... within. Gladiators symbolized both the embodiment and degradation of traditional Roman virtues showing honor and courage in the face of death; and yet, they represented an underlying threat which could, at any moment, ignite the fires of rebellion. One result of the rise in popularity of the spectacles during the Roman Republic was the encroachment of politics into the games. Those families ... that were vying for high political office within the Republic immediately saw the benefit of staging grand spectacles as a means of garnering high public opinion and votes. Dr. David Bomgardner ....

• Word Count: 1225
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate