Archaeologists have just uncovered a rare piece of Roman-era history in the ancient town of Mastaura in western Turkey: a nearly perfectly-preserved gladiator arena that could seat upwards of ...

Bloody, brutal but popular, gladiatorial contests are often seen as the dark side of Roman civilization ... place in amphitheaters. Gladiators would be sent to the arena – named after the ...

Only after all that did the gladiators enter the arena for the actual combat in the afternoon. Their sessions were known as munera and represented the real highlight of the day for Roman audiences.