Kazek, Kévin Alexandre Chasseurs & Gladiateurs. L'Epopee des Héros de l'Arène

Panem et Circenses, "Bread and Games" - Juvenal's expression denouncing the Roman plebeians, whose only aim was the free distribution of flour and the satisfaction of greed for public entertainment, pretty much characterises Roman society at the time of the first emperors. Make no mistake, however, the image of the Circus Maximus as a venue for gladiatorial combat is nothing more than pure fabrication. Apart from chariot races and sporting competitions, the Circus Maximus was mainly the scene of animal rushes, quasi-staged hunts in which men armed and equipped in various ways competed against all kinds of animals.

In the time of the Republic, the Forum served as an arena. Long before the invention of the amphitheatre, this public square, transformed for these events, was to serve as the setting for the first gladiatorial contests. Later, like the Colosseum in Rome, the amphitheatre became a fundamental part of urban planning. The topics covered range from a "proto-ethnic" gladiator of the 4th century BC to a gladiator in the time of Emperor Augustus, elaborate hunting displays in the mid-3rd century BC, various public spectacles in the amphitheatre and imperial gladiators, to Christian authors condemning the goings-on in the arenas as sacrilege. This book covers almost 800 years of Roman entertainment history. Based on a rich, detailed archaeological record (sigillate pottery, terracotta lamps, mosaics, frescoes, graffiti, glassware, statues, lapidary elements, etc.) and drawing on solid literary sources, this study presents the latest historical research on the subject to propose an original reinterpretation of this amazing social phenomenon.