Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society Gladiators' Sex Lives
Nov 12, 2024
Emma Southon, a historian and expert on Ancient Rome, joins the conversation to unravel the intriguing lives of gladiators. She discusses their paradoxical status as enslaved individuals who could achieve fame and wealth. Southon sheds light on the misconceptions about their existence, training, and societal roles. The podcast highlights the double standard faced by gladiators and sex workers, examining their intertwined fates in a brutal yet fascinating cultural landscape. Prepare for an engaging dive into this complex narrative of strength, scandal, and celebrity.
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Maximus's Implausible Enslavement
- In Gladiator, Maximus is a Roman general who becomes enslaved and trained as a gladiator.
- Emma Southon points out that this is unrealistic due to Rome's bureaucracy and social connections.
Origins of Gladiatorial Combat
- Gladiatorial combat originated as a funerary practice, possibly from Etruscan traditions.
- It evolved from fights on graves to large, multi-day spectacles.
Condemned Criminals as Gladiators
- Two competing images of gladiators exist: the skilled, trained fighter and the condemned criminal.
- Emma Southon explains how condemned criminals were sent to gladiator school for training.
