On the floor of the Colosseum in Rome!

Getting a gladiator's view of this incredible monument

Greetings Gold and Silver Level Templar Knights! What on earth was it like being a gladiator entering the Colosseum to crowds baying for your blood? Well, I went to find out.

The Colosseum still dominates the skyline of Rome as it has done for two thousand years since it was built as the Flavian amphitheatre by the dynasty of that name. It was constructed deliberately on top of the personal pleasure palace of the dead emperor, Nero. The victorious Flavians, who had overthrown Nero, making the point that a palace should belong to the people - and not be the personal plaything of a mad despot.

And what were the people to experience there? On arrival for a day’s entertainment, you could watch public executions of criminals and war captives. Followed by beast fights. And then the gladiators. Today, the floor of the Colosseum hosts concerts as you can see below…

I enjoyed my exclusive access to get a gladiator view of the Colosseum. I can’t imagine the sheer terror those fighters felt as they processed out before the emperor, senators, equites, and mob of Rome.