Tides of History
Gladiators and the Roman Psyche: Interview with Dr. Harry Sidebottom
April 2, 202644 min · 8,715 words
Show notes
Gladiators are one of the most instantly recognizable yet alien aspects of Roman society, and Dr. Harry Sidebottom's new book - Those Who Are About to Die - offers a cutting-edge view of these fascinating entertainers based on the most recent research. We discuss what recent research has revealed about their lives, why the Romans were so intrigued by them, and why they matter today. Patrick has a brand-new history show! It’s called Past Lives, and every episode explores the life of a real person who lived in the past.
Highlighted moments
these guys were fed up on a unique diet. It was called sagina in Latin, which means stuffing. It's got connotations of animal feed.
“They're almost deformed by their heavy, repetitive training.”
“The amphitheater would loom over the town like a cathedral did over a medieval city.”
“If those scum out in the middle are showing that endurance and courage and skill, how much more so will us, the Roman citizens in the stands, if and when we're called on to fight for Rome, how much more will we show?”
Transcript
Transcript not available for this episode yet.