Gladiator: Rome's Bloody Spectacle - Couverture rigide

Nossov, Konstantin S.

Couverture rigide

ISBN 10 : 1846034728 ISBN 13 : 9781846034725

Editeur : Osprey Publishing, 2009

Synopsis

From the high-walls and cheering crowds of the Roman Coliseum to the dark dungeons where prisoners spent their last peaceful moments, Konstantin Nossov brings the world of the Roman gladiator to life. Using the latest research, Konstantin reconstructs the history of these men who battled for the entertainment of the masses, covering the evolution of gladiatorial combat, the types of gladiator, their equipment, their way of life, and their social status. Although most gladiators were slaves, who fought and died at the whims of the crowd, many were able to elevate their status through victories in the arena to become as popular as today's superstar athletes. Gladiators came from almost every walk of Roman life, from slaves and prisoners forced to fight to volunteers and even nobles who relished the opportunity to test their martial skills. This book covers all aspects of these warriors and paints an intimate portrait of their complex, dangerous and often deadly lives.

A propos du livre

Présentation de l'éditeur

From the author of Ancient and Medieval Siege Weapons (Lyons Press), Konstantin Nossov, comes this eye-opening new study of one of the most popular pastimes of ancient Rome. This detailed, highly readable guide introduces readers to every aspect of the gladiator phenomenon: from the types of equipment the different classes of gladiator used-to the high place these sportsman came to occupy with the popular culture of the time.

Nossov provides readers with a breathtaking tour of Gladiator customs. At the beginning of their 800-year existence in the 4th century BC, gladiatorial games served as a solemn funeral rite to honor high-born citizens. From the height of their popularity to their decline, they were the equivalent of a multi-billion dollar industry--run by entrepreneurs and highly regulated by the government. Nossov shows how, with few exceptions, Roman leaders embraced the spectacle and how over the centuries new events such as mortal combat with animals and full-scale naval battles were added to the games.

Using updated research that has never before appeared in English, Nossov's chapter on the everyday life and social status of gladiators will surprise many readers. Despite the persistent myth that Gladiators were treated as expendable refuse by their Roman handlers, Nossov demonstrates that the reality was much more nuanced. The professional gladiator pool was comprised primarily of highly-trained men (and, for a time, women) who volunteered for the arena. In return for a long-term contract with a local games master, these athletes would earn an annual salary hundreds of times greater than an ordinary person. And slaves who were willing to become gladiators could earn their freedom with as few as four wins. These athletes lived communal lives together and trained year round for events that occurred no more than seasonally. As Nossov shows, being a professional gladiator was not much different from the lifestyle of a modern professional football player or boxer.

Since the advent of the 2000 film, Gladiator, and the HBO series, Rome, interest in gladiators is running at an all-time high. Nossov's comprehensive treatment of this enigmatic yet persistently popular phenomenon is sure to delight and enlighten readers everywhere.

Revue de presse

Chosen as one of Living Dice's 2009 tops gifts for wargamers (www.livingdice.com)

"Konstantin Nossov's Gladiator: Rome's Bloody Spectacle provides a powerful survey of gladatorial games of ancient Rome, offering the newest research on gladiators to revise the standard perception of their combat, equipment, and lives and social status. Any library strong in ancient Roman history will find this a fine narrowed survey of gladiators - some of whome were volunteers seekng fame and fortune." -The Bookwatch (January 2010)

"Gladiator offeres the reader an opportunity to get to the richest knowledge of the history of this most interesting phenomenon - the history of Roman Arena where, in blood and gold, magnificent performances developed, which devoured enormous sums of money and took away the lives of thousands of human beings and animals. The books is based on a huge amount of ancient resources, as well as the newest findings and research." -Dr. Michael Gorelik (November 2009)

"In Gladiator, Nossov brings together the newest evidence on gladiators to revise our one-sided view of them. Nossov's detailed, highly readable and comprehensive treatment of this enigmatic yet persistently popular phenomenon in Gladiator will delight and enlighten readers." -Sir Read a Lot / sirreadalot.org (November 2009)

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Osprey Publishing
• Date d'édition: 2009
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 1846034728
• ISBN 13: 9781846034725
• Reliure: Relié
• Nombre de pages: 224
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: Purmerul LTD; https://strengholt.nl/en/; ; 22 Liuleburgaz Str., floor 4, app. 9; Plovdiv; 4000; Bulgarie