04-26-2004, 07:19 PM
The History Channel had one of their forensic archaeology shows examine skeletons found in a gladiator burial ground. Several of them had slice marks on their ribs going back across their spine like they had been stabbed through the heart. This suggests that the "thumbs down" was actually held more out to the side and thrust back towards the heart, simulating the death blow. They found evidence that the loosing gladiator was held up by one arm of his opponent and stabbed with the other through the heart.<br>
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On a side note, their other program called something like "A Gladiator's Story" was really good. It followed the story of one of the gladiators that fought in the final match at colluseum's inagural games where both were declared victorious and given their freedom. Unfortunately, they do the classic, "thumbs down" gesture, but I think the people speaking in the background are doing it in Latin. Some sneak in Italian pronounciation tho' but you have to listen closely.<br>
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Deb <p></p><i></i>
<br>
On a side note, their other program called something like "A Gladiator's Story" was really good. It followed the story of one of the gladiators that fought in the final match at colluseum's inagural games where both were declared victorious and given their freedom. Unfortunately, they do the classic, "thumbs down" gesture, but I think the people speaking in the background are doing it in Latin. Some sneak in Italian pronounciation tho' but you have to listen closely.<br>
<br>
Deb <p></p><i></i>
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Deb
Sulpicia Lepdinia
Legio XX
Deb
Sulpicia Lepdinia
Legio XX
