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The "thumbs down" was not a thumbs down, but a thumbs turned (to the side) which indicated that the victorious gladiator would cut the throat of the losing gladiator. If you want more information a good website is:
http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/games/a/thumbsup.htm
This is where I confirmed what I learned in a college history course.
In short, yes it meant to kill the man.
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Why did hades want to kill the gods?
In Greek myth, Hades never attempted to kill his siblings and nephews/ nieces the Olympian gods and goddesses. He did fight beside his brother Zeus and Poseidon against the Titans.
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Troyumus means I will fight for my life and the lives of others. Even if I have to shoot another human being who is trying to kill me or others. To the death if need be...
In the book The Iliad did the gods favor the Trojans?
Some Gods favored the Greeks, others the Trojans. Athena favored the Greeks when she helped Achilles fight and kill Hector.
What kind of hunting weapons did the ancient Egyptians use?
The ancient Egyptians instead of fighting the enemy the would kill themselves.
How do you kill a maenad?
If you are talking Greek myth, you do not kill them, they kill you!
What did the 'thumbs down gesture' mean in ancient Rome?
The 'thumbs down gesture' in Ancient Rome was used in the gladiator ring during a fight. It was used to mean to kill the gladiator that was losing the fight.
What did thumbs up and thumbs down mean in gladiator?
The thumbs up mean that if you are in the position to kill someone it means let them go and don't kill them Actually, that is wrong. It is a common misconception that the thumbs up meant the person would be spared. A thumbs up really meant to kill them.
Did it mean death when Julius Caesar put thumbs down to a gladiator?
We have no record of Julius Caesar ever ordering a gladiator's death, although it could have been possible as he sponsored gladiatorial combats. Remember that there is controversy about the "thumbs" business. Hollywood would have you believe that thumbs down meant death but historians believe that it was a turning of the thumb that signaled the death blow. To explain, the thumb was a symbol for the sword. If the editor of the games turned his thumb up, it meant "put up your sword" or don't fight. If he turned his thumb sideways, it meant "run him through" or kill as death wounds are generally given with the sword in a stabbing or straight position.We have no record of Julius Caesar ever ordering a gladiator's death, although it could have been possible as he sponsored gladiatorial combats. Remember that there is controversy about the "thumbs" business. Hollywood would have you believe that thumbs down meant death but historians believe that it was a turning of the thumb that signaled the death blow. To explain, the thumb was a symbol for the sword. If the editor of the games turned his thumb up, it meant "put up your sword" or don't fight. If he turned his thumb sideways, it meant "run him through" or kill as death wounds are generally given with the sword in a stabbing or straight position.We have no record of Julius Caesar ever ordering a gladiator's death, although it could have been possible as he sponsored gladiatorial combats. Remember that there is controversy about the "thumbs" business. Hollywood would have you believe that thumbs down meant death but historians believe that it was a turning of the thumb that signaled the death blow. To explain, the thumb was a symbol for the sword. If the editor of the games turned his thumb up, it meant "put up your sword" or don't fight. If he turned his thumb sideways, it meant "run him through" or kill as death wounds are generally given with the sword in a stabbing or straight position.We have no record of Julius Caesar ever ordering a gladiator's death, although it could have been possible as he sponsored gladiatorial combats. Remember that there is controversy about the "thumbs" business. Hollywood would have you believe that thumbs down meant death but historians believe that it was a turning of the thumb that signaled the death blow. To explain, the thumb was a symbol for the sword. If the editor of the games turned his thumb up, it meant "put up your sword" or don't fight. If he turned his thumb sideways, it meant "run him through" or kill as death wounds are generally given with the sword in a stabbing or straight position.We have no record of Julius Caesar ever ordering a gladiator's death, although it could have been possible as he sponsored gladiatorial combats. Remember that there is controversy about the "thumbs" business. Hollywood would have you believe that thumbs down meant death but historians believe that it was a turning of the thumb that signaled the death blow. To explain, the thumb was a symbol for the sword. If the editor of the games turned his thumb up, it meant "put up your sword" or don't fight. If he turned his thumb sideways, it meant "run him through" or kill as death wounds are generally given with the sword in a stabbing or straight position.We have no record of Julius Caesar ever ordering a gladiator's death, although it could have been possible as he sponsored gladiatorial combats. Remember that there is controversy about the "thumbs" business. Hollywood would have you believe that thumbs down meant death but historians believe that it was a turning of the thumb that signaled the death blow. To explain, the thumb was a symbol for the sword. If the editor of the games turned his thumb up, it meant "put up your sword" or don't fight. If he turned his thumb sideways, it meant "run him through" or kill as death wounds are generally given with the sword in a stabbing or straight position.We have no record of Julius Caesar ever ordering a gladiator's death, although it could have been possible as he sponsored gladiatorial combats. Remember that there is controversy about the "thumbs" business. Hollywood would have you believe that thumbs down meant death but historians believe that it was a turning of the thumb that signaled the death blow. To explain, the thumb was a symbol for the sword. If the editor of the games turned his thumb up, it meant "put up your sword" or don't fight. If he turned his thumb sideways, it meant "run him through" or kill as death wounds are generally given with the sword in a stabbing or straight position.We have no record of Julius Caesar ever ordering a gladiator's death, although it could have been possible as he sponsored gladiatorial combats. Remember that there is controversy about the "thumbs" business. Hollywood would have you believe that thumbs down meant death but historians believe that it was a turning of the thumb that signaled the death blow. To explain, the thumb was a symbol for the sword. If the editor of the games turned his thumb up, it meant "put up your sword" or don't fight. If he turned his thumb sideways, it meant "run him through" or kill as death wounds are generally given with the sword in a stabbing or straight position.We have no record of Julius Caesar ever ordering a gladiator's death, although it could have been possible as he sponsored gladiatorial combats. Remember that there is controversy about the "thumbs" business. Hollywood would have you believe that thumbs down meant death but historians believe that it was a turning of the thumb that signaled the death blow. To explain, the thumb was a symbol for the sword. If the editor of the games turned his thumb up, it meant "put up your sword" or don't fight. If he turned his thumb sideways, it meant "run him through" or kill as death wounds are generally given with the sword in a stabbing or straight position.
How did fighting arenas in ancient Rome work?
They had the fighting arena where the gladiator and animal would fight. They would starve the animal for 3 days so it would be starving, and keep it in the dark and then be thrusted out into the sunny arena. Under the arena they have the areas where the gladiator and animal wait. If the animal survives and kills the gladiator, it would be thrust into another fight where a trained gladiator to kill wild animals would kill it.
What was the emperor role at the festivities?
The emperor gets to decide the final decision if the person the gladiator is going to kill is allowed to die or not. He does this by using his thumb. A thumbs up means that the person may live, and if it's a thumbs down, the person has to die.
how did i become a gladiator?
kill people
How did the Roman gladiator kill his opponent?
This is a question that is open to debate. First of all, the emperor was not always the one who gave the death order, or the win /lose order. The one who controlled things was the Director of the games. If the emperor were present, as a courtesy, he would be named Diretor. Okay, the Director used his thumb. The thumb was supposed to represent a sword and if the thumb were held upward, it meant life or a win, because you put your sword up when the fight is over. No problem there. But when it came to the death or lose order, historians get into verbal gladiatorial combat. Some say that the Director turned his thumb sideways, symbolizing a sword thrust to the heart. Others say that the Director turned his thumb downward, symbolizing a death thrust through the throat. Until they come to a conclusion, we're all free to take our pick of the lose symbol.
Questions you would be good to ask a roman gladiator?
What kind of armor did you use/Do you want to kill me?/how did you become a gladiator
What were the gladiators jobs?
They were slaves who were taught to fight and kill to the death for the plebeian's (common folk) and Roman's entertainment.
How long did it usually take for a gladiator to kill another gladiator?
I think it depends on what was the objective of the fight. Was it a battle to be re-enacted. Was it meant to last longer? Some were short and some were long and drawn out depending on who was fighting. Was the battle one on one, two on one? A fight fought by equals or one fought where one gladiator had the clear advantage. Some deaths were quick, some death's were slow....Kinda like wrestling today. Anything to please the crowd. Sometimes the crowd wanted a quick and bloody death, sometime they wanted a slow drawn out mutilated death is my guess.
Did gladiaters have to kill or injer to the person could no longer fight?
it would depend on the orders of the royalty present i believe, and the crowd to a certain extent, thumb on the side would indicate kill him whereas thumbs up to spare him
Why was the life of a gladiator so dangerous?
In most cases, gladiators faced injury or death at the hands of their fellow gladiators, against whom they fought. In some cases, however, gladiators fought various wild animals, instead of other gladiators. The animals (such as lions) could also injure or kill gladiators. In general, the life of a gladiator was very uncertain.
