The Real Life of a Roman Gladiator

by Alexander Mariotti

The Roman gladiator has long been a figure of fascination. Portrayed frequently in fine art and popular culture alike, the gladiator is both a real part of history and a legend of a romanticized past. We know that these men entertained Roman audiences by fighting in dangerous and often deadly games. But who were the gladiators? What were their lives like? And why do they continue to have such a strong hold on our imagination, centuries after the fall of the Roman Empire?
Join historian and consultant Alexander Mariotti to explore these and other questions in The Real Life of a Roman Gladiator . Across six lectures, Alexander will trace the history of gladiators, from their earliest origins in Greek and Etruscan culture to their rise as celebrity athletes to their eventual decline as Rome’s imperial power faded. You’ll uncover where gladiators were born and trained, how they lived, and why they have become such lasting symbols of power and resilience.

While the Roman gladiator may have occupied a world and a historical moment very different from our own, you may find that we share more in common than you would expect. After all, the gladiator was an underdog—a fighter of low social standing who could, through skill and luck, achieve a level of renown on par with some of today’s most successful athletes. Ultimately, you’ll discover why the gladiator is one of our most enduring archetypes, one who serves to remind us that we, too, can overcome the odds and achieve glory.

©2024 Audible Originals LLC. (P)2024 Audible Originals LLC.

Genres: History, Audiobook, Nonfiction, Ancient History, World History

Audible Audio

Published November 21, 2024

Reviews

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Real Life of a Roman Gladiator
By Alexander Mariotti
This is a very informative book and one that didn't put me to sleep. It should have been titled, "Everything You Wanted to Know About a Gladiator But Were Afraid to Ask."
I love history, and one of the periods of history I especially enjoy reading about is this time period. It also has insane rulers.😊

[Melindam · Rating 3 out of 5]

At 2 hours 30 minutes I found this way too short to learn anything more than I already knew of this topic.

It may serve as an intro, but obviously historian Alexander Mariotti is seriously limited by time to do more than a little surface-scratching, which is a pity.

I also felt that the least info was given exactly about those who should have been centrally featured: the gladiators themselves, so I was not at all satisfied with what I was given.

It was OK, but insufficient.

Currently included in the Audible US Plus catalogue.

[Chrissie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually much more interesting and enjoyable than I thought it would be!

[M W · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.85⭐️ Entertaining and fast-paced. I enjoyed the themes the author connected between Rome and our current age, and it was interesting to hear his personal experiences in these places whilst doing his research.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not what I was expecting as there was only one chapter really devoted to the gladiators. The rest of the book was about the history of the gladiators (and comparing it to modern MMA), and also Roman Empire history. I will admit that I didn't realize the gladiatorial contests were around for 600 years.

[David Thrower · Rating 3 out of 5]

Main takeaway is that according to Ovid, the best way to get boo’d up in Ancient Rome was to pull up to the Coliseum with the squad (paraphrasing)

[Hunter Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed how the author weaved the history of Rome into the story of the gladiators. I did learn quite a bit but wish it was longer with even more detail. There were many facets left unexplored (I assume the author was given a time limit).

[Joshlyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Incredibly difficult to finish.

[Catherine Puma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This lecture series discusses what we really know about how gladiators lived, who they were, and how gladiatorial games were used (and sometimes misused) by politicians to influence the populous. Alexander Mariotti engages with textual and archaeological evidence to back up his arguments, but is still friendly and conversational in his delivery.

His enthusiasm for the subject matter is infectious, and I only give this 4 not 5 stars because I wanted there to be a lot more of it! It's a short listen. I'll definitely be keeping an eye on Mariotti's writing career, especially if he publishes a book on this topic.

Yes, I 100% searched for a read like this because I loved the recent "Gladiator II" movie. No shame. Mariotti notes where "Gladiator", "Spartacus" and the like get things wrong, but rather than distancing readers, his tone invites fans of this media content into his audience to help explain the actual history. I was never made to feel bad for not already knowing this material or enjoying inaccurate entertainment interpretations. I'm so glad I listened to this.

[Klee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Real Life of a Roman Gladiator offers an engaging and informative look into the evolution of gladiatorial combat in ancient Rome. It explores how these brutal spectacles shifted from religious rituals honouring the dead to tools of political power, used by figures like Julius Caesar to gain popularity and keep the masses entertained.

The audiobook provides solid coverage of Rome’s leaders and their role in shaping the gladiatorial games, making it a useful listen for history enthusiasts. One intriguing detail is the origin of the Colosseum’s name, linked to a massive statue rather than the arena itself. Additionally, it dispels common misconceptions - most gladiators were not doomed to die in the arena; rather, the highest death toll came from convicts and prisoners of war.

Overall, this is a well-researched and accessible dive into the world of gladiators, offering both historical depth and interesting asides for listeners.

[Blair Hodgkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was interested in the debate over the existence of female gladiators. I remember reading a book called Gladiatrix years ago, suggesting there was a hidden legacy of such women combatants, but this seems to be strongly contested by the small amount of evidence. In any case, this short course of lectures was quite interesting, especially the business behind the scenes, such as how the games enhanced political and social status for those who put them on and how they were financed. The life of a gladiator himself was not dull either. The lecturer does well shedding light on these ancient figures. If you're looking for the short version on gladiators, while up-to-date with modern findings, this is the one for you.

[Juan Rivera · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are jobs and professions we often look down on as being “low class.” For Roman citizens, being a gladiator may have been seen that way—dangerous work reserved for slaves.

And yet, it was a form of entertainment that lasted for centuries—far longer than any modern organized sport—with massive popularity. Some gladiators became true stars: earning the equivalent of millions of dollars today, admired even by noblewomen.

What if we approached our own work with the same pride, dedication, and sense of purpose these men once had?

This audiobook takes you inside the real life of a gladiator.

[Black Sun · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a book with the title of The Real Life of Roman Gladiators, there is very little about the life of gladiators. We learn about the history and the how Roman Emperors interacted with them, but we did not read about what they ate, how they trained, where they lived, etc...

[Gilbert Stack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather than being the sort of group biography of a gladiator that the title suggests, this is a history of the “sport” starting with its ancient origins and tracing it as it developed into a lethal pastime. It’s an informative account and a very quick listen.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good context-setting of the gladiatorial institution, but not much about actual gladiators (there are a few other books more focused on that) -- this was more focused on the emperors and masters and their reasons for the games, statistics for survival, etc.

[Vanessa Brackett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually a very interesting lecture. Very detailed & informative. It’s really cool to know that most things portrayed in movies are almost completely historically accurate. Can’t wait to binge watch the Gladiator movies now lol!

[Shamim Hafiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure if it's me, but the contents seem to be scattered. The flow was fast but not well connected and I had difficulty following. Again, it could be me, cause I am trying another Great Courses audiobook and getting similar impression.

[Alex Shrugged · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this audio course, and it had a lot of good information. It started off a little too energetic though. It felt like the professor was trying too hard, but he soon settled down and over all it came out very well.

I'll probably listen to this audiobook again.

[Dany Cruz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but for being so short, I would have wanted way more gladiator talk than historical talk about the empire already well-familiar to me, and maybe a little less talk about modern sports too. Bummed out about the female gladiator part though.

[Michael Conforti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative book about gladiators

[Greg Diehl · Rating 2 out of 5]

A somewhat interesting series of lectures well-timed for Gladiator movie sequel.

[Nick H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting tidbits, but not detailed enough to really hold interest. Narrator/author Mariotti does a good job telling the stories though. [AUDIBLE]

面白いけど細かくはない。ナレーターがいい

[Kathy Adamson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dry

[Jeff J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise discussion of legend vs reality.

[Apollo Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.75) Solid. I love reading/watching things about gladiators whenever I need added motivation to workout and stay disciplined.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A straightforward, lecture style book on the lives of Roman gladiators.

[Paul Triller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audible version....forget what you think you know from any movie, novel, or TV show depicting gladiators!

[Matus Novotny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fun overview of the life of a gladiator. Light and entertaining yet practical and didactic as well.

[Zina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super interesting and detailed description of gladiators. Excellent. I just wish it were a lot longer!

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
I learned some new details about the role of games in ancient Rome and had some misconceptions corrected.