ve been carried up to heaven.

Gladiators were men who fought with swords in the amphitheatre and
other places, for the amusement of the people. These shows were first
exhibited at Rome in 264 B. c., and were confined to public funerals;
but afterwards gladiators were to be seen at the funerals of most men of
rank. Under the Empire the passion for this kind of amusement increased
to such an extent, that gladiators were kept and trained in schools
(_ludi_) and their trainers were called _Lanistae_. The person who gave
an exhibition was called an EDITOR. He published (_edere_), some time
before the show, a list of the combatants. In the show the fights began
with wooden swords, but at the sound of the trumpet these were exchanged
for steel weapons. When a combatant was wounded, if the spectators
wished him spared, they held their thumbs down, but turned them up if
they wanted him killed. Gladiators who had served a long time, were
often discharged and presented with a wooden sword (_rudis_), Hence they
were called _rudiarii_.

THE AMPHITHEATRE, THEATRE, AND CIRCUS.

The AMPHITHEATRE was a place for the exhibition of gladiatorial shows,
combats of wild beasts, and naval engagements. Its shape was that of an
ellipse, surrounded by seats for the spectators. The word Amphitheatre
was first applied to a wooden building erected by Caesar. Augustus built
one of stone in the Campus Martius, but the most celebrated amphitheatre
was built by Vespasian and Titus, and dedicated in 80 A. D. It is still
standing, though partly in ruins, covers nearly six acres, and could
seat ninety thousand people. The name given to it to-day is the
COLOSSEUM. The open space in the centre was called the ARENA, and was
surrounded by a wall about fifteen feet high to protect the spectators
from the wild beasts. Before the time of Caesar the shows were held in
the Forum and in the Circus.

The THEATRE was never as popular with the Romans as with the Greeks. The
plays of Plautus and Terence were acted on temporary wooden stages. The
first stone theatre was built by Pompey in 55 B. C., near the Campus
Martius. It was a fine building, with a seating capacity of forty
thousand. The seats were arranged in a semicircle, as at present,
the orchestra being reserved for the Senators and other distinguished
persons. Then came fourteen rows of seats for the Equites, and behind
these sat the ordinary crowd.

The CIRCUS MAXIMUS. between the Palatine and Aventi