became the property of their schoolmaster, although they did get to keep most of the money they earned in fights and could become very rich.
31
gladiators