A large amount of archaeological evidence regarding the life of a gladiator has been discovered from all over the Roman empire. It is part of a building that functioned both as a tavern and a brothel and was located near the barracks of the gladiators. The depiction above is from a well-preserved fresco from Pompeii discovered in 2019. A bloodied torso, shield thrown to his side, legs and chest covered in gashes, a gladiator leaning forward in a submissive position with his arm outstretched and thumb raised: this is a depiction of the end of a gladiatorial fight in which a badly injured gladiator asks to be spared while the victor stands besides him awaiting instructions on whether to spare his opponent’s life or kill him mercilessly, as the crowds often enjoyed.
