Dangerous Sports in Ancient Rome

Students-and other readers-will be thoroughly engaged with this fact-filled resource and what it can teach them about ancient Rome and its love affair with dangerous sports.

Citizens of ancient Rome were not much different than citizens of modern America-they liked their sports and the more dangerous, the better. This accessible book draws on humankind's continuing fascination with watching death-defying exploits to help high school and college students learn about sports in ancient Rome, and through them, to gain insights into Roman civilization.



Essentially an encyclopedia, the book presents some 125 entries, with an emphasis on individual gladiators and charioteers. Entries also cover related topics such as the publicizing of gladiatorial shows and chariot races; strategies employed; facilities in which these events were held; and equipment used by participants, including the types of horses favored. Readers can also learn about the social status of gladiators and charioteers and read about the sports' dilettantes, like the emperors Nero and Caligula. Other less-prominent sports, for example boxing and wrestling matches and dangerous hunting expeditions, are also covered.


* Brings together information about gladiator games, chariot racing, and many other dangerous Roman sports

* Relies on original sources for information, including previously untranslated inscriptions

* Includes never-before-published facts and information

* Utilizes sidebars to augment the longer entries and link historical topics to popular culture

* Presents information in a manner specifically geared toward a high school and college audience