The Roman games wre public events for all people, who enjoyed a day at the games. Everybody came, from the richest around to the poorest in town.They loved to bet. Even the poor would spend their days work money to bet on a favorite team or animal. The most popular games were animal hunts, chariot races, and fights between gladiators.The slaves were allowed to particapate too, especially in gladiator fights, since the Romans were afriad to sacrifice thier own lives, so they risked the slaves. However, women didn't compete for another fifty years after the games had already begun, a women quotes," We should be able to participate," unquote.
Chariot races were the most popular of the Roman games. They took place in arenas called amphitheaters. The best known arena was the CFircus Maximus. It could fit as many as 170,000 spectators. It could also fir twelve four horse teams. It was bigger than most all other arenas. The fans got into the spirit by waving there scarves or flags with their teams colors. The colors were always russata-red, albata-white, veneta-blue, and prasina-yellow. Tragically, in 325 A.D., the emporer Costantine took away all public contestants so only he could provide charioters and horses.
Gladiator fights were the second most popular form of enetrtainment in Ancient Rome. They took place in amhpitheaters. Gladiators fought in hand to hand combat. Many people died in this sport. The Gladiator could raise a hand if wanting to forfit, then the audience would decied to let leave(live) or stay and die. Most of the gladiators wre slaves or criminals.They could choose one of four fighting styles. The most common were long shields, short swords, and a helmet with a fish shape on the top. However another tragety flarred up. In 325 A.D. this spot was also banned. the romans were devistated.
Animal hunts were the third most popular sport in ancient Rome. They involved exotic creatures. These wild animals fought humans and killed them just for amusment. This took place in amphithetheaters. Sometimes the animals fought each other. Most of the time the animals wre starved or abused to make them fiercer. This sport still remains in the United States.
Roman games were very diffrent from Greek games. These sports have changed dramaticaly. They are totaly diffrent from the games today. Most of the sports we have today aren't as grusome as the games back then. They watch people suffer or be killed for amusmemnt. We mostly watch sports for fun. To see the event and not people rushing of to the hospital, but if they like their games and love them, who's to say their wrong? This just shows how much they'ed give for their favorite game or sport.
Ancient Rome, New York Charles Scribner & Sons, 1994
