Titus’s 100 Days of Games

“Today is the day,” I told my mom as I dashed down the stairs. I had been waiting weeks for this to happen. My dad and I were headed to the games! I had been to gladiatorial fights in the forum and at funeral processions, but never huge matches like this. The first ever gladiator match was in 264 BC and it was in a cattle market known as the Forum Boarium to celebrate

Brutus Pera. My ancestors watched the whole fight and now it has become a family tradition.

Titus has been a horrible leader until today. In 79 AD when he started his reign Mount Vesuvius erupted. The gods clearly were unhappy with his ruling. Now he is in good favor with the people because today he finally opens the games and the Colosseum. His father Vespasian ruled before him and started the building of the Colosseum. I asked my mother, “Did you know, Titus is the first ruler to come to throne after his biological father.” She responded, “Yes sweetie now you better leave for the games your father is waiting for you.” I saw my father in the atrium and we set off. I’ve always admired my father. He is in the Senate therefore he gets to sit in the front right behind the emperor at the Colosseum.

Our walk was short and we found little to discuss other than our excitement towards our day to come. We finally arrived at the massive Colosseum. Quickly everyone filed into their seats as the games were about to begin. The first piece of entertainment of the day was a parade of animals. My father overheard the emperor discussing how there will be over 10,000 animals of all kinds today at the games. Animals walked out, some I had never seen before. The women in the back were astonished to see such amazing creatures and proceeded to gasp at their beauty.

My father had briefly studied the animals and explained to me what they were. Hippopotami,

Crocodiles, Wolves, and Giraffes were easily my favourite. Everyone knew that Emperor Titus was trying to win our respect, but it was working. The animals exited through another door and 1

the whole stadium was served complimentary lunch and wine with the gladiator fight afterwards.

The munera was beginning to get closer. My father and I played dice games with a few men

around us. Music was played making it a festive atmosphere. There was even a water powered

organ.

All of a sudden a wooden ball was dropped right into my lap. Inscribed on the bottom

was the word, aurum. I had just won gold from the emperor. My father looked over at me with

pride in his eyes. Trumpets sounded signaling the beginning of the gladiator fight. Then a gate

opened and a retiarius emerged. He held his net tight in his hands as sweat poured down his face.

He was ready to stab his trident at any flinch. The secutor would soon emerge wearing a helmet

with a large shield. As the door opened and a gladiator appeared, I noticed that it was not a

secutor like I suspected, but a murmillo.

This was one fight that my father and I had never seen before. The murmillo held just one

weapon, a gladius. He was armed with a scutum. His bronze helmet, known as the Cassis Crista,

had a fine grill to protect against any sword. They saluted Titus as they uttered, “Those who are

about to die salute you”. The signal was was given to start the fight and we all sat at the edge of

our seats. The murmillo began with a quick jab to the retiarius head using his gladius. The

retiarius was able to easily dodge the advances because he did not wear a helmet. Immediately

my father whispered to me, “Son, I don’t think this will be a good fight the murmillo is not well trained. Did you see that immediate thrust to the head, it’s shows he’s not trying to win the crowd”. I whispered back “Yes father”. The retiarius threw his net over the murmillo. We suspected the fight was close to an end. All of the sudden the murmillo was back on his feet before the retiarius could strike. The murmillo was using his scutum to knock his opponent onto his feet. The retiarius was held at the neck with the sword. The murmillo looked to Titus to 2

decide his opponent’s fate. Titus responded with a thumbs down. (It is unclear what hand sign

was used). The retiarius’s throat was slashed and blood spurted everywhere. The man dressed as

Hermes entered and prodded the dead body. Then the Charon dragged the body away. I felt

queasy, while everyone around me was thrilled. I looked to my father and mirrored his

excitement. I had succumb to the culture of my people and did not think any differently.

The games continued, with an extraordinary fight between Priscus and Verus. Priscus

meaning ancient and Verus meaning true were equal fighters and even my father was excited.

This fight went on tirelessly with no signs of ending. Emperor Titus intervened and forced the gladiators to fight without using a shield. He proclaimed that this would go on until one of the men surrendered by raising his finger. The fight continued and it did not appear a victor would emerge. My father and the other men began chanting missio. This meant they wanted both gladiators to leave the fight without determining a victor. Shortly after, both gladiatores raised their finger at the exact same time. Titus decided to present both Priscus and Verus with a palm, a symbol of victory. Then Titus gave the privilege to both gladiators of being discharged of their gladiatorial duties. The crowd was full of shock. This was the greatest game anyone, even my father had ever seen. Later my father told me that one of his friends, the poet Martial, had written a piece about the miracle that we had watched that day. My father and I both told our story to our family and friends, and soon it seemed everyone knew about our historic day.

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Works Cited

Alchin, Linda. "Emperors and the Colosseum." Emperors and the Colosseum. Siteseen, Web. 06 Feb. 2017.

Andrews, Evan. "10 Things You May Not Know About Roman Gladiators." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 04 Mar. 2014. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.

Carr, Jason. "Rome: Gladiators of the Colosseum." WiredCosmos. 29 Mar. 2014. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.

"The Games at the Colosseum." The Games at the Colosseum. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.

Johnston, Mary. Roman Life. Chicago: Scott, Foresman, 1957. Print.

Lacey, Minna, Susanna Davidson, and Emmanuel Cerisier. Gladiators. London: Usborne, 2006. Print.

"Retiarius Gladiator." Retiarius Gladiator | Retiarius. Web. 03 Feb. 2017.

"Titus - Crystalinks." Titus - Crystalinks. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.

"Titus." Titus. Web. 01 Feb. 2017.