Gladiator and the Coliseum

As a guy, I simply can’t help but love the movie Gladiator. Sure, it’s nearly ten years old now but it has the coolest battle scenes. What’s more, the film taps into my deep love of Roman history, an obsession my friends have seen grow from the occasional paper back on ancient mythology to a full size reproduction of a gladiator outfit. While my family finds my fascination a bit embarrassing, my girlfriend tells me the leather sandals make me look a bit like Russell Crowe … at least from the ankles down. I have always thought it would be amazing to visit Rome and physically see the Colloseum where the actual gladiator battles took place. After years of complaining and perhaps to the general fear that I may one day wear my gladiator costume outside the privacy of my home, my family decided to gift me and my girlfriend with a trip to the Eternal City.

Upon arrival, we checked into our Hilton hotel in Rome and restlessly tred to sleep off the jet leg of our red eye. While my girlfriend managed a four hour power nap, the thrill of finally seeing the Colloseum pursued me to sample the concierge service to find a map of Rome and the best method of transportation to the Old city. As it was, the concierge was infinitely more helpful than I would’ve though. After explaining the various methods of transportation available from our location, the concierge let me know the Roma hotel Waldorf also hosted a special training session by instructors from Rome’s Gladiatorial School in combat techniques on the grounds of the hotel’s private park. Without giving it a second thought, I applied for a class early next morning and raced back to the room to tell my girlfriend about my great find. Pleased and a little relived, she was happy to hear I was being constructive about my interest in gladiators by taking a private course away in seclusion from the busy metropolitan.

A bit dismayed I hadn’t packed my gear with me, I found out that included in my registration fee was a tunic, wooden sword and all the accoutrement necessary for a gladiator in training. As the session proceeded I found I was not only receiving a lesson in sword fighting but also an education on scope to which culture, history and social organization played a part in the determining the gladiators role in Roman society. A totally unique experience, this lesson enhanced my holiday and I might say my girlfriend seemed completely enamored to watch me wield a sword in my short tunic.