... will die they salute you. With the emperor's sign a judge let a handkerchief fall to the ground as an opening signal. When a gladiator was wounded, the spectators shouted "Habet" ("he is wounded"); if he was at the mercy of his adversary, he lifted up his forefinger to implore the clemency of the people, to who (in the later times of the Republic) the giver left the decision as to his life or ... death. If the spectators were in favor of mercy they waved their handkerchiefs; if they desired the death of the conquered gladiator they turned their thumbs downward. (This ... the popular vi...

• Word Count: 1635
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School