The crowd cheers, every spectator is on their feet, and the athlete stands in the arena. His no longer a simple man, but more the closest image to a God a mere mortals can witness. He is the victor in a challenge of pure power and ability. He is a Roman athlete. He proudly stands victorious in front of thousands of spectators. This tradition started thousands of years ago; Romans known for their power and strength, established the Roman games in a display of raw athleticism and bravery. Rome held tournaments that included different games such as: gladiator battles, chariot races, and occasionally human sacrifices to the Gods (“Gladiators”). The games fueled a sense of community among the citizens and a sense of pride for those who emerged …show more content…
Now iconized by famous Hollywood actors who charge into the arena with pride and determination, this image does not accurately represent all of the Gladiators from the Roman Empire. Some competed for their freedom and pride, but many were prisoners of war, criminals, or slaves who were forced to compete (“The Roman”). Some Gladiators fought against each other while others competed in venationes, “wild beast hunt,” where a Gladiator fought against a hungry animal (“Gladiator”). The crowd became known for its enjoyment of violence. Typically, a Gladiator would look to the crowd for the final decision on whether to kill the losing opponent or let him live (“Gladiator”). Most Gladiators didn’t make it out of the arena. Another very popular game with the Romans was chariot races. Chariots pulled by 2-4 horses ran on race tracks called, circus. The races were anywhere from 5-7 miles and the most famous race track was the Circus Maximus (“Gladiator”). Racing was arguably the most loved sport during the Roman Empire; racing encouraged loyalty to each section. Many spectators would abandon a particular rider or horse if they changed colors, representing a different faction (McManus). Healthy competition and betting perpetuated this