but afterwards gladiators were to be seen at the funerals of most men
of rank. Under the Empire the passion for this kind of amusement
increased to such an extent, that gladiators were kept and trained in
schools (_ludi_) and their trainers were called _Lanistae_.
The person who gave an exhibition was called an EDITOR. He published
(_edere_), some time before the show, a list of the combatants.
In the show the fights began with wooden swords, but at the sound of
the trumpet these were exchanged for steel weapons. When a combatant
was wounded, if the spectators wished him spared, they held their
thumbs down, but turned them up if they wanted him killed. Gladiators
who had served a long time, were often discharged and presented with a
wooden sword (_rudis_), Hence they were called _rudiarii_.


THE AMPHITHEATRE, THEATRE, AND CIRCUS.

The AMPHITHEATRE was a place for the exhibition of gladiatorial shows,
combats of wild beasts, and naval engagements. Its shape was that of
an ellipse, surrounded by seats for the spectators. The word
Amphitheatre was first applied to a wooden building erected by Caesar.
Augustus built one of stone in the Campus Martius, but the most
celebrated amphitheatre was built by Vespasian and Titus, and
dedicated in 80 A. D. It is still standing, though partly in ruins,
covers nearly six acres, and could seat ninety thousand people. The
name given to it to-day is the COLOSSÉUM. The open space in the centre
was called the ARÉNA, and was surrounded by a wall about fifteen feet
high to protect the spectators from the wild beasts. Before the time
of Caesar the shows were held in the Forum and in the Circus.

The THEATRE was never as popular with the Romans as with the Greeks.