PAST EXPLORATIONS

Mystery Explored: The Secret Life of Gladiators
Expedition Dates: February 7 - 26 & March 22 - 23, 2008

Summary:

The Roman Gladiator participated in history’s most deadly sport, but does the Hollywood portrayal of Gladiators bear any resemblance to the truth?  Were they slaves or celebrities? What was their training and everyday home life like? I traveled the former Roman Empire from Italy to Turkey to Tunisia to find out. I attended a modern gladiator school in Rome to learn how they fought, visited their amphitheaters to see where they fought, and analyzed their bones to understand what they ate and how they were both reviled and revered.

Sponsoring Institution: Discovery Channel

Experts involved: Mr. Alex Mariotti Mr. Darius Arya Dr. Barry Strauss Dr. Sabine Ladstätter Dr. Fabian Katz Dr. David Bomgardner

Locations Visited: Naples, Italy Rome, Italy Ludus Magnus, Rome, Italy Mt. Vesuvius, Italy Pompeii, Italy El Djem, Tunisia Oudnha, Tunisia Carthage, Tunisia Ephesus, Turkey Vienna, Austria

<< BACK