Games and gladiators

Martin van Creveld

doi:10.1017/CBO9781139579872.003

2 - Games and gladiators

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 April 2013

Martin van Creveld

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Martin van Creveld: Affiliation:
Hebrew University of Jerusalem

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Summary

Origins and development

The Roman ludi, best translated as festivals or games, have a long history. Held on fixed days of the calendar to honor some god, they went back at least as far as the monarchy which itself came to an end in 510 BC. Originally they featured a procession (pompa, in Latin). This was followed by chariot races, stage plays, and similar popular entertainments. From 275 BC on, hunts, animal fights, and the throwing of condemned criminals to the beasts were added. Over time, the number of festivals and their duration grew; by the time of Augustus they took up no fewer than sixty-one days each year. Since we know that Emperor Marcus Aurelius (AD 161–80) decided to cut them to 135, his successors must have added even more.

Apparently it was only towards the middle of third century BC that the ludi began to be supplemented by the introduction of life-to-death fights between pairs of specially selected gladiators (from gladius, the short sword that, along with the pilum or javelin, formed the legionaries’ principal offensive weapon). The clearest account of the fights’ origins is found in Nicolas Damascus. A Syrian/Greek historian, philosopher, and naturalist who lived at about the time of Christ, he had been tutor to the children of Anthony and Cleopatra. He was also a friend of Herod the Great and spent the last years of his life in Rome. While most of his books have been lost, fragments of them are quoted in the works of other ancient historians.

Type: Chapter
Information: Wargames
From Gladiators to Gigabytes
, pp. 54 - 96

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139579872.003 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2013

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