Verus versus Priscus
Verus versus Priscus was the culmination of the gladiatorial fights on the opening day of the games that were founded by Emperor Titus for the opening of the Flavian Amphitheater (later the Colosseum ) in 80 AD.
Verus was a slave who went down in history as the most famous gladiator during the reigns of Vespasian and Titus in the late 1st century. His fight against his friend Priscus was recorded by Martial in a laudation-like poem, the only surviving detailed description of a gladiator fight . It is said that in the end both men fought each other with bare hands and the fight lasted about half an hour ( dimidiam fere horam ), which is extremely long for a gladiatorial fight . When the strengths of both men waned, they declared themselves defeated by mutual agreement, but were both declared victorious by the emperor and were given freedom by the emperor as a reward. This judgment, which was very mild for the time, made Titus, not very popular with the people, popular. It is also the only known case in which a gladiatorial match in the Colosseum was rated as "a draw" by the emperor.
Martial, liber de spectaculis 29:
“When Priscus was still fighting, just like Verus,
and for a long time the outcome was undecided for both of them,
the men shouted to be released.
But Caesar obeyed his own law:
the law was to fight with your shield off
until someone lifted his finger. What he was allowed to do: he often gave bowls and presents.
Yet an end to the same struggle has been found:
they fought alike, they surrendered at the same time.
Caesar sent everyone the staff and everyone the palm of victory:
this award brought in inventive bravery.
That could only happen under your rule, Caesar:
although two fought, both were victorious ”.
Cum traheret Priscus, traheret certamina Verus,
Esset et aequalis Mars utriusque diu,
Missio saepe viris magno clamore petita est;
Sed Caesar legi paruit ipse suae:
Lex erat, ad digitum posita concurrere parma:
Quod licuit, lances donaque saepe dedit.
Inventus tamen est finis discriminis aequi:
Pugnavere pares, subcubuere pares.
Misit utrique rudes et palmas Caesar utrique:
Hoc pretium virtus ingeniosa tulit.
Contigit hoc nullo nisi te sub principe, Caesar:
Cum duo pugnarent, victor uterque fuit.
Reception in the media
The life of Verus is the basis of the documentary drama Colosseum: Rome's Arena of Death. , also known as the Colosseum: A Gladiator's Story .
Individual evidence
- ↑ BBC Documentation 2004 (PDF; 416 kB)