Gladiators of the Lost Colosseum (Full Episode) | Lost Treasures of Rome | National Geographic

Key Concepts

• Gladiators: Professional fighters in ancient Rome, often enslaved or criminals, who fought in public spectacles for entertainment. They were considered the "rock stars" of their time.
• Colosseum: Ancient Rome's iconic amphitheater, the largest gladiator arena in history, capable of seating up to 50,000 spectators.
• Amphitheater: A large, oval, open-air venue used for public spectacles in ancient Rome, such as gladiatorial contests and animal hunts.
• Hypogeum: A network of tunnels and rooms beneath the arena floor of an amphitheater, used to house fighters and animals before their dramatic entrances.
• LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging): A remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure variable distances to the Earth by targeting a surface. Used in archaeology for mapping terrain.
• Magnetometer Survey: A geophysical survey method that measures variations in the Earth's magnetic field to detect buried objects or structures.
• Electrolysis: A process where an electric current causes a chemical change. In the context of the Colosseum, it's the cause of steel corrosion.
• Lanista: The owner or trainer of a gladiatorial school.
• Ludus Magnus: A large gladiatorial training school located next to the Colosseum in Rome.
• Necropolis: A cemetery, especially a large one belonging to an ancient city.
• Hypogeum: A network of tunnels and rooms beneath the arena floor of an amphitheater, used to house fighters and animals before their dramatic entrances.

Archaeological Investigations and Discoveries

The Colosseum: Preservation Challenges and Restoration Efforts

• Scale and Architecture: The Colosseum is a massive structure, 150 feet tall, built with three-quarters of a million tons of stone over eight years. It could seat up to 50,000 spectators.
• Historical Degradation: Over centuries, the Colosseum has been plundered for building materials, served as a medieval fortress, and suffered from modern structural issues.
• Current Preservation Issues: Steel bars added for strengthening are now rusting and splitting the stone. Barbara Nazzaro, Chief Architect, highlights the monument's fragility despite its imposing appearance, noting significant cracks and high levels of corrosion.
• Restoration Techniques: To combat rusting caused by electrolysis, zinc inserts are used. These react more readily than steel, corroding instead of the steel, thus halting damage to the structure. Art Restorer Emiliano Africano is tasked with inserting these zinc pins and masking them with matching mortar.
• Scale of Restoration: Even simple tasks, like repairing the upper tier which could hold tens of thousands of spectators, are of epic proportions.

Mastaura, Turkey: Uncovering a Buried Mega-Structure

• Location and Significance: Located 900 miles from Rome, Mastaura is the site of a significant Roman amphitheater excavation.
• Advanced Surveying Techniques: Archeologist Sedat Akkurnaz utilizes drone-mounted LIDAR sensors and satellite positioning systems to create precise 3D maps of the buried structure, replacing months of manual work.
• Amphitheater Design: Unlike the free-standing Colosseum, the Mastaura amphitheater is integrated into the natural hillside, with seating tiers offering clear views of the central arena.
• Excavation Strategy: Akkurnaz uses the survey data to identify potential excavation points, focusing on wider ends of vaults that might be entrances.
• Discovery of Chambers: Excavations revealed chambers on the amphitheater's perimeter, suggesting the structure was designed for more than just seating. These rooms support the built-up southern side and form enclosed spaces.
• Evidence of Social Hub: Fragments of pottery found in one chamber suggest it may have been a fast-food stall, indicating the amphitheater was a social hub where spectators could eat and socialize, similar to modern sports venues.
• Potential Hypogeum: A magnetometer survey of the arena floor revealed anomalies suggesting the presence of walls beneath the current ground level, potentially indicating a hypogeum, similar to the one in the Colosseum. This would have allowed for dramatic entrances of fighters and animals.
• Mastaura's Capacity and Regional Draw: The amphitheater's capacity nearly matches the entire population of Mastaura, suggesting it was designed to attract people from a large surrounding region, not just locals.
• Reviving Ancient Mastaura: The discovery of a marble-clad structure with a mosaic floor beside the amphitheater indicates an entertainment district. Plans are in place to restore the mosaic, aiming to revive ancient Mastaura and highlight how such venues generated wealth and drew crowds.

Ephesus, Turkey: Gladiators in Life and Death

• Long-Term Excavation: The Austrian Archeological Institute has been excavating in Ephesus for over 120 years.
• Tombstone Discoveries: In a necropolis, tombstones were found indicating that gladiators were buried in the area. These tombstones depict various gladiator types with specific weaponry and armor, inspired by Rome's military history.
• Gladiator Types: Examples include the Retiarius (net fighter), Thracian, and Murmillo. Female gladiators also existed.
• Gladiators' Profession and Status: The tombstones suggest gladiators were not ashamed of their profession and wanted to be remembered for it. They were often enslaved people or volunteers, trained as professional fighters.
• Evidence of Combat and Medical Care: Excavated remains of 66 young men showed scars from violent injuries, including sword marks and trident prong impressions. Remarkably, some major injuries, like broken limbs, had healed, indicating they received medical care.
• Economic Incentive for Survival: Gladiators were a significant income source for their owners (Lanista), who provided medical care to maximize their investment. Most contests ended in submission, not death, allowing fighters to live and compete again.
• Gladiators on Tour: It is likely that gladiators from Ephesus also fought in nearby arenas like Mastaura, given the short travel distance.
• Gladiators as "Rock Stars": Martin Steskal emphasizes that gladiators were the "rock stars" of their time, admired for their strength, fearlessness, and discipline.
• Fan Culture: Inscriptions found in Ephesus, such as "Philo vedioi Phil hoploi" (the arms-loving Philo vedio), indicate organized fan clubs and widespread gladiator presence in daily life, seen on tombstones, oil lamps, and graffiti.
• Community and Identity: Gladiator games provided free entertainment, a break from daily life, and fostered a sense of community and civic pride, enjoyed by all social classes.
• The Great Theater of Ephesus: This venue, originally Greek and later adapted by the Romans, could seat 22,000 spectators. It hosted gladiatorial contests alongside other forms of entertainment.
• Gladiator Palumbos: The tombstone of Palumbos, a gladiator from Ephesus, commissioned by his partner Hymnis, shows him as a winner with a palm branch. This inscription highlights that gladiators had lives outside the training schools, were loved, and could achieve eternal remembrance, a key Roman aspiration.

Pompeii: Spectacle and Social Unrest

• Preserved Amphitheater: Pompeii, buried by Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE, preserves one of the oldest amphitheaters in the Roman Empire.
• Imposing Experience: Entering the arena through a tunnel created an imposing experience, with gladiators suddenly surrounded by spectators and clamor.
• Spectator Riots: A painting found in a nearby house depicts a massive riot in 59 CE between locals and visitors from Nuceria, with fighting spilling outside the amphitheater. This event was so savage that the Roman government banned Pompeii from holding games for 10 years.
• Tribalism and Identity: Jeanette Plummer Sires argues that the popularity of the games extended beyond spectacle, fostering tribalism and a sense of belonging, similar to modern sports hooliganism. The commission of the fresco depicting the brawl underscores its significance to the town's identity.

The Appeal and Impact of Gladiator Games

• Entertainment Industry and Sports Tourism: The games were a sophisticated entertainment industry that drew large crowds and generated wealth, functioning as a form of sports tourism.
• Social Hubs: Amphitheaters were social hubs where people gathered not only for the games but also to socialize and be seen.
• Draw of Spectacle and Drama: The use of hypogea and elaborate staging created theatrical elements, making the games a captivating spectacle.
• Psychological Appeal: The games tapped into a primal fascination with violence, strength, and skill. They offered a welcome escape from daily life and a source of collective identity.
• Gladiators as Celebrities: Successful gladiators achieved immense fame, becoming cult figures with merchandise and widespread recognition. Even Emperor Commodus participated in games, highlighting their allure.
• Aspiration for Remembrance: For gladiators, despite their low social status, the arena offered a chance to achieve fame and be remembered for eternity, a core Roman value.
• Enduring Legacy: The appeal of gladiators and their spectacles, despite the brutality, continues to resonate in public imagination, as evidenced by their portrayal in popular culture.

Conclusion

The YouTube video transcript details the multifaceted world of Roman gladiators and their spectacles. Through archaeological investigations at the Colosseum, Mastaura, Ephesus, and Pompeii, the program reveals the architectural marvels of amphitheaters, the advanced technologies used to uncover buried structures, and the harsh realities of gladiatorial combat. It highlights that gladiators, despite their often enslaved status, were admired figures, akin to modern celebrities, who fought for glory and remembrance. The games themselves were more than just entertainment; they were a significant social, economic, and cultural phenomenon that fostered community, identity, and even tribalism across the Roman Empire, drawing crowds from far and wide and leaving an enduring legacy on public imagination. The ongoing efforts to preserve iconic structures like the Colosseum underscore the lasting impact of this ancient form of entertainment.