The purpose of this talk is to show how much gladiators were a visible and important part of society in Pompeii. Given this focus, it will not deal with the lives of individual gladiators, the types, fighting techniques etc. The presentation will view gladiators from the perspective of the wider population of Pompeii and show that gladiators were more than just entertainment but part of daily life and gave meaning to many of the inhabitants of the town.
Online lecture for LRAC, the Arts and Humanities Society, on Roman classical studies. Recorded in June 2024.