SPORTS


 * __Types of athletes in ancient Rome__**

There were two types of athletes in ancient Rome: The Athletae and the Agonistae. The Agonistae only trained to improve their strength and agility for health purposes and in some cases to join the military. The Athletae trained vigorously for the public games. The typical roman athletes were tall, buff, and strong. Like the roman soldiers, the athletes were now devoted to nothing but competing and training for competition. Gladiators were slaves, criminals, and prisoners of war who were put with or against each other in fights to the death. The charioteers were normally slaves and the masters would own the chariots.

__**Types of ancient Roman sports**__

The games they competed in were: Running, Wrestling, Boxing, The Pentathlon, and the Pancratium. The Pentathlon consisted of five events which were: jumping, foot races, discus throwing, spear throwing, and wrestling. The Pancratium was a mix of boxing, wrestling, and mixed martial arts. The most popular sport in Rome were the Gladiator fights. Sometimes wild animals were brought in to go up against the gladiators. Chariot races were very popular to watch in ancient Rome. It is one of the oldest sports events in Rome and could be dated back into Greece. It was often very expensive to become a charioteer but if you won you would get fame, glory, and money. Many of the arts found from Rome were based off of Chariot Races such as sculptures, mosaics, and on potery. Olympic games were all dedicated to Zeus, and as such, the games quickly reached high status. Victorious Roman athletes were awarded with honours far beyond the traditional olive wreath.


 * __Where they were held__**

Everything from duels to battle reenactments were put on in the colosseum. Chariot races were held in a circus that consisted of many seats and a U shaped arena. The races were held in a circus that could seat 25,000 roaring people. On the sharp turns there was sometimes crashes which made this sport dangerous, but the crowd liked the fast, sharp turns.


 * __Rewards__**

In the games the contenders could win prizes. The Roman citizens enjoyed gambling on these games. If you won an event in the Olympics, you would never have to work again- your village would give you all sorts of gifts, perhaps a large house, government offices, maybe even priesthood. The winners(of running, wrestling, and boxing)would then be granted with various titles or prizes such as olive oil and a reeve to wear upon there heads


 * __Miscellaneous and Repeats__**

The fights were usually put on by the government or wealthy people for the Roman people's entertainment.

The most popular sports, were running, wrestling, and boxing.

Chariot races and gladiatorial events were the most popular sport activities. The crowd liked seeing people die and blood. The chariot racing was also a very huge activity.

Leo-http://www.roman-colosseum.info/roman-life/roman-sports.htm Matthew Saporito-http://www.roman-colosseum.info/roman-life/roman-sports.htm Kenyon-http://ablemedia.com/ctcweb/consortium/gladiators.html Ike-http://library.thinkquest.org/26602/entertainment.htm Chris Janidlo-http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/08/0809_040809_nakedolympics_2.html Tucker-http://library.thinkquest.org/06aug/00418/sports.html