Was the gladiator thumbs-down a real thing or made up?
What pollice verso actually means is the subject of scholarly debate that isn't concluded yet.
>it is uncertain whether the thumb was turned up, turned down, held horizontally, or concealed inside the hand to indicate positive or negative opinions
I've read someplace about a thesis that the Arena killing choice contested the Bread and Circus theory since the Arena was a highly democratic event and almost everyone "voted" the life of the gladiator.
Thumbs up: Execute
Thumbs down: Sheathe weapon
The thesis also said that gladiators were very expensive so they wouldn't kill people all the time. In fact gladiator tombstones often said that they lived to old age.
>>1383088
>In fact gladiator tombstones often said that they lived to old age.
Wouldn't that be due to only gladiators who won their freedom being able to afford tombstones? I doubt a slave would get anything more than a mass grave.
>>1383180
Being a slave in rome didnt stop you from earning money
