Interview with a Gladiator
THE LIFE OF A GLADIATOR
By Aquilinus Caelinus
All of us love a gory Gladiator match from time to time, but what goes on behind the scenes? Where do they get all the heroic champions, and pitiful losers? The hardships they face, the rewards they earn; all will be revealed. This is the story of a true Gladiator’s life, Rome’s one and only Flavius Aclimus!
As I talked to Flavius, he gradually began to emerge from his shell, and soon opened up, telling the story of his epic life in spectacular detail, something that has never been heard before. He started off life as an uncivilised Gaul, born to a poor, lower-class family, although, looking at him now you can probably barely believe it! Flavius then began to describe vividly how, as a small boy, he had been captured by a mighty Roman solider while out picking berries. As one might guess, he then stated that it was one of the best things that had ever happened in his miserable childhood. I went on to ask him how he felt on the tedious journey from Gaul to his new home, Rome. Flavius told me even though he was young, he had heard stories about the power of our great city and the of course, the terrific gladiators. He had no clue what his future would hold, and was undecided whether this sudden change of his life was good or not. The whole experience had exhausted him, and he had woken up days later, dazed and hungry, tied to a stand in the black market. For days it seemed he stood, keeping going only because of sheer willpower. More time past and Flavius soon got into a squabble with another captive, that soon turned violent in which he severely injured the other boy. Luckily, a man watching this recognised his novice talent in fighting and immediately brought him. Flavius found himself in Gladiator School in a matter of hours, where he was handed over to a Butcher (an old Gladiator) to be trained into shape, ready for the arena. He was weak from the trauma in the market, but knew that Flavius
By Aquilinus Caelinus
All of us love a gory Gladiator match from time to time, but what goes on behind the scenes? Where do they get all the heroic champions, and pitiful losers? The hardships they face, the rewards they earn; all will be revealed. This is the story of a true Gladiator’s life, Rome’s one and only Flavius Aclimus!
As I talked to Flavius, he gradually began to emerge from his shell, and soon opened up, telling the story of his epic life in spectacular detail, something that has never been heard before. He started off life as an uncivilised Gaul, born to a poor, lower-class family, although, looking at him now you can probably barely believe it! Flavius then began to describe vividly how, as a small boy, he had been captured by a mighty Roman solider while out picking berries. As one might guess, he then stated that it was one of the best things that had ever happened in his miserable childhood. I went on to ask him how he felt on the tedious journey from Gaul to his new home, Rome. Flavius told me even though he was young, he had heard stories about the power of our great city and the of course, the terrific gladiators. He had no clue what his future would hold, and was undecided whether this sudden change of his life was good or not. The whole experience had exhausted him, and he had woken up days later, dazed and hungry, tied to a stand in the black market. For days it seemed he stood, keeping going only because of sheer willpower. More time past and Flavius soon got into a squabble with another captive, that soon turned violent in which he severely injured the other boy. Luckily, a man watching this recognised his novice talent in fighting and immediately brought him. Flavius found himself in Gladiator School in a matter of hours, where he was handed over to a Butcher (an old Gladiator) to be trained into shape, ready for the arena. He was weak from the trauma in the market, but knew that Flavius