[SunkenCiv]

A mosaic from Aydın shows a scene of gladiatorial combat including (center) an arbiter, or referee.

© Tolga İldun

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Watching a bunch of guys fighting en mass and killing each other is not very interesting. You need to have an emotional connection to one or preferably both of the combatants.

[algore]

[Bookshelf]

I believe it was Euripedes who denedgrated gladiators who strutted about the cities, parading like gods.