CLST 260 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Ludus Magnus, Pollice Verso, Colosseum
21 Mar 2017
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Iugula - pollice verso (cut his throat) kill the gladiator. Had to willingly submit to death; a means of honour. To be able to die a positive thing. Blows with knife tended to be through the upper back/lower back neck or, through throat, down into heart. That is what the damage to the bones in gladiators have shown . The gladiators were supposed to face death willingly, face-first. Theta nigrum - black theta a symbol of death. After gladiator was killed, images of them being dragged by hooks and discarded. They would be carried off on a stretcher, and have a proper burial service. Then the victor would be celebrated, maybe do a victory lap Basically, a draw -- both gladiators are too exhausted to continue, both fought equally well, wouldn"t be fair to kill one and let another survive therefore, a tie! Note that both gladiators dying is very unlikely!
