Half of the Colosseum still remains; it is larger than any football stadium in the U.S. It has 6 levels. 2 levels were underground for the gladiators, animals, and victims. This is where many Christians were persecuted. Unfortunately someone or some animal died in every exhibition. This was difficult for me to understand; I am relieved that this is not a sport today. The Colosseum began around 100 AD and for the first 100 days there were about 50 exhibitions each day. A hundred years later there were about 90 exhibitions each day. I felt sadness and horror everywhere; how could people cheer for this activity? I was pleased to hear that the intellectuals did not support this cruel exhibition. Women were not exempt as we saw graffiti displaying 2 women sparring with a tiger; the tiger became the victim. Women were often persecuted as Christians. Criminals were thrown in with no way to defend themselves. Gladiators stood to gain big money for a win to lose meant death.
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Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
On our second trip to Rome on the bus tour the guide told us that the christians were not persecuted here as many people believe. My Frommers Italy guide also comfirms this legend as unfounded. It was mostly animals. The guide also stated that only about 2% of the gladiators survived a fight.
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