The Fascinating History of Gladiators: Interview with Alexander Mariotti

Tides of History

Wondery / Patrick Wyman

Documentary, Society & Culture, History

4.8 • 6.3K Ratings

🗓️ 19 September 2024

⏱️ 64 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Gladiators are one of the most enduring symbols of the Roman world, but what do we really know about them? Gladiator historian Alexander Mariotti joins me to discuss the logic behind gladiatorial games, the lives of real gladiators, and how the reality contrasts with the popular image we have today.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Wunderry Plus subscribers can listen to Tides of History early and ad free right now.
0:04.4	Join Wunderry Plus in the Wundery app or on Apple Podcasts. Hi everybody from Wundere. Welcome to another episode of Tides of History. I'm Patrick Wyman. Thanks much for joining me today.
0:25.3	When we think about the classical past, the centuries of Roman dominance of the Mediterranean and
0:29.9	beyond, there are a few images that stand out.
0:33.0	Roman soldiers, of course, with their rectangular shields and distinctive helmets,
0:36.7	massive temples and aqueducts naturally, the architectural symbols of Roman dominance.
0:41.6	But nothing is more instantly recognizable than the Coliseum, the gigantic
0:46.4	amphitheatre at the heart of Rome, the venue for beast fights, executions, and above all,
0:51.6	gladiatorial combat.
0:53.0	Gladiators are some of the most enduring characters of the Roman world.
0:57.0	They feature in film and TV depictions of the classical past
1:00.0	more than the common bakers of the avantine hill,
1:02.0	or the slave laborers who quarried all that fine market. more than the common bakers of the Aventine Hill,
1:02.5	or the slave laborers who quarried all that fine marble
1:05.2	we associate with Rome.
1:07.0	But who were the gladiators?
1:08.7	How did Roman society understand them?
1:10.7	And why are they still so compelling today?
1:13.0	To help us answer those questions and more, we couldn't hope for a better guest than we have today.
1:18.0	Alexander Mariati is the Gladiator historian, one of the world's leading experts on gladiatorial combat and culture.
1:24.2	He works as a historical advisor, lecturer, and has been a consultant to some of the most
1:28.0	prominent actors, politicians, and celebrities visiting Rome and London.
	...

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