Gladiator Research Articles

Envisioning the Panoply of the Roman Torturer

Summary Torture is an important element in the state sanctioned violence of the Roman imperium. Although Romans enjoyed portraying various aspects of daily life with graffiti including gladiatorial combat, they were apparently reluctant to depict the tools used by the torturer. In Roman authors, however, one finds many hints about the nature of the objects that were employed to extract evidence. Although surveys of various implements used in Roman torture have appeared in the scholarly literature, it is worthwhile to gather into one investigation what is currently known and include images of objects that have survived antiquity that are from the panoply of the carnifex. To better envision the suffering of the victims of torture, a new analysis of those tools is warranted.

A Gladiatorial Arena: Incivility in the Canadian House of Commons

A Gladiatorial Arena: Incivility in the Canadian House of Commons

Gladiators and amphitheatre spectacles in the greek cities of the Pontus Euxinus

Abstract tradus Our study proposes to discuss several aspects related to the gladiators attested in the Greek cities of the Pontus Euxinus (Chersones, Histria, Tomis, Callatis, Dionysopolis, Odessos, Byzantion, Sinope, Amisos), such as the names, social status and mentality of these amphitheatre fighters. Our analysis also focuses on the equipment and weapons of the gladiators, their fighting techniques and the various aspects of the organisation of gladiatorial combat. Our research is based on the study of epigraphic and archaeological documents (bas-reliefs). Inscriptions and reliefs attest several types of gladiators, such as retiarius, secutor, scissor, provocator and bestiarius. The names of the gladiators reflect their winning qualities and their physical or moral qualities. Most gladiators were slaves or free men. Documents from Tomis from the 2nd-3rd centuries AD confirm that gladiatorial fights and beast hunts in the amphitheatre are closely linked to the imperial cult. At Tomis, Odessos, Sinope and Amisos, the organisers of these spectacles were at the same time pontarchs and high priests of the imperial cult. Gladiator fights took place in amphitheatres (at Tomis) and other specially designed venues such as theatres (at Odessos). Nemesis and Ares are the patron deities of gladiators.

Gladiatorial Monuments from Thyateira

This study focuses on five gladiatorial monuments found during the surveys conducted at Thyateira in the northeastern part of Lydia. The monuments, all of which date to the Roman Imperial Period and are now preserved in the Manisa Museum, are marble altars depicting a single gladiator facing to the right. The monuments form a group with five other gladiatorial monuments previously found at Thyateira and provide information about the importance and content of gladiatorial fights in the city. The gladiator monuments from Thyateira constitute an important part of the gladiator inscriptions found in Lydia. This suggests that the tradition of gladiatorial fights in the city may date back to as early as the 1st century BC, and that it flourished and multiplied over time. The fact that the city was home to Roman merchants from the early period and the presence of the Imperial cult here must have paved the way for the spread of gladiator fights, a Roman tradition, in the city. We learn from the inscriptions that there was also a gladiator school (ludus) in the city. The city of Thyateira, which seems to have attached importance to athletic competitions and public performances throughout its history, must have adopted gladiatorial games at an early period and made them a part of social life.

Spor İçin Seyirci, Seyirci İçin Spor: Roma’da Atlı Araba Yarışları ve Gladyatör Dövüşleri

Bu çalışmanın amacı, Roma ile özdeşleşmiş başlıca sportif etkinlikler olan atlı araba yarışları ve gladyatör dövüşlerinin köken, gelişim ve değişim safhalarının irdelenmesidir. Roma Uygarlığı’nın ilk ve en uzun ömürlü sportif etkinliği Etrüsk ve Yunan’dan beslenen atlı araba yarışlarıdır. Savaşlardaki askeri başarısızlıklardan kurtulma, şehri hastalıklardan arındırma gibi farklı gerekçelerin kült inançlarla bağdaştırılması, adaklar şeklinde gerçekleştirilen yarışlara atfedilen değeri artırmıştır. Oyunların popülaritesini takımların ortaya çıkmasını izlemiş ancak yarışlar asıl ivmesini Hristiyanlığın devlet dini haline gelmesi sonucu diğer sportif etkinliklerden uzaklaşılmasıyla Bizans döneminde kazanmıştır. Roma’nın diğer popüler etkinliği ise suçluları cezalandırma ve ölülere saygı göstermenin aracısı olan gladyatör dövüşleridir. Dövüşlerin, askeri odaklı devlet yapısıyla uyuşan ruhu, gladyatör sayılarının artmasının ve bir kamu eğlencesine dönüşmesinin tetikleyicisi olmuştur. Savaşçı Roma’nın kült inançlar ve siyasi mücadelelerle harlanan kaba mizacı, kanlı dövüşlere farklı bir yön kazandırmış ve alevini yükseltmiştir. Augustus ve takipçileriyle sistemleştirilen gladyatör dövüşleri imparatorluk döneminde arenaların vazgeçilmez etkinliklerinden birine dönüşmüştür. Ancak Hristiyanlık inancına uygun bulunmayan dövüşler; din adamları, idareciler ve toplum tarafından dışlanarak MS 4. yüzyılda sonlanmıştır. Sonuç olarak Roma, ham olarak aldığı beden faaliyetlerini başta Etrüskler olmak üzere çevre medeniyetlerin etkisiyle yoğurarak askeri devlet ve toplum yapısına uygun sportif etkinliklere evirmiş ve mücadeleye aç seyirci kitlesini, çağdaşlarında görülmeyen, şiddet içerikli etkinliklerle beslemiştir. Başlangıçta dini ritüellerin paydaşı olarak ortaya çıkan oyunlar süreç içerisinde sosyal hayatın vazgeçilmez bir parçası ve iktidar ile halkın buluşma noktası olmuş, seyirci sayısı sürekli olarak artma eğilimi göstermiştir. Oyunların kitle üzerindeki etkisini fark eden iktidar sahipleri ise seyirci odaklı sportif etkinleri politik amaçlarla yüzyıllar boyunca etkin biçimde kullanmaya çabalamışlardır.

The Moral Education and Socialization of Roman Munera

This paper examines Roman munera, and discusses how the games served as a mechanism for moral education and socialization. It approaches munera, and particularly gladiatorial combat from a different perspective as it highlights the positive aspects of these spectacles rather the violence and bloodshed. This paper examines the unique role and status of a gladiator – an individual who was not respected for their person, but for what they represented. This paper will argue that the games, despite their violence, provided both moral education and socialization for those in the audience. They publicly communicated core Roman values to onlookers, while also providing an environment where one’s identity within society was on clear display.

The Vindolanda Vessel: pXRF and Microphotography of an Enamel-Painted Roman Gladiator Glass

Roman glass is well studied and known to have been produced from a mineral soda source and calcareous sand with variation between elements relating to naturally occurring minerals in the sands. While the common characteristics of colourants and opacifiers used in opaque and translucent glasses are well understood, the diverse elemental composition of colouring agents associated with the highly specialised, and largely unexplored, technique of enamel-painted glass has never been firmly established. There remains a significant gap in knowledge of pigments used for this technological innovation which is here addressed through the deployment of non-invasive portable X-Ray Flourescence (pXRF) analysis and microphotography on a unique Roman enamel-painted gladiator glass from Vindolanda fort. This vanguard research has successfully established, for the first time, a palette of pigments associated with this specialist technique. It is now possible to unravel previously unknown information on complex manufacturing processes and significantly expand the repertoire of the pigments bound up in enamelling recipes used to depict the striking iconographic scenes on the Vindolanda vessel and, potentially, other Roman enamelled glassware. The detection of Cinnabar, Egyptian blue, Orpiment and other pigments are ground-breaking discoveries that will have a transformative impact on early glassmaking studies and push the boundaries of scholarship into new directions of analytical approaches in heritage materials science to complement recent success in this field with Raman spectroscopy and other techniques. The methodology is unprecedented and has been validated through the high quality of the resulting data which permits the extrapolation of elemental compositions of enamelling materials from those associated with the base vessel. This unique approach provides remarkable insights that will revolutionise our understanding of enamelling technologies using the Vindolanda vessel as the investigative platform for forgotten practice.

Roman Gladiator Knives: Objectification, Mascotting, and the Material Culture of Sport in Ancient Rome

Roman pocketknives carved in the form of gladiators offer vital insight into the ambiguous status of the athletes they represent and how ancient consumers related to them. Gladiator knives objectified male gladiators as a key site for embodying and grappling with Roman conceptions of masculinity, sex, and enslavement. The knives reflect the popularity of gladiatorial combat as a sport in the Roman Empire, but they also commodified gladiators as mascots: utile bodies rather than autonomous individuals. Gladiator knives suggest how art historical analysis can illuminate the role of sports merchandise as an everyday mechanism of power outside institutionalized sporting practices.

Gladiatorial Spectacles in Crete


 
 
 This article examines the epigraphic and archaeological evidence attesting the staging of gladiatorial and associated spectacles in Roman Crete. The evidence indicates shows held in the capital of the province, Gortyn; in the colony of Knossos, in Hierapytna, and possibly in Chersonesos and Kissamos. Some of the spectacles that took place in Gortyn were extraordinary and very costly, including beast fights, public executions and gladiatorial combats with sharp weapons. The cities that presented these spectacles were leading towns and principal ports for the complex trade networks in which the island was involved, and open to innovation. The wealth thereby accumulated enabled the execution of new public infrastructures in these towns, among them the new type of spectacle building that appeared in the Mediterranean, the amphitheater.
 
 

:Souvenirs and the Experience of Empire in Ancient Rome

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Virtual acoustic reconstruction of the Roman amphitheater of Avella in Italy

In ancient Rome, gladiator fights were very popular. The places where these shows took place were called amphitheaters, due to the particular shape of the elliptical building. Amphitheaters were widespread, and in each city, one or more of these buildings was present. This paper describes the virtual reconstruction of the acoustics of the amphitheater Avella, close to Naples, Italy. This amphitheater was discovered a few decades ago and was only partially rebuilt. Today, it is used for musical performances during the summer season mainly. The plan of the building is elliptical, and the dimensions of the arena are 35 m for the minor axis and 65 m for the major axis. Acoustic measurements were performed in the current state with an impulsive sound source and the acoustic parameters were obtained according to the ISO 3382 standard. Subsequently, from the dimensions of the current state and in analogy with the architecture of other amphitheaters existing today, a virtual reconstruction of the original shape was performed. The virtual model was developed with the architectural acoustics software Ramsete in order to obtain the acoustic characteristics of the amphitheater as it was in Roman times. In particular, the spatial distribution of the acoustic characteristics on the steps where the audience was seated is described and discussed.

Bread and Circuses, Olive Oil and Money: Commercialised Sport in Ancient Greece and Rome

By the application of new definitions of commercialisation and entrepreneurship, it is argued that sport in Ancient Greece and Rome was associated with significant levels of commercial activity. This included regular organised events, large-capacity sports stadiums, professional athletes with trainers and free agency, sports tourism, and gambling on sport. Those providing sport and sport-associated products ranged from petty businessmen, who sold food, drink and accommodation to sports tourists, to the state provision of mass-spectacle sporting events. Although much of the sport provision was not profit-oriented, those who funded games, chariot-racing and gladiatorial combat in the hope of securing prestige and political influence can still be considered sports entrepreneurs as they acted a change agents on the supply side of sport.

The Carceral Universal and the Prison Particular

The Carceral Universal and the Prison Particular

Mormonicity

Mormonicity

Andriake’den Oinophoros Cinsi İki Kabartmalı Seramik ve Düşündürdükleri

Three pieces of embossed ceramic pieces from the oinophoros group unearthed during the excavations in the Port Buildings and ornamentation repertoire of these vessels, which are generally produced using two or more female molds, there are many scenes such as different mythological events, daily life, pastoral and still life expressions, chariot races and gladiator fights. It was determined that the oinophoros were first produced in Knidos during the Augustus Period. Apart from Knidos, it was understood that they were produced in Pergamon in the middle of the 1st century AD and in Iasos in the second half of the 2nd century AD. The oinophoros group ceramics found in Andriake belong to two different forms as phiale/patera and skyphos. As decoration, there are still life depictions with Eros in vintage associated with the Dionysus cult. Andriake samples are dated to the 1-2 century AD according to the typological analogy. It is seen that the Andriake oinophoros group ceramics are in close relationship with the Knidos samples in terms of similar examples, decoration style, clay and lining features. This situation provides important information about the distribution of oinophoros ceramics on the Lycian coasts and commercial connections between cities. It also contains clues as to the centuries and the extent of Myra's commercial connection with Knidos through the port of Andriake.

Collaborative diversified investigation of respective responses of sports person coaches and organizations on criminalization of doping

The study intends to focus on Sports Person, Coaches, Personals working in sports organizations and non-Sports organization from all over India. There are many factors that provide chances to upcoming players to think of adopting dope. The factors that promote dope in young athletes have brought time and again concern of every nation. It is not only in current sporting competition that performance-enhancing medications are used. The ancient Greek Olympians and Roman gladiators compete in Circus Maximums, which dates back to 776 BC, ate mushrooms, plants, and wine and herb concoctions to keep them going during their competition. Prime objectives of the study were to study the relationship between sports persons and coaches attitude towards criminalizing doping and in-house faults and to study the relationship between Sports Organizations and Non-Sports Organizations attitude towards criminalizing doping and in-house faults. Universe of the study comprises peoplein different states in India viz. Punjab, J&amp;K, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar and Manipur. The level of Participation has been spread from inter school to international level. The Experienced has been briefed as playing and working experiences.

Cross of Snow: A Life of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. By Nicholas A. Basbanes

Cross of Snow: A Life of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. By Nicholas A. Basbanes

Wielding Social Media in the Cyber-Arena: Globalism, Nationalism, and Civic Education

Information technology is a tool, and its effects on global citizenship education (GCED) depend on who uses the technology, how it is employed, and for what purpose. In theory, technology use could provide significant benefits toward achievement of GCED goals. Globalization has demanded an educational response — to prepare the young for productive engagement with the emerging global community. Technology could play a positive role in effective GCED. But globalization has come at a cost; it has produced winners and losers. Among the losers are those economically displaced as manufacturing jobs move elsewhere; they are resentful of foreigner and fearful of an uncertain future. For them, global citizenship is anathema. They are susceptible to manipulation by malign forces eager to exploit any perceived rifts in the post-war world order. For them, technology is a weapon, as easily aimed at the aspirations of GCED as another apparent enemy.&#x0D; Identifying how technology can be employed positively in GCED is important, but not enough. Young people must also understand the conflict between globalization and alt-right nationalist populism, much of it carried out in the cyber-arena of the Internet and social media. New technologies have armed adversaries with tools to manipulate opinion and foment disorder.&#x0D; how technology is employed to undermine global citizenship education, as well as the democracies of the West. This they can witness in the gladiatorial combat between globalization and nationalist populism —between democracy and authoritarianism — in the cyber-arena.&#x0D; This article explores how technology is a double-edged sword – a tool for good and a tool for mischief. It draws from current research and news reporting on methods and effects of online manipulation. The article concludes by describing international efforts to defend against social media assaults on democracy and by identifying the new knowledge and skills citizens must acquire for positive civic engagement in the global cyber-arena.&#x0D;

A New Look at an Inscribed Ceramic Medallion with Gladiators (Equites) from the Region of Parthicopolis in the Roman Province of Macedonia

This paper reconsiders a ceramic medallion found near the village of Palat on the right bank of the Strymon River, ca. 8 km northwest of the town of Sandanski in southwest Bulgaria. The cluster of Roman settlements near the village of Palat may have belonged to the territory of Parthicopolis (mod. Sandanski), which fell under the jurisdiction of Macedonia Prima. The medallion illustrates a gladiatorial combat between two equites, who are identifiable through their pairing, clothing and weapons. Autopsy established the presence of a Greek inscription, which had so far escaped attention. The recorded names, Σωτηρίδας and Αἴας, seem to correspond to the equites depicted. Gladiatorial scenes with inscribed names are quite commonly represented on various media, including ceramic medallions, especially in the western provinces of the Roman empire. Ceramic medallions, serving a range of functions, were mass-produced in molds. The larger dimensions of our example, most probably a product of a local workshop, could be intended to be hung on a wall in the privacy of a domestic residence, although the possibility for funerary use cannot be excluded. This artifact from Palat, inspired by imagery current in the western provinces of the Roman empire, bears testimony to Roman cultural influence in the territory of Parthicopolis in the first half of the third century AD. At the same time, it offers hitherto overlooked iconographic indications that the equites’ role in the games was commemorated through the medium of ceramic medallions along the Thracian frontier, as it was in the western provinces of the Roman empire.

Set Fire to the Gods by Sara Raasch

Reviewed by: Set Fire to the Gods by Sara Raasch April Spisak Raasch, Sara Set Fire to the Gods; by Sara Raasch and Kristen Simmons. Balzer + Bray, 2020 [432p] Trade ed. ISBN 9780062891563 $22.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780062891587 $10.99 Reviewed from digital galleys Ad Gr. 9-12 In the first volume of an anticipated duology, elemental gladiators act as stand-ins for ferocious battles between immortal gods. Madoc is a boy from the streets, Ash is a girl who's caused interdeity strife, and they've both become highly trained, carefully chosen gladiators representing their respective gods. While either might succumb to attacks from their adversaries and the growing tensions between the immortals, at least they've stumbled through tragedy to find each other. The history of this world is a fascinating one, with a jealous Mother Goddess who hated that her children related more to mortals than to her, all manner of tricksy backstabbing and betrayals between the gods, and a longstanding tradition of gladiatorial combat, leading to generational training that is both heartbreaking and intriguing to observe. There's a Hunger Games vibe here, with individuals chosen to serve as sacrifice for the needs of many, while the gladiator battles have a much more visceral, direct violence. Action-driven readers will appreciate the frequent lengthy skirmishes between magical opponents, but they may find the overlengthy sequences of romantic development less inspiring. The result is a lengthy tome that is a stew of romance, athleticism, mystery, and fantasy, and that's a lot for one literary bowl. Genre-crossing readers looking for something substantial to dive into, however, may connect with at least one of those threads, and they'll be anticipating the sequel to see how this complex and tortured world fares. Copyright © 2020 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois