> There have been works that estimate the actual percentage of deaths; the highest I've heard is 1/5 matches resulting in a death, quite often accidentally. That was Mary Beard's estimate. Many other authors have estimate somewhere between 1/5 and 1/8 matches resulting in deaths.
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/12k1r6/how_f...
> “Hymnis had this tomb made for Palumbos, in memory of her own husband” The image on the stela clearly depicts Palumbos as a murmillo. Although the relatively simple stela isn’t a sign of great wealth, it is evidence that Palumbos and his wife could afford a proper commemoration after his death and have it placed in a prominent location in the city.
I don't see why that is obvious. If the translation "her own husband" is indeed correct it sounds like a woman and her husband (who was not Palumbos) owned slaves (of which Palumbos was one). Her husband died (off in a war maybe)? And when Palumbos also died (honorably in combat like her husband, one presumes) it sounds to me like the woman felt compelled to honor him as a transitory way of honoring her husband (which honor to her husband was also then worthy of inscription).
That is a very different thing than watching your husband go do gladitorial battle in an arena, be killed, and then buy an expensive memorial with all the money he made fighting.
Note: my assumption is that all other context is lost and these words are all we have to go on now. Other evidence I see for this interpretation: "husband" and Palumbos are mentioned separately, when it would have been easier to identify the single subject of the memorial once. "Own" implies a necessary distinction, and while a stela may not have been a sign of great wealth a prominent location for it suggests much more money than a mundane one.
Even Cirque du Soleil carries more risk of death. The corpse removal process is seamless enough that the show continues.
I was shocked to hear this and looked up a Wikipedia article [0]. Given their reaction when a performer died (abrupt stoppage of the show with full refunds), I think you're making this up.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Sarah_Guyard-Guillot
[0] "But if he were injured or killed, the lease would convert to a sale and the gladiator's full cost would have to be paid, a sum that might be some 50 times higher than the lease price." https://www.jstor.org/stable/30038038
Imagine if Formula 1 racing was a demolition derby.
Here is an example of what a lap of the circuit looks like
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31RZ5wU-Fg0
Riding in the TT is like climbing Everest. It's the ultimate challenge. Typically, there is at _least_ one death during racing each year. Often many more.
The Isle of Man motorcycle races (with a death toll of 1-2% per year) are, both today, and historically, one of the most dangerous motor vehicle events in the world.
IoM takes both novices and veterans. Yet, they all sign up anyway. It's a thrilling spectacle to be sure.
The "novices" are those new to the course, not new to racing. They're skilled racers, proven, successful. But stuff happens, and the course can be unforgiving.
David Jefferies was a lap record holding, TT winning champion when he collided with a wall in 2003.
ergo, I'd much rather be a charioteer (a modern TT racer), than a comparatively safe gladiator (a modern boxer). :-)