Gladiator: The Complete Guide To Ancient Rome's Bloody Fighters

by Konstantin Nossov

Gladiatorial games at first served as a solemn funeral rite to honor noble citizens. At the height of their eight-century reign of popularity, the games―which constantly evolved to include new events such as combat with animals and full-scale naval battles―formed the centerpiece of a huge entertainment industry run by cunning entrepreneurs and regulated carefully by the Roman government. Professional gladiators were highly trained and often highly paid, and their ranks, for a time, included women. Slaves who became gladiators could earn their freedom in as few as four wins. They were the boxers or football players of their day. From the author of Ancient and Medieval Siege Weapons comes this eye-opening new look at one of the most popular spectacles of ancient Rome. A richly detailed, fascinating guide, Gladiator provides a complete, breathtaking tour of gladiator customs and covers every aspect of the gladiator phenomenon―from the types of equipment the different classes of gladiator used, to the high place in society occupied by these sportsmen who were prepared to die.

Genres: Reference, History, Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published October 4, 2011

Reviews

[Royce Ratterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thorough overview of the world of the Gladiator. Schools, amphitheaters, types of Gladiators, apparel, living arrangements, and so much more, fill this book with plenty of information, including the historic, to please any researcher, enthusiast, or hopeful gladiatorial game participant. Important figures of historic import grace the pages with the infamy they are so fondly remembered for. Very likely the best work available from this well-renowned author.
"Konstantin Nossov was born in Moscow, Russia, graduated from Moscow State University and received his doctorate from the Russian Academy of Sciences. He is an advisor on arms, armour and warfare and the author of numerous books and articles on Ancient and Medieval Military History published in Russian. His areas of special interest include arms and armour, fortifications and siege weapons, and he has travelled extensively in Europe, North Africa, South Asia, Asia Minor and the Far East." -Osprey Publishing

[Silas Broadbent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall it's a pretty historically accurate book about Romes gladiators and how they operated. The book talks about the beginning of the games the height to the fall. They also make the book interesting and something you want to keep reading, overall I would recommend Reading this book.

[Brayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

goodd history cool way of looking a glateator history= and how real it gets