During the summer of 2020, archaeologists found the remains of an arena from the Roman era in Turkey. The arena must have hosted up to 20,000 spectators who were betting and cheering on gladiator ...

Sometimes a special to-the-death gladiator battle would be planned, which ticket holders would be informed of in advance. Across the Roman Empire around 8000 people died in the arena every year.

Successful gladiators were the ... to take their chances in the arena. Bloody, brutal but popular, gladiatorial contests are often seen as the dark side of Roman civilization.

Only after all that did the gladiators enter the arena for the actual combat in the afternoon. Their sessions were known as munera and represented the real highlight of the day for Roman audiences.

In what must be the most stunning attraction of all the Advent celebrations around Croatia, an ice rink has been created within the Roman ... gladiatorial battles and the Pula Film Festival, the ...