Documentary Description
Up to a million gladiators are thought to have died in arenas across
the Roman Empire. And, apart from ancient Italy itself, Roman Britain
had the highest density of purpose-built gladiatorial arenas in Europe. Interest
in gladiators has been at an all-time high since Russell Crowe's sword
and sandals epic. But the details of the lives and deaths of gladiators
remain fragmentary. Now, featuring sensational new archaeological
discoveries, Gladiators: Back from the Dead vividly recreates the world
of the Roman arena and how six gladiators lived, fought and died. The
programme reveals how the various types of gladiator were trained in
special schools, including Retiarii, who fought with nets and tridents,
heavyweight Myrmillonis sword fighters, Thracians armed with special
'bent' swords, Secutors (literarily pursuers) who wore special helmets,
and the Bestiarii, who fought wild animals. The programme follows
archaeologists and forensic anthropologists as they analyse dozens of
Roman skeletons found in Britain over recent years: individuals who
evidence shows came from across the Roman Empire. And, using
injuries found on the bones, including weapon cut marks and even large
carnivore bite marks, as well as evidence of heavy training, the
programme re-creates ancient gladiatorial life and death.
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