Starting in 80 CE, residents of Rome and visitors from across the Roman Empire would fill the stands of the Colosseum to see gladiators duel, animals fight and chariots race around the arena. And for the grand finale, water poured into the arena basin, submerging the stage for the greatest spectacle of all: staged naval battles. Janelle Peters details the history of these mock maritime encounters.
1. Have you ever
heard that the Romans flooded the Colosseum for sea battles?
2. If colosseum were active and legal again would you
go to watch?
3. If you were forced to fight as a gladiator in
Colosseum, what type of duels would you choose?
Comments
2. I hate watching people fighting so if similar events were to take place there I wouldn’t definitely go there.
3. I would choose a direct fight with a man, I think I would have any chance of survival.
I've heard about this before, but didn't think about naked swimmers. No idea why I only portrait it as fighting place.
2. If colosseum were active and legal again would you go to watch?
Yes, why not. Not only because it is legal, but I like to try new stuff and I would love to try this type of entertainment if it would be easy to get inside.
3. If you were forced to fight as a gladiator in Colosseum, what type of duels would you choose?
Fighting in the group can make it far easier than being defeated by much more bigger and skilled enemy on one versus one combat.
2. I have always liked to watch martial arts, so such thing would be amazing for me. I just wonder if we think about its original shape where people died, or more mild thing where you fight till one surrenders or referee stopes the fight. First scenario would probably be more popular and maybe we could send there some politicians, for example as a penalty for ruining country, to have even more fun.
3. It depends on fight formula or rather its possible outcome. I'd probably have most fun if I could go 1 v 1 while dual wielding, but then I'd most likely die... Reconstructing battles could be nice as well and maybe we could omit dying part there, especially if chosen for victorious group.
No, haven't heard about that. I always depicted the Colosseum as a primitive arena that didn't had any complex features like filling it with water. I love the concept of it though, sure it was a little exaggerated but that arena was something unique in that time on earth.
2.
Yes, I think that it would be an unforgetable experience. I don't like blood that much, but the atmosphere on that arena must have been amazing. Witnessing a theater play would be the best in my opinion.
3.
Probably in a battle with wild animals.
2. Of course! In my opinion every stadium could be compared to the Colosseum. For example, the National Stadium in Warsaw - it hosts conferences, matches, concerts, festivals, dance and automotive events, various fairs, and in the winter it becomes an ice rink. Its purpose is to provide people with entertainment, which is why it is like the Colosseum.
3. I'm not good at sword fighting. I think I would like to participate in a naval battle, it would be a great experience, of course, if I survived.
1. Oh man, I've never heard the Romans flood the Coliseum for naval battles? I am really surprised that it was so. What do I think about it? Wow, they had really great ideas. In general, I thought that there were only gladiator fights.
2. If colosseum were active and legal again I would definitely go out there and watch the gladiator fights! I love that!
3. Tough question. But I would boldly risk fighting with swords.
What a coincidence, I also mentioned the Colosseum when I commented on other presentations today. I haven't heard about the sea battles in the Colosseum, I thought everything in Colosseum was only like what I had watched in the movie Gladiator.
2. If colosseum were active and legal again would you go to watch?
Yes, for example, I would like to watch bands playing there, but if you are talking about watch gladiators kill each other there, then no, definitely no, it would be too scary.
3. If you were forced to fight as a gladiator in Colosseum, what type of duels would you choose?
I would choose sword fighting, better 2 vs 2, and choose a talented guy to be a teammate.
The sword is a great weapon, like most people, I would probably also choose it, well more precisely I would choose a short sword because of its weight and a shield.
So, you would choose a blind child with a cane as an opponent?? ... you savage XD
The Romans were able to flood the Coliseum up to 1.5 meters deep in 7 hours. At that time staging of sea battles took place there. I think it's an exaggeration, but Roman emperors were strange and sick.
2. If colosseum were active and legal again would you go to watch?
Of course, if only there are such possibilities, I am going to Rome to see the Colosseum, among others. I've seen it smaller in Pula (Croatia) is cool too.
3. If you were forced to fight as a gladiator in Colosseum, what type of duels would you choose?
I hope that the gladiatorial times will not come back.
The story rings a bell. However, I was not aware of the scale of the flooding. In my imagination I was expecting swimming contests, not full-blown naval battles. This is not an exaggeration at all!
2. If colosseum were active and legal again would you go to watch?
I would have to look at the program. Some performances would not be acceptable nowadays. Human and animal rights activists would not let gladiator battles or animal fights to take place. Watching ballet in the Colosseum could still be enjoyable though.
3. If you were forced to fight as a gladiator in Colosseum, what type of duels would you choose?
Imagine cross-century duels, where a contemporary soldier is faced against, for example, a knight from medieval times. Semi-automatic assault riffle vs double-edged sword. Who would win?
2. I don’t think so, watching fights is not my thing and I don’t see point in this sort of entertainment.
3. I guess that if I was forced to fight as gladiator, I wouldn’t have choice on what type of duel would It be. My duel of choice would be not to take part in such thing.
No, I haven't. That is very interesting! We always seek for better entertaining. But it could be an exaggeration.
2. If colosseum were active and legal again would you go to watch?
Well, I never even went to a normal stadium so I think that it's very unlikely for me to go to the colosseum. But I was there when I was inactive.
3. If you were forced to fight as a gladiator in Colosseum, what type of duels would you choose?
With a spear. But I think that my fate would be a quick death, sadly. I am not a very good fighter.
Yeah, I've heard about it many years ago. Without TV and Internet it is not the worst way to entertain even if it comsume a lot of time to create such conditions. Better than war, you know, imho.
2. If colosseum were active and legal again would you go to watch?
Once or twice maybe. I hardly ever go to watch football match or box, but it's not rare for me to watch them on TV, so I will definetely watch some colosseum battles on it.
3. If you were forced to fight as a gladiator in Colosseum, what type of duels would you choose?
A spear and a special shield. Best choice against all those swordsmen up there.
I haven't heard about it but I know that our ancestors had a "strange" way of entertaining themselves.
2. If colosseum were active and legal again would you go to watch?
Deffinitly no - It is barbarity.
3. If you were forced to fight as a gladiator in Colosseum, what type of duels would you choose?
It depends. I would make strategic choice based on my biggest chances to survive.
2. I definitely wouldn't watch any sort of fight or execution. But those weren't the only things shown in colosseum, and if there would be anything else to watch, like musical performance, i would like to see it.
3. I don't really know, maybe a sword fight. I don't believe i would stand a chance in a fight with a real gladiator, but at least i would have an opportunity to use a sword in a real fight.
2. It would have to be more humane. No animals and no fights to the death, then I would watch it gladly :)
3. That's a tough one. Maybe I would choose to fight a lion and try to make friends with it? They were starved and scared so I don't suppose it would be possible, but imagine me riding my lion out of the arena!
2. It think I could go there. It would be interesting experience, but I rather don't encourage to brutal. I think my presence there could affect growing of that industry. So I don't know what I would do.
3. I would rather not to. But if I were forced, I would prefer one to one i think. It is most suitable for fair battle.
Yes, I have. I think that this must have been an amazing show to watch. Exaggeration has nothing to do with it. If there were people who wanted to see this and there were people who were able to make it happen then why not? I think that this fact should be appreciated much more.
2. If colosseum were active and legal again would you go to watch?
I have once in my life seen Corrida and since that day my point of view for such things has changed completely. There would be part of me which would like to see such thing but on the other hand I would know that this is wrong and such thing shouldn't be taking place. The only thing that I have taken out of this bull fight that I saw was that it was such a waste of an animals life.
3. If you were forced to fight as a gladiator in Colosseum, what type of duels would you choose?
Sea fight, definately. If I had to fight I would at least try to make it as epic as can be so why not to use a ship for that purpose.
2. Sure, maybe leaving aside animal fights because it's just idiocy but gladiatorial fights using today's technology to protect their health and life ? If somebody would manage to do that, I would love to go see such a fight
3. I never thought about it, but if I had to, I'd probably choose a sword and a shield seem to be the most universal and safest combination
Yes, I've heard of it. I wouldn't call the shows battles, more like skirmishes. It's not exaggeration. People demanded show, and people paid for it, engineers from that time made it happen.
2. If colosseum were active and legal again would you go to watch?
Why not, we watch weird things on the internet all the time, and sometimes we pay for it so whats the difference so why not see this irl.
3. If you were forced to fight as a gladiator in Colosseum, what type of duels would you choose?
I would prefer Murmillo armament - sword, shield, helmet and long bracer. This kind of equipment gives you compromise between protection and mobility, but little lacks range.
2. No, although it is not the same, it can be compared to a zoo. Giving something interest supports it, and this form of fight is bad.
3. Due to the fact that strength is not my strength, I would choose a 2 vs 2 fight and hope my partner is strong
2. Yes of course, there is nothing better than a public fights to the death.
3. I don’t think i may have an options to choose, but if i could i would a water duel to see how was it like.
This does sound like an unreal thing to do, but ancient people were actually doing such impressive things, I can give them the benefit of doubt for this one.
2. If colosseum were active and legal again would you go to watch?
My curiosity wouldn't let me miss such an opportunity.
3. If you were forced to fight as a gladiator in Colosseum, what type of duels would you
choose?
I would choose 1 vs 1 duel, so I don't have to focus on few enemies simultaneously.
2.I think I might have been to curious not to go - it just seems so out of this world!
3.I think I would fight against another gladiator. Maybe he would happen to have a bad day and I that would give me a better chance to win. Who knows.