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**richsc** · 09-03-2002, 11:58 AM

Rome Steps in to Stop Gladiators Making a Killing 
 
ROME (Reuters) - Forget lions and tigers. Rome's modern 
gladiators were under fire from city authorities on Monday 
after tourists complained about exorbitant prices and shabby 
uniforms. 
Rome's council has vowed to clamp down on the costumed 
characters who hang around the Colosseum, offering tourists a 
glimpse of 80 AD when a 100-day festival of ferocious warfare 
opened the city's most famous monument. 
Twenty-first century gladiators, who only pose for 
photographs, will have to charge fixed rates and display prices 
prominently under new rules, due to come into force before the 
end of the year. 
"It sounds like a good idea. We were forced to pay $20. It 
was a total rip-off as we didn't know we had to pay when we 
took the photos," said LaJoyce Brown, an irate tourist from 
Pennsylvania. 
Shannon Shogren from Atlanta, Georgia, suffered a similar 
fate. "They came up to me and gave me a helmet to wear so I 
took a photo with two of them and then they said it was five 
euros (dollars) apiece. I didn't want to mess with them," he 
said. 
The Colosseum is Italy's most visited archaeological site, 
attracting almost three million tourists a year. City fathers 
fear the unregulated gladiators are giving the whole country a 
bad name. 
"We want to create a new professional gladiator figure and 
make visitors feel confident they are paying fair prices," 
Daniela Valentini of the council's business department told the 
Corriere della Sera newspaper. 
The city also plans to ensure gladiators look more like the 
real thing -- making them discard plastic helmets, T-shirts and 
sandals and invest in metal headgear, authentic breast-plates, 
tunics and shin-high leather boots. 
"They definitely look plastic and cheap at the moment. The 
less like Halloween costumes and the more authentic the 
better," said American tourist Sergio Buccilli, as one 
T-shirt-clad gladiator brandished his sword. 
Roberto Coen, self-styled head of a 40-strong gladiator 
troupe, said he'd have to go shopping. 
"I'll need to buy a new helmet which will probably set me 
back 300 euros, but it's just something I have to do. Anything 
that improves the city for tourists is a positive step for us," 
said the seven-year veteran of the Colosseum. 
Although plastic helmets are out, plastic swords are still 
in. In March, police caught a gladiator with a real sword and 
he faces up to three years in jail for carrying illegal arms. 
Coen, a swarthy 42-year-old, insisted the five-euro photo 
charge was standard but said gladiators often asked for less if 
they thought tourists came from poorer countries. 
He was unfazed by proposals to make gladiators register and 
take a mini-exam in English and people management. 
"We regulate ourselves now but under these plans, we will 
be officially qualified and it will improve our standing." 
Belgian tourist Martine Bekaert said the gladiators needed 
an etiquette and acting coach as well as a makeover. 
"It's a good idea to try to recreate history, but it should 
give a real natural flavor of the times. At first glance the 
gladiators are very nice, but then you get a bit closer and 
it's a group of men hanging around smoking." 
 
 
Richard Campbell, Legio XX.
http://www.geocities.com/richsc53/studies/

TITVS SABATINVS AQVILIVS · 09-03-2002, 12:39 PM

That's a really disgusting situation, due to few "desperados" 
a big section of the image of a whole city looks compromised. 
 
So, you can understand the strong need of "real" and "authentic" roman events right here, in the Fatherland: 
people wants authenticity, overhere too. 
 
I hope to help doing the gathering at Albano (new dates 4-5-6 October 2002). 
 
Uale, 
Titus Sabatinus Aquilius

09-03-2002, 02:39 PM

That is a beautiful roman story! 
They'll NEVER change... 
The swindlers are back in front of the Colosseum. It's a beginning...E EM 
But don't forget: when in Rome, do as the Romans. Have you ever seen a Roman being photographed with one of those comediantes? 
sheesh...E EM

Muzzaguchi · 09-04-2002, 12:19 AM

Hi 
 
When my wife and I were in Rome last year we took photos of these 'gladiators' and didn't pay - that is probably why the guy I'd photographed twice stabbed me! The first photo he was on his brigh orange mobile phone and then a few days later the same guy was eating an ice cream in uniform so I had to take photos. If I'd known they charge that would have explained why they were irate! There is something hilarious (and I don't want to offend any re-enactors here) when they use the wrong and out of date (or not yet in date I should say) stuff. I've got a great photo from Kirby Hall 2000 with a Napoleonic figure on his mobile in the foreground and a Confederate infantryman in the background eating an ice cream (What is it with phones and ice cream?! 
 
CheersE EM 
 
Muzzaguchi It is an unscrupulous intellect that does not pay Antiquity its due reverence - Erasmus of Rotterdam

TITVS SABATINVS AQVILIVS · 09-04-2002, 12:57 PM

Yes, anachronism is fun! I laugh yet for the pic of the IX Hispana at: 
 
www.legio-ix-hispana.org/P1010122.gif 
 
Uale, 
Titus Sabatinus Aquilius 
 
 
"Desilite, inquit, commilitones, nisi vultis aquilam hostibus prodere" D.B.G. (4.25)

Goffredo · 09-04-2002, 01:05 PM

Ciao Tito 
I really laughed at your IX Hispana photo! 
Molto buffo. Very funny indeed

TITVS SABATINVS AQVILIVS · 09-04-2002, 03:54 PM

Vero eh? 
Hai visto tutte le altre (gallery, anachronism)? 
 
 
Sure! 
Did you see the other ones (gallery, anachronism)? 
 
Ciao, 
Titus Sabatinus Aquilius

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