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Posted on 12/20/2008 9:25:01 PM PST by nickcarraway
They came. They saw. They slaughtered. And now, almost 2,000 years after fighters and wild animals last entertained the rabble, gladiators are set to return to the Colosseum.
Umberto Broccoli, the head of archaeology at Rome city council, said it was time that the five million people who visited the Colosseum annually saw the kind of shows originally staged there. They should also experience “the sights, sounds and smells” of Ancient Rome.
Mauro Cutrufo, the deputy mayor, said that a series of events would be held next year to mark the two thousandth anniversary of the birth of the Emperor Vespasian, who began the construction of the Colosseum.
It has yet to be decided whether the mock combats will be staged on a floor placed over the subterranean chambers in the arena or on a stage outside it. Mr Broccoli insisted that the fights would be authentic, with gladiators using the same weapons.
Related Links Rome carriage horses to get 'black boxes' Gladiators return to Rome's Colosseum Tomb of real 'Gladiator' found in Italy Mr Broccoli, who is also a radio and television journalist, said that this would not be the kind of tacky show put on by the fake gladiators who now pose for photographs, and nor would it be a Disneyland attraction.
Instead, it would be an educational tool for bringing the spirit of antiquity alive. During fight displays visitors will hear descriptions of the gladiators’ life and customs by Seneca, the 1st-century philosopher and imperial adviser.
Asked if the planned shows might be thought vulgar, Mr Broccoli retorted: “The gladiators themselves were vulgar, they were sweaty, they stank and they swore. Why not show them as they were, for real?”
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
How about players during the superbowl?
Gladaitors were the professional athletes of their time. People traded crads of their favorites and there were dolls made in their likeness that children played with. Most of the fights were fixed (like wrestling) and famous gladiators had long careers, received the best medical care, made fortunes and were adored by their fans.
With the current global climate maybe they’ll slaughter some Christians./sarc.
Danke schön!
A must see on my next trip to Roma.
His distant cousin...
That’s a pickle, Larry the pickle.
Correction: Sounds like most of The Korean House and Senate ...Scuffles in SKorea parliament over bid to pass US trade pact
It is, especially after later generations of Romans got done with it, stripping out rebar and all. But “awesome” only begins to describe it for me.
Real gladiators? Real blood? I am sure PETA is going to LOVE watching animals be killed.
No?
Dang.
To the other comment: their public toilets didn’t actually flush. They were continually running streams you sat over. And you had to carry your own sponge to wipe with, Tho a communal bucket for rinsing that sponge was helpfully provided. [Gross.]
No wonder President Bush #1 doesn’t like Broccoli!
I loved my tour guide at the Colosseum.
“ Contrary to popular opinion Christians were not martyred in the Colosseum. That occurred in the Circus Maximus which could seat 300,000 while the Colosseum only held about 60,000”.
Disgusting. What’s next, public crucifixtions?
Some things are best left un-”re-enacted”
And, in the interest of hygiene, that bucket was helpfully full of not water, but vinegar.
Sounds like he's describing a bunch of Democrats.
My daughter and her talking Larry asked me to tell you that he’s not a pickle... he’s a cucumber.
Have you ever seen a grown man naked?
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