Julius Caesar & the Gladiators

Having established the traditional backbone of the Gladiators shows it should be noted how great men such as Julius Caesar were quick to realise the political value of the games which he made an effort to attend even if not overly interested. Both Julius Caesar and Marcus Aurelius

Like some other Roman leaders, Julius Caesar wasn’t necessarily a great fan of the games: Both Julius Caesar and Marcus Aurelius are remembered for having presided the games and taken the salute whilst reading over state papers. Emperor Augustus actively supported traditional morality restricting the participation of members of the upper class, whilst Emperor Commodus was a personal fans of the events and even actively participated.

Like it or not, all great leaders of Rome such as Julius Caesar, wanting to attract public support, were quick to recognise the political value of the Gladiators shows. In his early career as Aedile he almost drove himself to financial ruin by organising the best of the best at his own expense.

Caesar’s triumph as conqueror of Gaul also involved innumerable numbers of wild animals and fighters. In his Triumph of 65BC the Senate ordered him to reduce their number but in 46BC when he effectively became sole ruler of the Roman Empire he presented a huge number of animals as well as many gladiator types: A thousand gladiators “gladiatores ordinarii” and almost a hundred mounted gladiators, probably “gladiatores postulatitii“.

The Gladiatorial games: An attraction for the Roman masses

Great learned men such as Cicero regarded the Gladiatorial games as the best occasion to render homage to the noble disdain for death. This doesn’t justify the huge number of deaths that occurred as part of this “Roman sport” but it does give an insight into the different cultural view the ancient Romans had of the world and of Roman morality. In this vein, Cicero spoke of the “holy and ancient games”.

But the purely exhibitionist qualities were clearly what attracted the masses. The throwing of convicts to the wild beasts was little more than a gory reality show and it seems appropriate to quote Cicero’s words albeit in a different context: “Salus Populi, Suprema Lex” – the greatest law is the health of the people. (De Legibus).

Ancient Rome naval games called Naumachia were organised in numerous places, also including lakes or amphitheatres like the Colosseum. Naval games at the Colosseum were stopped after the tunnels and galleries were built under the arena at the time of Emperor Domitian.

Throughout the empire the Gladiatorial games tended to be viewed by the intelligentsia with a mixture of feelings. Juvenal loved it whilst Tacitus could only justify it on the basis that the blood spilt was of a vile nature. Like Cicero, Pliny justified it for the values it relied on, which had made Rome great. Seneca, the millionaire, the Stoic philosopher and indeed tutor to Emperor Nero was the only one to truly condemn the shows for the null value they placed on human life. “…here men are killed for sport and pleasure…“

julius caesar: Intro and start to Julius Caesar’s career.
Julius Caesar: Julius Caesar reaches greatest power and tragic death.
Julius Caesar Life: Caesar’s life and achievements in dates
Julius Caesar Death: Caesar’s assassination.
Julius Caesar Supernatural Events: bizarre events such as the ides of march and heartless cows.
Biography Julius Caesar JC’s Curriculum Vitae