Gladiators of Pompeii
The Ancients
History Hit
4.7 • 4.5K Ratings
🗓️ 13 August 2023
⏱️ 41 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
This episode contains some references to graphic violence.
Gladiators are one the most enduring symbols of Ancient Rome, and Pompeii is no exception.
In the second episode of our special series on Pompeii, we're separating fact from fiction with the help of Pompeii's leading experts. We'll be taking you to the heart of gladiatorial life, from the Amphitheatre, to the training barracks, and finding out what life was like. Who could become Gladiators? Who were the most famous ones? What were the different types? And what is the complicated but fascinating legacy they've left behind?
The series was written and produced by Elena Guthrie
The Assistant Producer was Annie Coloe
It was edited and mixed by Aidan Lonergan
The voice actor was Lucy Davidson
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the Ancients from History Hit. |
| 0:02.7 | To listen to all of our episodes Add Free and watch hundreds of history documentaries |
| 0:07.6 | downloads the History Hit app, we'll go to historyhit.com forward slash subscribe. |
| 0:14.0 | And if you're an Apple listener, you can subscribe for new Add Free episodes within the app. |
| 0:30.0 | It's a hot and humid day in ancient Pompeii. |
| 0:40.4 | The air shimmers with heat as the sun beats down on the amphitheater. |
| 0:46.8 | The atmosphere is frenzied with anticipation. A clash of titans is about to unfold. |
| 0:55.3 | This is what the 20,000 strong crowd have been waiting for all day. |
| 1:01.5 | Some have travelled from neighbouring towns, some yet further. |
| 1:06.4 | What unites them all is their thirst for blood. |
| 1:11.6 | This is no ordinary fight. No. This is a battle between two distinct worlds. |
| 1:21.7 | On one side stands Marcus Atilius, a Tiro, an up and coming gladiator making his debut. |
| 1:31.0 | And opposing him is Halaris, a seasoned veteran boasting 12 victories out of his last 14 bouts. |
| 1:41.6 | This is an odd pairing. |
| 1:44.0 | Competence are normally matched for skill and ability, |
| 1:48.2 | but the crowd are roundy. |
| 1:50.9 | And so the editor offers them what should be an easy win for Halaris. |
| 2:00.7 | It's the entrance from History Hit. I'm Tristan Hughes your host. |
| 2:05.6 | And in today's episode where we're continuing our special series on Pompeii, |
| 2:10.7 | brought to you from the Bay of Naples itself. |
| 2:13.8 | And this time, it's the life and legacy of one of the most fascinating and brutal parts of |
| 2:19.5 | this city's history. This is episode two, Gladiators. |
... |
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