Learn about gladiator arenas in the Roman Republic.
(Behind the Scenes)
While gladiators would not perform in Cyrene until tater in the Roman era, the team decided to include a gladiatorial arena for two reasons.
First, they believed it was important to portray this aspect of Roman life, and second, they felt it would add interesting gameplay possibilities.
The first gladiators to enter the arena were prisoners of war.
It was a spectacle of violent clashes between men and against wild beasts that lasted nearly a thousand years.
Eventually volunteers began to enter the ring. For status and money, many of the more skilled combatants increased the quality of the entertainment. Thus, the profession of gladiator came to be.
Bound by contract to the master of the gladiators, the fighters were fed, trained and guarded in barracks.
Gladiators were separated into heavy and light armored fighters, each with their own set of specific armor and weapons.
Organizers often had two audience-favored factions face each other in combat.
The events were highly organized. Fights were held with a background of music, and supervised by a referee.
Death, either in the course of combat or by decision, was not always the only way out for the loser.
Several were released due to their performance, and gained great notoriety as celebrities.