"We who are about to die salute you."

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

Gladiators' graveyard discovered
By Monika Kupper and Huw Jones
BBC Timewatch

Scientists believe they have for the first time identified an ancient graveyard for gladiators.

Analysis of their bones and injuries has given new insight into how they lived, fought and died.

The remains were found at Ephesus in Turkey, a major city of the Roman world, BBC Timewatch reports.

Gladiators were the sporting heroes of the ancient world. Archaeological records show them celebrated in everything from mosaics to graffiti.



More at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6614479.stm

[Wiley50]

1. Glad he ate her

of course

[DemBones DemBones]

2. . . .

:spank:

[acmavm]

3. Oh my...

<snip>

Final blow

The condemned gladiator would be expected to die "like a man" remaining motionless to receive the mortal blow.

The pathologists discovered various unhealed wounds on bones that showed how these executions could have taken place. And these are consistent with depictions on reliefs from the time showing a kneeling man having a sword rammed through down his throat into the heart. A very quick way to die.

It was basically the final blow, in order to release them

Prof Fabian Kanz, Medical University of Vienna
Tell-tale nicks in the vertebrae or other bones suggest at least some of the bodies suffered this fate.

A number of skulls were also found to have sets of up to three holes at odd intervals, consistent with a blow from a three-pronged weapon such as a trident.

[DemBones DemBones]

4. Interesting article. Did you see the one about gladiators in the UK?

It says there's new evidence that gladiators fought in the Roman arena at Chester. Previously, it wasn't known if only animals and condemned criminals were killed there for the amusement of the people.

Considering how many people watched the video of Saddam's hanging or buy those "movies" that are compilations of video of horrible accidental deaths, I don't know that we've evolved much. :-(


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/merseyside/6370899.stm

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

5. If anything, we've DEvolved.

:shrug: