Inside the Colosseum's FIRST gladiator fight: What happened when Priscus and Verus went head to head in front of Emperor Titus at arena's opening in AD80
It was a contest that just kept on going, the crowd baying for more as the two warriors grappled.
It was a contest that just kept on going, the crowd baying for more as the two warriors grappled.
With neither gladiator having killed the other, it fell to Emperor Titus to choose the winner of the very first fight in Romes brand new Colosseum.
But as historian Dan Snow recounts in a Channel 5 documentary tonight, Titus was so impressed by the spirit of the two men, Priscus and Verus, that he declared them joint victors and set them free.
That fight in AD80 - nearly 2,000 years ago - marked the start of 100 days of inaugural games in what was known then as the Flavian Amphitheatre, which had taken six years to build.
The games saw the deaths of nearly 10,000 animals at the hands of hunters called bestiarii and on one day alone, there were fights between 3,000 gladiators.
Ridley Scotts new epic Gladiator II brings to life the dark majesty of the Colosseum, as Paul Mescals Lucius Verus takes on the might of imperial Rome.
Although it is largely being well-received by critics and viewers, experts have pointed out some of the historical inaccuracies, such as scenes of gladiators riding rhinos and the presence of man-eating sharks.
Ridley Scotts new epic Gladiator II brings to life the dark majesty of the Colosseum - now a TV documentary reveals what happened in the arenas very first fight
Historian Dan Snow recounts what happened in Channel 5 documentary The Colosseum: The Arena of Death
Engraving depicting gladiators fighting within the Colosseum in Rome
But the real fights in the Colosseum did not need sharks or men riding rhinos to be captivating.
Referring to Roman writer Martial, who recorded the clash between Priscus and Verus, Snow says in The Colosseum: The Arena of Death: Our source says the fight went on and on.
Both men were cheered by their supporters in the crowd and by the emperor himself.
The men fought on desperately. The fight continued. But neither superstar could overcome the other.
Exhausted, the men finally stopped and turned to Titus. It would be down to the emperor to decide the winner.
In Hollywood, Titus would dramatically raise his hand, waiting to point his thumb up or down. But in reality, there is no evidence that any emperor did that.
Instead, a hush would have descended on the crowd, awaiting his decision.
Titus stood up, today he announced there were two winners.
And then he went a step further, he said that both men would be issued with the wooden sword that was given to gladiators who were to be set free. Titus freed both men.
Although born a free man, Verus had been captured on the north-east frontier of the Roman empire in AD76. He was brought back to Italy and made a slave.
He first worked for a year in a quarry, before being given the chance to train as a gladiator.
Priscus meanwhile was a slave from Gaul (now France).
The Colosseum had been built from 750,000 tons of dressed stone, 8,000 tons of marble and 6,000 tons of concrete.
An astonishing 60,000 spectators - more than Chelseas Stamford Bridge - could be accommodated.
Emperor TItus, who was ruling the Roman Empire when the Colosseum opened in AD80
A cowardly gladiator faces rampaging enemies during a fight
Fight of the gladiators in ancient Rome, painting by Jean Leon Gerome
The Colosseum had been built from 750,000 tons of dressed stone, 8,000 tons of marble and 6,000 tons of concrete
Roman historian Tacitus said contests in the Colosseum were a vice peculiar to Romans, which children seem to absorb almost in their mothers womb.
When gladiators signed on, they swore a terrifying oath: I undertake to be burned by fire, to be bound by chains, to be beaten, to die by the sword.
They were largely drawn from prisoners of war, criminals and slaves. Some free men also volunteered on the same terms.
The men would usually live and train in barracks, where medical care was available to ensure they were in good health.
Masseurs, accountants, armourers and security guards were often on staff. The latter group were there to ensure the gladiators did not escape and get their hands on any weapons.
Gladiators were given cash prizes for winning their fights, and successful ones could win popular support to buy their freedom.
Graffiti found in private homes and brothels demonstrates that some of the fighters felt themselves irresistible to women.
One warrior, Celadus, is called the girls hero and heart-throb, while another, Crescene, is lord and healer of the night-club dollies.
On the day before a fight, gladiators were given a grand banquet, which bystanders could watch if they wished.
There is no evidence for men riding rhinos in the Colosseum, even though such a scene features in Gladiator II
A naval battle really did take place in the Colosseum. Above: The scene from Gladiator II
It is true that the gladiators were nearly all slaves, but they were valuable ones, Dan Snow writes
The day of a fight would start with a grand procession. When the gladiators reached the emperors rostrum, they would cry: Hail, Emperor, those who are about to die salute you!
There were three broad categories of fighters. Some fought from chariots, others were heavily armoured with fearsome weapons, and a third group were lightly-armed and usually without armour.
But the latter were equipped with the likes of nets, tridents, shields and daggers.
Fights were to the death, or until one of the men appealed for mercy. It was ultimately up to the emperor to decide the outcome.
Once a victim was thought to be dead, an attendant dressed up to look like Mercury (the god who escorted souls down to Hades) would come out with a hot iron to check they were not bluffing.
Surviving losers would be taken to hospital, whilst the victor lapped up the glory and prize money.
The Colosseum: The Arena of Death airs tonight at 9pm on Channel 5.
