la ludis
games (ludus) or celebrations, originally, for the Romans were a kind of religious ceremony, a rite done to endear themselves to the benevolence of the gods, had a propitiatory or commemorative purpose.
Games (ludus) could be of four types: “theatrical,” “circus,” “athletic,” and “hunting.” In the Flavian amphitheater, the most famous arena in the ancient world, fights with gladiators (munera), hunting performances (venationes) and at first even naval battles took place. executions were also carried out in the arena, but there is no historical evidence that the martyrdom of Christians took place there.
The demonstrations were of various kinds, sometimes cruel and sometimes reminiscent of circus shows with trained animals.
In any case, each show required a great deal of effective organization and resulted in very high costs.
During the games, the coliseum, housed on its stands, an inordinate crowd, ready to watch extraordinary spectacles with greed and excitement….try to imagine over 50,000 spectators not “being in their skin” and enjoying the blood of gladiators and the ferocity of beasts….
We, today, take pleasure in the silence of the coliseum, in its nighttime atmosphere and in the moment when it lights up every time a capital punishment is suspended in the world. We like it that way today, even without its beautiful marbles; purified by time.