The Roman gladiator has long been a figure of fascination. Portrayed frequently in fine art and popular culture alike, the gladiator is both a real part of history and a legend of a romanticized past. We know that these men entertained Roman audiences by fighting in dangerous and often deadly games. But who were the gladiators? What were their lives like? And why do they continue to have such a strong hold on our imagination, centuries after the fall of the Roman Empire?

Join historian and consultant Alexander Marriotti to explore these and other questions in The Real Life of a Roman Gladiator. Across six lectures, Alexander will trace the history of gladiators, from their earliest origins in Greek and Etruscan culture to their rise as celebrity athletes to their eventual decline as Rome’s imperial power faded. You’ll uncover where gladiators were born and trained, how they lived, and why they have become such lasting symbols of power and resilience.

While the Roman gladiator may have occupied a world and a historical moment very different from our own, you may find that we share more in common than you would expect. After all, the gladiator was an underdog—a fighter of low social standing who could, through skill and luck, achieve a level of renown on par with some of today’s most successful athletes. Ultimately, you’ll discover why the gladiator is one of our most enduring archetypes, one who serves to remind us that we, too, can overcome the odds and achieve glory.