Diary Extract: Gladiator Fight PDF

## Day II of the Month of September I do not know how I should write about what I have seen today. We went to the munera - the "games" - at the amphitheatre. Except they are not like games I have ever played. They are real battles between two slaves, called gladiators, who fight with razor-sharp we...

## Day II of the Month of September I do not know how I should write about what I have seen today. We went to the munera - the "games" - at the amphitheatre. Except they are not like games I have ever played. They are real battles between two slaves, called gladiators, who fight with razor-sharp weapons. Today's games were the gift of the emperor to the people, as part of the celebration of the Dacian triumph. The gladiators fight in a big, open oval of sand in the middle. All around rise thousands of seats. To sit in one you must have a wooden token. My mistress gave one each to Cytheris and me as a treat. "Come and sit with me. We'll be right at the top!" She wasn't joking. Women and slaves sit on the highest tier and low seats are reserved for the most important Romans, with senators such as my master at the very front. At first I was disappointed to be so far away, but when the spectacle began, I was glad. We could not smell the blood, nor see the fear on the faces of the defeated gladiators. The first match was between a net-man and a pursuer. Though the pursuer fought bravely, he soon grew exhausted. When at last he stumbled, the net-man stood with his trident touching the pursuer's chest, and turned to the emperor's box for a signal. I looked away, but my mistress pulled at my arm, saying, "Iliona, don't worry. The pursuer fought well. The emperor will listen to the crowd." Looking up I saw the emperor spare the defeated man, and reward the winner with a wooden sword that meant he had won his freedom. ## During the Next Fight During the next fight, I watched everything. And by the third, I was actually enjoying it. The roar of the crowd ringing in my ears swept me along, as a strong wind blows down the road. But when the show ended, I felt ashamed. As we queued to get out, we met my master who had a surprise for us. He led us away from the crowd and down into a basement below the arena. Here we saw ferocious lions, tigers and leopards pacing in their cages. They will fight in the ring tomorrow afternoon. The trainer of beasts told us the animals are usually terrified of the gladiators who challenge them. So despite the excitement of the spectacle, I went home with a sad heart.