Coloseum: A Gladiator's Story

Description: Coloseum: A Gladiator’s Story travels back in time to the brutality and glamor of ancient Rome, to shed light on the true manner in which gladiators fought and trained. Throughout the special, historical facts about gladiators and the Colosseum are told via the true story of the gladiator e forges friendships with other trainee gladiators and learns that life as a gladiator can be nasty, brutish and short. But he also learns that, with luck, skill and sheer courage, a star gladiator can become rich, attract admiring hordes of women and ultimately earn his freedom. Coloseum follows Verus’ rise to fame and relives his spectacular fight during the inaugural games at the Colosseum. The program also explores the building of the Colosseum, using computer animation to reveal the original beauty and ambition of its design. With corridors and staircases leading from 76 public entrances to convey 55,000 spectators to their seats in minutes, the Colosseum also had a maze of subterranean passages and chambers that kept gladiators and wild animals in readiness below. Platforms raised by pulleys to concealed trap doors in the arena floor provided additional excitement.