The Crisis of the 3rd Century

At their peak, just before the end of the 2nd century AD, gladiators were specialized and well cared for fighters. Even in the event of serious injury, gladiator received medical attention, up to and including amputation. This gladiatorial arms race between aristocrats for the approval of the urban population contained within it the seeds of its own destruction. Making an exceptionally prosperous urban elite could afford to spend these amounts of money on benefactions - but even at the peak of both city aristocrats wealth and this ethos of a vergitism, the expense could still be ruinous.