Gladiators - Softcover

Grant, Michael

3.29

116 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0140299343 ISBN 13: 9780140299342

Publisher: Penguin, 2000

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

GLADIATORS is an ideal introduction to understanding one of the most strange and disturbing aspects of the Roman Empire. How could a society which produced so much art and literature and with which we still identify so strongly have at its heart a mania for watching gladiators kill each other in an arena? Michael Grant describes both the profession itself and how the arena fights occured. He also writes fascinatingly about gladiators' relationship with their public and how the institution came to an end. Anyone who has enjoyed the film GLADIATOR will also enjoy this book - the truth is no less savage and strange than the fiction.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Synopsis:

The Roman Empire produced countless achievements in the arts, literature, philosophy, law and government, without which much of our civilization today would not exist. Yet at it's heart was also unbelievable cruelty, epitomized by the bloody history of the gladiators: human beings set in an arena to fight to the death, watched by crowds of thousands. "Gladiators" is an introduction to understanding this disturbing and brutal phenomenon. The bloodthirsty spectacle of gladiatorial combat has inspired countless films and fictions, yet here Michael Grant shows that the truth is no less strange and savage. He tells us who the gladiators were, how they fought and died, how they were idolized by their public and feared by emperors, and how the most barbaric blood sport ever invented finally came to an end.

About the Author:

Michael Grant is one of the world's leading authorities on the Ancient World and a distinguished author and translator. He has translated Tacitus and several works by Cicero for Penguin Classics. His major books include THE ARMY OF THE CAESARS, THE ETRUSCANS, HISTORY OF ROME, NERO and GREEKS AND ROMANS: A SOCIAL HISTORY.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.