Click2Flicks - Gladiator - Chapter 2

<body link="0000ff" alink="ff0000" vlink="000000" bgcolor=000033> <table width="100%" bgcolor=000033> <tr> <td align=center valign=top> <table width=90% bgcolor=ffffff> <tr> <td align=center valign=top> <tr> <td> <div align=center><p><b><font face="arial, helvetica" size=5 color=000000><b>GLADIATORS OF ANCIENT ROME</p> <p><font size="4">CHAPTER 2 - GLADIATORS</b></font></p> </div>  <center> <table width="90%"> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top"> <div align="justify"> <p><font face="arial, helvetica" color="000000" size="3"><a href="http://members.nbci.com/_XMCM/placida/p_kreuzn_g.htm" target="_blank"><b>Gladiators</b></a> were often slaves or captured foreigners who filled a unique role in ancient Rome. Their job was to kill and to die well.</p> <p>The first recorded gladiator games were introduced to Roman society in 264 B.C. by Marcus and Decimus Brutus. The brothers sponsored the event to honor their father. At the time, <a href="http://www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/arena.html" target="_blank"><b>gladiator games</b></a> were more about funeral rites than mass entertainment.</p> <p>Over time, however, the games became less associated with funerals and more associated with <a href="http://www.artsednet.getty.edu/ArtsEdNet/Images/Trajan/circo2-xl.jpeg" target="_blank"><b>brutal slayings</b></a>. Some of the <a href="http://www.vroma.org/images/mcmanus_images/gladiatordeath.jpg" target="_blank"><b>victims</b></a> had virtually no chance to survive. As the crowds roared, the <a href="http://www.artsednet.getty.edu/ArtsEdNet/Images/Trajan/circo-xl.jpeg" target="_blank"><b>walking dead</b></a> were easy prey to strong men and wild animals. It was not uncommon for an entire family to be killed.</p> <p>Professional gladiators were trained in special schools. Most were located near the <a href="http://www.vroma.org/images/mcmanus_images/paula_chabot/arena/pcarena.21.jpg" target="_blank"><b>great arenas</b></a>. During the time of the Caesars, the gladiator schools were controlled by the Emperor.</p> <p>No one expected the Emperor himself to fight in the arena. No one, that is, except one of the Emperors himself - Commodus, son of the famous Marcus Aurelius. </div> <p align="center"><font size="2"><a href="gladiator_ch1.htm">GO TO LAST CHAPTER   </a>     <a href="gladiator_ch3.htm">GO TO NEXT CHAPTER</a></p><br> </td> </tr> </table>  </td> </tr> </table>  </td> </tr> </table> </body>