While basically everything in Rome outdates anything back home, ancient Rome takes things a step further. It truly is difficult to fathom ideas like sharing a footpath with Julius Caesar or hanging out underneath the Colosseum where lions and tigers (and bears??) were kept before they battled gladiators. The ancient Romans truly were an advanced society, evident in the sophistication of their technology and the survival of their constructions. The only reason why many of their buildings aren’t still around today is simply because they were looted for material to build other things around the city.
Being inside the Colosseum and hearing our guide speak about how audiences were treated to free all you can eat and drink shows involving exotic animal battles, slaves fighting for their lives, and gladiators taking down beasts had me in disbelief that I was actually standing where all this occurred.
I’d like to think that if I were a gladiator, I’d be a crowd favorite. I mean, I’ve got the pose down, right??