On Wed, Apr 17, 2019 at 4:48 PM Phil Pugliese (via tml list) <xxxxxx@simplelists.com> wrote:

. . . the romans thought that witnessing mortal combat actually enhanced the civic strength of the community!

I suspect that this had something to do with misplaced nostalgia. There is evidence that gladiatorial combats originated as part of Early Kingdom Roman (perhaps even Etruscan) funeral rites. Also, it was part of the Roman mythos that the virile Republican Romans fought their own battles. Of course, by the Late Empire Romans were hiring their fighting done. So having these minature "battles" take place regularly in the city could have been a way to cling to outdated virtues, yet avoid having to risk actual Roman lives.

Richard Aiken

"Never insult anyone by accident." Robert A. Heinlein

"I studied the Koran a great deal. I came away from that study with the conviction there have been few religions in the world as deadly to men as Muhammed." Alexis de Tocqueville

"We know a little about a lot of things; just enough to make us dangerous." Dean Winchester (fictional monster hunter portrayed by Jensen Ackles)

"It has been my experience that a gun doesn't care who pulls its trigger." Newton Knight (as portrayed by Matthew McConaughey), to a scoffing Confederate tax collector facing the weapons held by Knight's young children and wife.