The Arena was more than just a place for gladiatorial combat. The arena was an integral part of Roman culture. It layed an important political role as well as entertainment for the masses. The three different eventually came together and eventually formed different aspects of a single form of entertainment. First rate article - a must.
People go to great lengths to escape their mundane lives.
From the plays that Shakespeare wrote in the Elizabethan era to professional sports today, each civilization had its unique way to find enjoyment. Roman citizens, surrounded by a barbaric age filled with violence, found their escape in the form of gladiatorial combat. Chaos reigned in ancient Rome. The blood of the battlefield in territorial conquest was equalled only by the blood spilled as a result of political ambition. The people of the Roman empire found a sport that matched their lives.