How deadly was gladiatorial combat?

Some gladiatorial matches were terminated by a fatal blow. A few were declared a draw. The majority, however, ended when one of the gladiators raised a finger in the gesture of submission. His fate then depended on the mood of the audience - and the wealth of the games’ sponsor.

For more on the gladiators and many other aspects of classical life, check out my book “Naked Statues, Fat Gladiators, and War Elephants: Frequently Asked Questions about the Ancient Greeks and Romans.”

https://www.amazon.com/Naked-Statues-...

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Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:24 Rules and referees
1:09 Death in the arena
2:03 Counting costs
3:02 Merciful gladiators
3:41 The odds of survival
4:26 For more, check out the book

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