Posted on 05/02/2007 5:55:16 PM PDT by blam
Gladiators' graveyard discovered
By Monika Kupper and Huw Jones
BBC Timewatch
Gravestones helped identify the site as a gladiator graveyard
Scientists believe they have for the first time identified an ancient graveyard for gladiators.
Analysis of their bones and injuries has given new insight into how they lived, fought and died.
The remains were found at Ephesus in Turkey, a major city of the Roman world, BBC Timewatch reports.
Gladiators were the sporting heroes of the ancient world. Archaeological records show them celebrated in everything from mosaics to graffiti.
Motifs of gladiators are found on nearly a third of all oil lamps from Roman archaeological digs throughout the Empire.
But how much did they risk every time they stepped into the arena? Did they have much chance of getting out alive?
The discovery of what is claimed to be the first scientifically authenticated gladiator graveyard has given researchers the opportunity to find out.
'Strict rules'
The Ephesus graves containing thousands of bones were found along with three gravestones, clearly depicting gladiators.
Two pathologists at the Medical University of Vienna - Professor Karl Grossschmidt and Professor Fabian Kanz - have spent much of the past five years painstakingly cataloguing and forensically analysing every single bone for age, injury and cause of death.
They found at least 67 individuals, nearly all aged 20 to 30. One striking bit of evidence is that many have healed wounds.
The team examined the remains
To Kanz and Grossschmidt, this suggests they were prized individuals getting good and expensive medical treatment. One body even shows signs of a surgical amputation.
And the lack of multiple wounds found on the bones, according to the pathologists, suggests that they had not been involved in chaotic mass brawls. Instead, it points to organised duels under strict rules of combat, probably with referees monitoring the bouts.
But there was also evidence of mortal wounds. Written records tell us that if the defeated gladiator had not shown enough skill or even cowardice, the cry of "iugula" (lance him through) would be heard throughout the arena, demanding he be killed.
Final blow
The condemned gladiator would be expected to die "like a man" remaining motionless to receive the mortal blow.
The pathologists discovered various unhealed wounds on bones that showed how these executions could have taken place. And these are consistent with depictions on reliefs from the time showing a kneeling man having a sword rammed through down his throat into the heart. A very quick way to die.
Tell-tale nicks in the vertebrae or other bones suggest at least some of the bodies suffered this fate.
A number of skulls were also found to have sets of up to three holes at odd intervals, consistent with a blow from a three-pronged weapon such as a trident.
"The bone injuries - those on the skulls for example - are not everyday ones, they are very, very unusual, and particularly the injuries inflicted by a trident, are a particular indication that a typical gladiator's weapon was used," says pathologist Professor Karl Grossschmidt.
But not all head injuries found were trident wounds. A number of the skulls showed rectangular holes that could not have been made by any of the known gladiator weapons. Instead, they suggest the use of a heavy hammer.
"One possible explanation, which is supported by a number of archaeologists, is that there must have been an assistant in the arena who basically gave the gladiator the coup de grace," says Professor Kanz.
"I assume that they must have been very severely injured gladiators, ones who had fought outstandingly and so had not been condemned to death by the public or by the organiser of the match, but who had no chance of surviving because of their injuries. It was basically the final blow, in order to release them."
'Comfortable' retirement
The work of the Viennese pathologists has been independently reviewed for the BBC's Timewatch programme by Dr Charlotte Roberts of Durham University, a leading physical anthropologist.
"I've looked at quite a few hundred Roman skeletons. I've seen examples of head injuries, healed and unhealed. I've seen evidence of decapitations," she says.
"But this (new find) is extremely significant; there's nothing been found in the world at all like it. They've really dispelled quite a lot of myths about gladiators and how they fought."
Gladiators were prisoners of war, slaves or condemned offenders
If a gladiator survived three years of fighting in the arena, he would win his freedom. Those who did often became teachers in the gladiator school; and one of the skeletons found at Ephesus appears to be that of a retired fighter.
He was of mature age and the scientists were able to reconstruct nearly his entire body. His head showed apparent signs of healed wounds from previous fights but, clearly, none of them would have proved fatal.
"He lived quite a normal Roman lifespan," says Professor Kanz. "And I think, most probably, he died of natural causes."
Historical records suggest a gladiator's chance of survival was slim, with some estimates as low as a one in three chance of dying each time he fought. But it appears one of the Ephesus gladiators at least survived the odds and had a chance to enjoy his retirement from the arena.
Frickin’ awesome. Yeah, I know it’s been awhile, but those skulls look pretty traumitized. Good to see they got what was conbsidered as good healthcare in their day.
Frickin’ awesome. Yeah, I know it’s been awhile, but those skulls look pretty traumitized. Good to see they got what was considered as good healthcare in their day.
thank you very much for posting this
Were any of them identified as Maximus Desmas Meridius, General of the Armies of the North and friend and confidante of Emperor Marcus Aurelius?
I suspect that some interesting assumptions can be made about gladiatorial combat, that while less romantic, may be more realistic.
To start with, I imagine the vast majority of those killed were mostly condemned prisoners or low-ranking enemy prisoners.
This first group were either typical criminals, that are usually not very good fighters, and “one-shot” murderers who killed a family member. Low ranking enemy prisoners would have at least basic training, so they would be prime victims of experienced fighters, able to give some show before being killed.
As far as the successful fighters went, most of their fights would be against these two types, so the odds would be heavily stacked in their favor. This would let them rack up a lot of kills.
Some gladiators probably traveled a lot, as there were a lot of small amphitheaters all over the empire. A similar business model exists today for professional wrestling. First the local talent would have a some fights, then one or two big names would put on a show. This method gives pro wrestling the biggest box office of any professional sport today.
The major cities would host the big names in big events, and by accounts gambling was a major part of the show. The Romans were very strict about cheating, but at the same time the bookies would not want to lose their best talent, so arrangements would be made to improve their odds.
The blood lust of the crowds could be fed in the preliminary bouts often between fighting animals, or men and animals. Then you bring in a melee of expendables, a re-enactment of some historical battle, some races and other entertainment like wrestling matches, and then the big headliner event.
And you can almost guarantee that the politicians would want to give political speeches there, too, to let everybody know who was sponsoring the show.
There might even be the equivalent of cheerleaders, who would brag up fighters before a bout, then something like a small parade so the crowd could get to cheer their favorites.
When all was said and done, only the greatest of superbowl-style contests would end up with a bunch of real pro gladiators getting killed. There might have even been voluntary gladiators, like soldiers, who wanted to earn some money in the off-season.
Wonder if any of the lamps had the number 3 on them? 'Course it would be III.
I like gladiator movies.
Yeah, and when wounded and getting that medical care, they got IV’s...but they did not need “fours” they needed a transfusion.Ha!
bump
There goes my joke.
ping for gladiator-obsessed kid
One striking bit of evidence is that many have healed wounds.
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I would love to see a lot more about this. Nice for history channel or discovery channel to do a show about these finds.
So do I. That’s very interesting.
WTF?!!? Are some of those things women? Hermaphrodites?
That paints a pretty good picture of the fighting part, but it doesn’t capture the full essence of the Roman games. For not only was the bloodlust of the crowd stirred up by the combat, but the regular lust as well. And to service that lust the Colosseum in Rome had a whole arcade level filled with prostitute-slaves of both sexes, chained there for use (for a fee, which was apparently about the price of five to ten cups of wine, depending on the service desired, if the pricing murals at Pompeii are any guide).
Then of course there were the food vendors, as now, and the trinket vendors.
The Roman games were aimed at absolutely maximizing profit, both capital and political, by maximizing the pleasure of the paying crowds in every sense.
One of the first thing the Christians did when they became the official religion was to shut down the bloodsports and other activities of the arena. Killjoys.
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