(people whistling)
- [Adam] The coliseum.
It was in this vaunted arena that the masses
satisfied their blood lust as they watched lethal
and skilled gladiators fight to the death.
(gladiator grunting)
As slaves, or prisoners of war,
these gladiators were forced into battle
and had but one choice, win or die.
Sometimes the only hope of a fallen gladiator lie
in the whims of the Roman Emperor.
Will this fallen warrior survive to fight another day?
Or, will he be fed to the lions?
(crowd cheering)
(lions roaring)
Actually gladiatorial contests were way more tame than this.
- So whoever told you this version must have been lyin'.
(crowd booing)
- [Adam] Oh god no.
Puns?
- What are you talking about Adam?
This was bloodsports.
- Nope, in fact, for most of gladiatorial history,
intentionally killing your opponent was against the rules.
That's why only one in 10 matches ended in a death.
- [Man] But I thought gladiatorial combat was pure mayhem?
They actually had rules?
- Yup, as well as umpires to enforce them.
- Alright gents, how bout a good clean fight.
No head shots from behind, no eye-gouging,
and be sure to keep those genitals well covered.
We don't want anyone losing their bits.
Touch weapons, and fight.
- And these umpires were scrupulously fair.
In fact, if your opponent fell by accident,
the umpire would stop the match and let him get up.
- [Man] Please, let me help.
- Oh you're too kind.
- [Adam] But the most important rule, no killing.
Gladiators were actually trained to subdue their opponents
rather than flat out kill them.
- Beware my deadly trident.
Which is mostly just for show, I'm really more of a net guy.
- [Man] Wait, if no one dies, how do we know who wins?
- Easy!
A match would actually end when a gladiator was wounded,
got too tired or just held up a finger to tap out.
- Oh, ow ow ow.
Okay I give up, I give up.
(whistle blows)
- [Adam] What?
But that cuts down on all the awesome murders
and decapitations, why would they do that?
Because gladiators were expensive.
Many were fed, clothed, housed, armed and trained
by owners called Lanista.
- You're up next kid.
I want you float like a butterfly, sting like a bee
and avoid damage like an uninsured rental car.
Go.
- [Adam] And it would be a very poor investment
if half of your roster was killed every match.
- Oh God, no!
His resale value is ruined!
Thanks a lot.
- That's why archeological evidence suggests
gladiators had healthy diets
and received quality medical care.
Due to all of this, some gladiators were able to fight
in upwards of 40 battles.
Similar to a modern day boxer.
- And improving his record to 40 and 0,
the Butcher from Bataca.
- It's just a stage name folks.
I wouldn't butcher anyone, I'm a professional.
- Alright, maybe the matches were safer than I thought.
But it doesn't matter because at any moment
the empire could decide to kill them.
- Sorry, while on occasion an emperor or a sponsor
would demand a fight to the death,
it was rare and generally frowned upon.
In fact, Romes first emperor
outlawed fights to the death entirely.
- I decree this arena death free.
(crowd booing)
You know how hard it is to get blood out of sand.
- [Man] But the spectators, didn't untamed masses
thirst for blood?
- [Adam] Nope, they were actually more like fans
at a sporting event.
- Come on Butcher, let's go, let's go.
- The truth is, being a gladiator was a lot
like being a modern celebrity athlete.
Gladiators portraits graced the walls of public places,
children played with small clay gladiator dolls.
- It's an action figure.
- And the most successful fighters
even commercially endorsed products.
- On the field you may know me as The Butcher,
but off the field I'm just a guy who loves fish.
And I always get my fish at Octavius Fish Mongery.
There's no fish like an Octavius fish.
(bells ringing)