Gladiators did not have festivals on their own. They were always a part of another celebration. As we all know, they were originally funeral duties/rites given for the deceased. They evolved into parts of celebrations for military victories, anniversaries of events, even for electioneering until that use was banned. They were also, at times, part of the celebrations of certain gods, in particular Mars. The atmosphere or the mood of the public during a festival in which there would be gladiators was mixed. People who enjoyed the contests were anticipating (and probably betting on) their favorite wining, while those who opposed the bouts were repulsed.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *