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 * Roman Gladiators**

The origins of Gladiatorial fights are from the Estruscan custom of human sacrifices to honor the dead. Roman Gladiators were typically slaves, criminals, and prisoners of war that fought against each other or dangerous animals for freedom. Free-born men, who still had their citizen rights, volunteer in these matches; they were treated as slaves themself after making an oath to the owner. These Gladiator matches were performed/staged in ampitheatres, after the animal fights and the public executions were over. Unlike movies that potray Gladiatoral fights and events, death was less common as Gladiators were expensive to recuit and maintain with the cost of training and replacement. Gladiators fights continued until the early 300's, which was outlaw by Constantine 1, but still continued until the mid 5th century. Women were aloud to fight in these Gladiators events until 200 A.D when it was banned by the order of Emperor Septimius Severus.

Reference: Roman Gladiator. 2003. Web. 2009. .