Mosaic showing the fight of gladiators
In ancient Rome, gladiatorial struggles appeared for the first time probably in the year 264 BCE. At the time, at the funeral of senator Decimius Junius Brutus Pera, which took place at the Forum Boarium, six warriors (three clashes) fought to commemorate the deceased.
Among the gladiators were also two sons of an aristocrat – Marcus and Decimius. The first performance of gladiators is mentioned by Titus Livy and Valerius Maximus. After this event, the gladiators’ struggles immediately became one of the most popular Roman entertainments.
Sources
- Katherine E. Welch, The Roman Amphitheatre: From Its Origins to the Colosseum
