The Roman Empire's Gladiatorial Games

Gladiatorial games are one of the defining characteristics of the Roman Empire in popular culture. Contests pinning wild animals against specially trained fighters called Bestie R.E. were a cornerstone of the arena's violent delights. A bewildering array of techniques for public execution, including crucifixion and vivisection, was another popular draw. Like professional athletes today, they commanded the love of the crowd but unlike our sports heroes, they dealt not in points, but in death itself.