Roman Colosseum And Forum
Something inside me tells me that what they say in the video about these places isn't correct
In fact it very strongly disagrees with what it being said
Firstly, the Colosseum wasn't gladiators "fighting to the death". They played all types of arena sports. Including games similar to modern Rugby (that has roots originating in Mayan culture as well)
They mistake and misinterpret the bloodshed in much the same way that Mayan sport was misinterpreted
They didn't have their heads cut off if they lost. They had tables and ranking systems, like any other modern sport. If they lost the games, they would lose their spot at the "head of the competition", meaning they would love down the ladder
The Emperor didn't decide who lived or died. The Umpires decided what was allowed and what wasn't. Just like referees, umpires and officials in modern sport
The "Lions" were mascots. Similar the Brisbane Lions in modern Australian Football League
They did hold "mock battles" in the Arena, but these never included deadly force or weapons
They would use staffs and sword length training weapons like arnis sticks. Usually made of something like bamboo
The idea of the mock battles was not to kill each over, because they didn't need to. Combat was sufficiently brutal and bloody, without the need to lose quality fighters
Imagine something similar to modern UFC, but with teams of opponents using bamboo swords
Do you think in a UFC fight like that, they'd need to kill each other? There would be more than enough blood and unconscious fighters
The idea of the mock battles was similar to modern war-games. Sections of the military, versus other sections of the military
There was nothing to be gained by killing skilled warriors. They needed them
Can you imagine if modern elite sports killed the losing team of each game? The concept is ridiculous
Can you imagine how unskilled and boring the game would quickly become? If you kept killing the best? And that's at a international level
Also the forum is where people from outside Rome were met, who were seeking entry into the city
Outsiders weren't allowed free access to the city unless they were "well met" and invited into the city, by someone authorised to invite them
They were usually only ever let in for business or essential purposes
Anyone from outside who sought to become a citizen (such as through marriage) would need to be introduced to the council by a citizen applying on their behalf with their family, or other citizens of good standing
The council would then receive them without the citizen applying on their behalf to test them
First step is they would be asked 3 questions:
1) What is a man?
2) What is God?
3) Who are you?
If they felt the persons answers reflected the collective values of the people, they would be passed to those who kept the laws and values of the people and city
They would be asked allot more in-depth questions about their morality and values
If they passed, they would be asked about their family and where they came from
If the place was known and/or traded with, they would send for as much information as they could on the person and their family, from those they knew or traded with in the area
If the place was unknown and/or not traded with, they would ask them about their culture, trade, markets, Government etc
They would accept the person telling in support of establishing links between their people. But they would also test if the person was willing to hand over valuable information about their people. For instance, if they were fisherman, they would ask the person if they would be willing to share their best fishing locations. If they told them this information or agreed, they would not be allowed to become a citizen. As they would be seen as untrustworthy
Only once the process was completed, would they be allowed to be sponsored as a future citizen and allowed limited access to the city
Forum was the only place inside the city outsiders were allowed to meet
There was limited trade allowed in this area, but it was under strict conditions
It was generally only opened to trade for things from outside which could not be found, produced or bought inside the city
And no permanent trade was allowed. It was generally only "fill of stock" and/or seasonal
Allot of the trade was limited to examples and samples of stock which could be found outside the city
But to do this, the trader would still need to abide by trade rules
Samuel Gregory Korn
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