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Could You Stomach the Horrors of 'Halftime' in Ancient Rome?
Live Science ^ | February 4, 2016 | Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz

Posted on 02/06/2016 10:26:13 AM PST by EveningStar

The enormous arena was empty, save for the seesaws and the dozens of condemned criminals who sat naked upon them, hands tied behind their backs. Unfamiliar with the recently invented contraptions known as petaurua, the men tested the seesaws uneasily. One criminal would push off the ground and suddenly find himself 15 feet in the air while his partner on the other side of the seesaw descended swiftly to the ground. How strange.

In the stands, tens of thousands of Roman citizens waited with half-bored curiosity to see what would happen next and whether it would be interesting enough to keep them in their seats until the next part of the "big show" began.

(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...


TOPICS: History; Music/Entertainment; Science; Society; Sports
KEYWORDS: ancientrome; colosseum; cruelty; evil; godsgravesglyphs; romanempire; romangames; rome; sadism
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To: EveningStar

I’ve always wondered what football would have been like back then; with gladiators and all.


21 posted on 02/06/2016 12:57:47 PM PST by SkyDancer ("Nobody Said I Was Perfect But Yet Here I Am")
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To: KarlInOhio

Should have attached frickin’ lasers to those sharks’ heads.


22 posted on 02/06/2016 1:01:41 PM PST by dfwgator
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To: RegulatorCountry

23 posted on 02/06/2016 1:02:25 PM PST by dfwgator
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To: GregoTX

She’s only doing the anthem before, right?


24 posted on 02/06/2016 1:03:41 PM PST by nascarnation
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To: EveningStar

Just like the current batch of liberal wolfpimps who enjoy the sadism of the kills.


25 posted on 02/06/2016 1:37:40 PM PST by MarMema
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To: ETL
New?

Coldplay has been around for a decade.

They could have gotten the Rolling Stones I suppose.

26 posted on 02/06/2016 1:40:35 PM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (Proud Infidel, Gun Nut, Religious Fanatic and Freedom Fiend)
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

Actually 20 yrs, right?


27 posted on 02/06/2016 1:41:56 PM PST by nascarnation
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To: ETL

New band?


28 posted on 02/06/2016 1:45:59 PM PST by EEGator
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To: EveningStar
It can't have been worse than Coldplay.


29 posted on 02/06/2016 1:46:10 PM PST by x
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear
New? Coldplay has been around for a decade.

For someone who gave up on music and TV 30+ years ago, they are considered new to me. Damn near everything today sucks, even the cartoons.

30 posted on 02/06/2016 1:50:07 PM PST by ETL (Ted Cruz 2016!! -- For a better, safer America)
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To: EEGator
New band?

New compared to one of many classic rock or other popular old-school performers which should be doing the 50th Super Bowl.

Anyway, whether they are new or not, from what I heard the other day when I sampled their stuff on YouTube, they suck. Wussy looking too. And I doubt having that mediocre (at best), slutty Beyonce on stage with them will help very much.

31 posted on 02/06/2016 1:59:43 PM PST by ETL (Ted Cruz 2016!! -- For a better, safer America)
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To: ETL

Bring back “Up With People!”


32 posted on 02/06/2016 2:00:13 PM PST by dfwgator
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To: dfwgator

OK, I know! There were a lot of corny dopey things back then too. Lol! But still, for the 50th Super Bowl they really should have had an iconic performer doing the halftime show. National Anthem too. There are plenty of great old acts still around.


33 posted on 02/06/2016 2:08:14 PM PST by ETL (Ted Cruz 2016!! -- For a better, safer America)
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To: BenLurkin
Evidently, the editors at Live Science are not football fans.

This is not an editorial from Live Science. It is merely an article by Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz that they published.

34 posted on 02/06/2016 2:10:21 PM PST by EveningStar (It's a cult.)
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To: EveningStar

Not to quibble, but don’t the editors decide which articles to publish?


35 posted on 02/06/2016 2:12:57 PM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: ETL

I agree that they suck, and they’re Brits...and the lead singer was married to Gwyneth Paltrow...


36 posted on 02/06/2016 2:24:19 PM PST by EEGator
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To: ETL

Oh, come on.

I don’t know anything about ‘Coldplay’; but while Lady Gaga may be very *weird*, she’s a great singer.

Let’s hear how she does it; she may just do it up right ;-)

(Can’t stand the Stones, by the way.)

-JT


37 posted on 02/06/2016 5:09:25 PM PST by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, If you can keep it.")
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To: Jamestown1630
while Lady Gaga may be very *weird*, she's a great singer. Let's hear how she does it; she may just do it up right ;-)

Actually, of all the "comparatively new" singers around today that I've heard (last 10-15 years), she definitely seems to be one of the better ones. But to sing the National Anthem? Then again, maybe you're right. Could perhaps be a nice surprise.

(Can't stand the Stones, by the way.)

Sorry to hear that. :)

38 posted on 02/06/2016 5:20:41 PM PST by ETL (Ted Cruz 2016!! -- For a better, safer America)
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To: EveningStar
Bestiarii even went so far as to instruct condemned men and women on how to behave in the ring to guarantee a quick death for themselves - and a better show. The bestiarii could leave nothing to chance.
YEARS ago I read a paperback that detailed some of this. As pointed out, the animals basically feared humans, so the Bestiarii had slaves dress in burlap with chunks of human flesh sewed to the fabric. Said slave would then cower and be submissive before the animal and after a while, the animal figured "What the Hell". Sometime it didn't stop at the chunks.

Perhaps most shockingly, it was said that he was among the few bestiarii who could command animals to rape human beings, including bulls, zebras, stallions, wild boars and giraffes, among others.
The same book mentioned how they trained baboons to rape pre-teen girls for the entertainment of the audience.

One blooper was pulled when they starved some lions and then led the Christians into the arena. The lions keeled over dead from starvation and there was a scramble to get replacements for the animals - and afterwards, for the Christians.

A tale of Karma related that some really despicable pervs would line the path where the Christians had to enter the arena and molested them before they went out. One emperor was disgusted with them to the point that he threw them into the arena as well. The crowd loved it.

39 posted on 02/06/2016 5:20:58 PM PST by Oatka (Beware of an old man in a profession where men usually die young.)
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To: ETL
You missed some good stuff, you missed some crap.
40 posted on 02/06/2016 5:26:28 PM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (Proud Infidel, Gun Nut, Religious Fanatic and Freedom Fiend)
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