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Gladiators of Pompeii

The Ancients

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The Gladiator's Journey to the Arena

We are walking in the footsteps of gladiators as they would have entered Pompeii through one of the two main entrances to the arena. The hot sandy arena would be covered in blood from the day's events and it was common for brutal scenes to be accompanied by music perhaps building to a dramatic climax or blows marked by trumpet blasts. There were multiple gladiatorial fights roughly 10 to 13 all ordered by skill meaning each one was more interesting than the last. If the loser put on a good show they could be given mercy by the crowd if the gladiator was to be killed it's possible it was indicated by a thumbs up from the emperor or editor not down and the other gladiator would

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