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Bread and circuses: what happened in the amphitheatres of the Roman empire?

Bread and circuses: what happened in the amphitheatres of the Roman empire?

From gladiatorial fights to brutal executions by wild animals, the amphitheatres of Imperial Rome were home to many brutal spectacles designed to awe and entertain. Writing for BBC History Magazine, Tony Wilmott of English Heritage explains what really happened in the amphitheatres of the Roman empire

Mosaic showing gladiators, Roman Civilization, 4th century

Published: August 17, 2020 at 6:47 AM

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