Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
History
Rome's history spans three millennia, from the classical myths of vengeful gods to the
follies of Roman emperors, from Renaissance excess to swaggering 20th-century fas-
cism. Emperors, popes and dictators have come and gone, playing out their ambitions
and conspiring for their place in history. Everywhere you go in this remarkable city,
you're surrounded by the past. Martial ruins, Renaissance
palazzi
and flamboyant
baroque basilicas all have tales to tell - of family feuding, historic upheavals, artistic
rivalries, intrigues and dark passions.
Gladiatorial combat was part and parcel of the public games (
ludi
) that the state put on at the Colosseum.
Gladiators were prisoners of war, condemned criminals or volunteers who would fight in bouts of 10 to 15
minutes. Surprisingly, these rarely ended in death.
