Europe: Day 13, May 13, Rome, Italy

It was a rainy day today. This morning was spent touring the colosseum. It is huge. 

Only about 20% of the original colosseum still stands.  Some has been restored in order to see what it was like in its heyday. It seated some 80,000 people.  It had drinking fountains and public rest rooms and, probably, food vendors.  The tour guide kept comparing it to one of our modern football stadiums.

Beneath the stadium floor were passageways and elevators.  These were to bring the gladiators, animals, and others to the arena floor.

While the facility was impressive, I was appalled as the guide described what the arena was used for.  It was used for recreational killing.  The morning was scheduled for animals.  Animals fought animals to the death. And, I think, men fought animals.  Noon hours were for public executions.  These involved condemned criminals and others, like Christians, who were out of favor with the ruling classes.  They were often chained to poles and then torn apart by animals who had been starved for a few days.  Afternoons were reserved for gladiators to fight one another.  When a gladiator had obviously won, but had not killed his opponent, he looked to the crowd who gave either a thumbs-up or thumbs-down. Thumbs up signaled to let the defeated one live.  Thumbs down said to kill him. Some 90% were given thumbs down. There were likely other combinations of combat, but as far as we were told, all events involved killing.

Sometimes,the arena was flooded with water so sea battles could be recreated.  Again, death was the end result.

Hearing the guide describe these events was disturbing, because she showed no emotion or concern at what she was describing.  I asked Sara if there were people who were apposed to the killing or bothered by it. She said slaves' lives were not valued and since the gladiators were mostly slaves who were trained to fight, no one seemed to mind.  It was not until Constantine adopted the Christian religion and made it the state religion that killing became no longer an approved entertainment.

As mentioned, slaves were trained to fight as gladiators.  When a gladiator won, he was given certain perks and could eventually win his freedom if he won enough contests.  Some free people who had lost their wealth would voluntarily choose to become gladiators, hoping to win enough fights to make their fortune back.

The term "arena" comes from the word "sand."  The floor of colosseum was covered with sand because it absorbed the blood and was easily cleaned out and replaced.

The events were free for everyone.  The guide used a term she described as "bread and spectacle" or "bread and games" to describe the philosophy of the rulers who knew if they provided food and entertainment, they could have their way with the masses.  The philosophy reminded me of the leaders of our country today.  Give the people enough perks, and they will keep you in office and allow you to do anything you want.  Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

It was an interesting day, but quite disturbing.  I couldn't help but think of those of our leaders, and others, who promote abortion and whose efforts aim to diminish the value of life.  It is easy to condemn the Romans who held only their own lives as being of value, but that seems the direction some would have us go today.  

We traveled to the town of Montecatini-Terme, Italy and checked into the Hotel Da Vinci where we would stay for two nights.  We take the opportunity to wash our clothes (in the sink) when we have two nights in the same hotel so they have a chance to hang and get dry!!