CLC Roman Life Stage 8 - Gladiators

Which of the following would be found in the amphitheatre at Pompeii?

Tick all that apply

• tiers of seats

• a stage

• an awning to cover part of the seating area

• an arena

How many people could the arena in Pompeii hold?

• About half the population of the town

• Slightly less than the whole population of the town

• Slightly more than the whole population of the town

• The answer is not known, because the amphitheatre has not been fully excavated

How much did it cost a citizen to attend the arena in Pompeii?

• About 10 denarii

• About 10 sestertii

• About 10 hours' pay

• Nothing: shows were free

How were gladiatorial shows advertised?

Tick all the correct answers

• On notice boards in the forum

• By word-of-mouth

• Details were painted on the walls

• Letters were sent to people's homes

Which was the correct order of events on the day of a show?

• fighting, religious ceremony, trumpet blast, parade

• trumpet blast, religious ceremony, parade, fighting

• religious ceremony, trumpet blast, fighting, parade

• parade, trumpet blast, religious ceremony, fighting

Which types of people could become gladiators?

Tick all that apply

• prisoners of war

• condemned criminals

• debtors

• ex-slaves

'At least one gladiator died in every gladiatorial fight' - True or False?

• True

• False

Who decided whether a gladiator should die at the end of a fight?

• There was no 'decision': it was a fight to the death, and the winner always killed the loser

• The spectators decided the fate of the loser by giving a 'thumbs up' or 'thumbs down' signal

• The sponsor of the show decided whether a loser should be killed

True or False: it was a disgrace for a gladiator to have lost a fight and to have been spared. He would never recover from the shame

• True

• False

Which of the following is (probably) correct?

Tick any TWO options

• Thumbs up meant 'let him live'

• Thumbs up meant 'let him die'

• Thumbs down meant 'let him live'

• Thumbs down meant 'let him die'