Bloody, brutal but popular, gladiatorial contests are often seen as the dark side of Roman civilization ... organized, gladiators became more specialized. There were five types of gladiator ...

Gladiators came from many different backgrounds. They largely came from the lower echelons of Roman society ... the offer of freedom down – four times. His name was Flamma, the Muhammad Ali ...

Although their lives may have been different, they did have some things in common. In any Roman family life, the head of the household was a man. Although his wife looked after the household ...

The Trustees of the British Museum Supported by By Kate Golembiewski Gladiators battled lions and other wild animals in the arenas of the Roman Empire ... the deceased, the types of injuries ...