Gladiators

[poliphilo]

Archaeologists in York have uncovered what they think is a cemetery full of Roman gladiators. Up until now it has been the received opinion that when fighters were finished off in the ring it was done with a single thrust to the throat- but most of these men had been decapitated. One skeleton had been mauled by a large predator- either a bear or a big cat. The theory that the men might have been executed criminals is undermined by signs- including substantial food offerings and the use of coffins- which suggest that these were honoured graves.

Comments

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

I can't find anything in English but I gather that what is inscribed on the bronze tablet was part of a speech by a senator requesting that the cost of gladiator "shows" be lowered according to the category of the gladiators in each spectacle in order to make them more affordable for the people. It also establishes a pay scale for the gladiators according to their "worth" and fame.

It talks about how third parties are making too much money from these spectacles and what to do about that. There is also an admonishment to the emperor to invest the profits in public works for the benefit of the State.

And so on.

It is called the "tabula gladiatoria".