Gladiators
Gladiators were prisoners of war, condemned criminals, slaves bought for the purpose, or even volunteers. They trained in gladiatorial schools under a lanista, who was often a retired gladiator. The Emperor Domitian liked to watch women gladiators in an arena illuminated by torches at night. He also liked to see the classical myths retold in the arena. Once he turned the arena into the setting for the story of Orpheus. Elaborate scenery recreated Mount Rodope, the Garden of the Hesperides and the rock on which Orpheus sang. Birds flew across the scene and wild beasts ran into the arena while the criminal representing Orpheus was mauled to death by a bear. Another condemned criminal was forced to impersonate Daedalus escaping from the island of Crete with his newly-invented wings, but the hapless victim crashed to his death on the arena floor. One woman fought against a lion and actually won! Elephants and rhinos fought against bulls, and machines were constructed on which to hang gladiators and beasts so that they could literally fly across the arena. Sometimes even the Emperors themselves participated in the spectacle. Commodus (180-192 AD) descended into the arena no less than 635 times, much to the embarassment of the senators, who considered such behaviour beneath the imperial dignity.