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Getbig Main Boards => Gossip & Opinions => Topic started by: The True Adonis on October 23, 2014, 07:01:16 PM

Title: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: The True Adonis on October 23, 2014, 07:01:16 PM
(http://www.guerrillaexplorer.com/wp-content/uploads/Gladiator.jpg)

(http://praguegallery.net/images/prague-castle/prague-castle-gladiator-2.jpg)



http://www.bbc.com/news/education-29723384

Gladiators were 'mostly vegetarian'
By Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondent
BBC TV. Colosseum: Rome's Arena of death Gladiators were more likely to be in the queue for the vegetarian option

Roman gladiators had a diet that was mostly vegetarian, according to an analysis of bones from a cemetery where the arena fighters were buried.

The study has been carried out by academics from the Medical University of Vienna in Austria and the University of Bern in Switzerland.

They found the gladiator diet was grain-based and mostly meat-free.

The examination of gladiator bones also found evidence they drank a drink made from plant ashes.

This ash drink was a form of health-boosting tonic to help gladiators recover after fighting and training.
Ashes to ashes

"Plant ashes were evidently consumed to fortify the body after physical exertion and to promote better bone healing," says Fabian Kanz, from the department of forensic medicine at the Medical University of Vienna.

He said it was like the way "we take magnesium and calcium, in the form of effervescent tablets, for example, following physical exertion".
Replica gladiator helmet A replica gladiator helmet in a museum in Frankfurt

The conclusions about this ash drink were based on measuring levels of strontium in the gladiators' bones.

The bone analysis was based on excavations of the graves of 22 gladiators from about 1,800 years ago in the Roman town of Ephesus, now in Turkey.

The bones revealed that the typical food eaten by gladiators was wheat, barley and beans - and this echoed the contemporary term for gladiators as the "barley men".

There was little sign of meat or dairy products in the diet of almost all of these professional fighters, who performed in front of Roman audiences.

But there were bones from two people that seemed to have a different pattern, revealing a diet much higher in animal protein and lower in beans and pulses.

This could show there were gladiators originally from other parts of the Roman empire who had a different type of diet.

And the next stage of the research will be to use the analysis of the bones to look for where gladiators might have once lived.

The researchers say that gladiators were mainly prisoners of war, slaves and condemned offenders. But there were also people who volunteered to train and take part in contests.

They estimate that men taking part in gladiator contests had a one-in-nine chance of being killed, each time they fought.
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: Hulkotron on October 23, 2014, 07:10:36 PM
Falcon Principles for excellence in martial combat
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: Disgusted on October 23, 2014, 07:11:14 PM
Life span bone density?
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: gracie bjj on October 23, 2014, 07:12:46 PM
saw that on history channel,really interesting stuff,i love it.its like them guys knew about staying lean and alert from a certain way of eating way back then
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: no one on October 23, 2014, 07:13:11 PM
cool article.

food for thought.

Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: Twaddle on October 23, 2014, 07:13:34 PM
Not this gladiator.

(http://www.oocities.org/victorrichards/photo/victor_gladiator.jpg)
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: King Shizzo on October 23, 2014, 07:15:59 PM
Adam has been on fire lately.

Another interesting read.

He blends debate with informative topics like a pro.

We need more posters like Adonis and I.
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: che on October 23, 2014, 07:19:05 PM
I guess that's why they looked like absolute shit.
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: gracie bjj on October 23, 2014, 07:21:10 PM
I guess that's why they looked like absolute shit.

maybe so as far as body goes but to survive in battle they needed to be alert and fast and less bodyweight gave them that edge
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: no one on October 23, 2014, 07:22:49 PM


they had to recover quickly from training. it wasn't abt 'looking good'.

makes you wonder just how much protein you really need to repair tissue :D
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: che on October 23, 2014, 07:24:10 PM
maybe so as far as body goes but to survive in battle they needed to be alert and fast and less bodyweight gave them that edge

(http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/002/460/519/thumbnail_crop_php_display_image.jpg?1343744716)
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: King Shizzo on October 23, 2014, 07:26:40 PM
Surely we cannot come to the articles conclusion, simply by examining the bones of gladiators from a single Ludis.

At the height of the Roman Empire, there had to have been hundreds ( if not thousands) of gladiator schools spread throughout.

Therefore, we can logically conclude that this was too small a sample size, to come up with such a brazen headline.

Even this particular school had a few skeletons who showed signs of meat eating.  Maybe they were the champions of this particular ludis, and were rewarded with a diet that consisted of meat. For in those times, having a nice meal was probably a powerful incentive.

Much more analysis would have to be conducted (at various sites) to reach a solid conclusion.
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: Irongrip400 on October 23, 2014, 07:28:09 PM
saw that on history channel,really interesting stuff,i love it.its like them guys knew about staying lean and alert from a certain way of eating way back then

Yeah, how'd they know without medical technology of today?
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: Twaddle on October 23, 2014, 07:32:37 PM
Surely we cannot come to the articles conclusion, simply by examining the bones of gladiators from a single Ludis.

At the height of the Roman Empire, there had to have been hundreds ( if not thousands) of gladiator schools spread throughout.

Therefore, we can logically conclude that this was too small a sample size, to come up with such a brazen headline.

Much more analysis would have to be conducted.

Concur.   :D
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: King Shizzo on October 23, 2014, 07:35:00 PM
Concur.   :D
I edited my post. Please read it in all of its glory.
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: Parker on October 23, 2014, 07:36:06 PM
I guess that's why they looked like absolute shit.
Yep...it was speculated that they were not as  lean as what is portrayed by Hollywood,  and also having a layer of fat helped with being slashed and stabbed.
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: Twaddle on October 23, 2014, 07:39:05 PM
I edited my post. Please read it in all of its glory.

Concur even more.   :D
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: That_Dude on October 23, 2014, 08:14:18 PM
Johnny champions has been trying to lead us down this plant fueled heme iron free way of diet for ages. Johnny champions is also a large man with boxing skills. Is it possible he is a gladiator that was sent into the future to make postings on getbig and preserve the ways of the gladiator ???
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: basil on October 23, 2014, 08:33:30 PM
Johnny champions has been trying to lead us down this plant fueled heme iron free way of diet for ages. Johnny champions is also a large man with boxing skills. Is it possible he is a gladiator that was sent into the future to make postings on getbig and preserve the ways of the gladiator ???

And a nice layer of fat that helps with being slashed or stabbed.
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: gracie bjj on October 23, 2014, 08:50:28 PM
Adam has been on fire lately.

Another interesting read.

He blends debate with informative topics like a pro.

We need more posters like Adonis and I.

yes he is a quality poster no doubt
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: gcb on October 24, 2014, 12:46:46 AM
This makes sense - meat would have been expensive - you wouldn't feed it to a gladiator who is basically a slave.
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: heenok on October 24, 2014, 12:48:55 AM
they probably looked nothing like the statue
those statues were the equivalent of the comic book cartoonish character we have nowadays
noone looked like that at that time

hope this helps
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: visualizeperfection on October 24, 2014, 12:49:10 AM
Adam has been on fire lately.

Another interesting read.

He blends debate with informative topics like a pro.

We need more posters like Adonis. and I.

fixed.
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: Simple Simon on October 24, 2014, 12:51:24 AM
why didnt they feed the gladiators the bodies of the dead gladiators, that would have made commercial sense.
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: visualizeperfection on October 24, 2014, 12:52:23 AM
why didnt they feed the gladiators the bodies of the dead gladiators, that would have made commercial sense.

They were all too emaciated to provide any sort of sustenance.
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: orion on October 24, 2014, 07:18:45 AM
Very few people were fat back then. Average Roman worked from sun up to sunrise, no sitting all day watching tv or internet. Average life span was less than forty, no time for the body to accumulate the visceral fat that occurs in later years.  Look at people right up to the civil war era, all slim. of course there were exceptions to the rule.  Once food started to be packaged and processed, that's when people started to put on the pounds.
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: mazrim on October 24, 2014, 07:23:00 AM
Read they were called "Barley Men" sometimes. Also quite soft and looked nothing like the statues
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: BigCyp on October 24, 2014, 07:24:41 AM
Very few people were fat back then. Average Roman worked from sun up to sunrise, no sitting all day watching tv or internet. Average life span was less than forty, no time for the body to accumulate the visceral fat that occurs in later years.  Look at people right up to the civil war era, all slim. of course there were exceptions to the rule.  Once food started to be packaged and processed, that's when people started to put on the pounds.

Yes all the movies and boook illustrations confirm this to be true.
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: the trainer on October 24, 2014, 07:31:08 AM
Yes the world has become a much of fat fucks eating processed foods and sitting down all day, but you do have a few alpha males like the trainer who lifts heavy weights and punch the heavy bag and I am planning to go hunting soon, got to preserve the old hardcore way of life.
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: BigCyp on October 24, 2014, 07:33:39 AM
Yes the world has become a much of fat fucks eating processed foods and sitting down all day, but you do have a few alpha males like the trainer who lifts heavy weights and punch the heavy bag and I am planning to go hunting soon, got to preserve the old hardcore way of life.

It's called cruising. Hunting is when you are hiding in the woods with a rifle, not hiding in the park with a dildo.
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: Wolfox on October 24, 2014, 08:20:04 AM
Weren't gladiators basically slaves???

Makes sense they were on a poor mans diet.
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: SuperTed on October 24, 2014, 08:25:30 AM
It's called cruising. Hunting is when you are hiding in the woods with a rifle, not hiding in the park with a dildo.

 :D ;D
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: MikMaq on October 24, 2014, 08:32:24 AM
Gladiators are mostly dead, hope this helps.




(http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/002/460/519/thumbnail_crop_php_display_image.jpg?1343744716)
Point taken.
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: Voice of Doom on October 24, 2014, 08:47:58 AM
Not surprised.  Most Alpha men are vegetarians.
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: _bruce_ on October 24, 2014, 08:59:28 AM
they probably looked nothing like the statue
those statues were the equivalent of the comic book cartoonish character we have nowadays
noone looked like that at that time

hope this helps

x2
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: King Shizzo on October 24, 2014, 09:01:16 AM
x2
Thats bullshit. You do know genetics existed back then as well  ::)
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: Stan Diego on October 24, 2014, 09:29:19 AM
Surely we cannot come to the articles conclusion, simply by examining the bones of gladiators from a single Ludis.

At the height of the Roman Empire, there had to have been hundreds ( if not thousands) of gladiator schools spread throughout.

Therefore, we can logically conclude that this was too small a sample size, to come up with such a brazen headline.

Even this particular school had a few skeletons who showed signs of meat eating.  Maybe they were the champions of this particular ludis, and were rewarded with a diet that consisted of meat. For in those times, having a nice meal was probably a powerful incentive.

Much more analysis would have to be conducted (at various sites) to reach a solid conclusion.

Sweet copy & paste job bro.
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: King Shizzo on October 24, 2014, 09:54:23 AM
Sweet copy & paste job bro.
You wish. I can try to sound intelligent when I want too.

Its too bad that there aren't more threads like this.

Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: Julio Ceasar on October 24, 2014, 10:04:15 AM
(http://www.guerrillaexplorer.com/wp-content/uploads/Gladiator.jpg)

(http://praguegallery.net/images/prague-castle/prague-castle-gladiator-2.jpg)

How old is that first statue? I mean! If it a couple of hundred years old Im curious how the artist could make a body like that without having a modell for it! All the muscles looks just right and real.

My point is. They hade some men who lookd liked that. In that time they didnt have roids. So, this must be a natty!? Pretty impressed!
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: Rambone on October 24, 2014, 10:10:01 AM
(http://media.giphy.com/media/H89gy9BqKv8D6/giphy.gif)
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: SamoanIrishman on October 24, 2014, 10:58:51 AM
maybe so as far as body goes but to survive in battle they needed to be alert and fast and less bodyweight gave them that edge

Agreed. I would think they'd look like modern UFC fighters... maybe even leaner. I've seen big dude come to rugby tryouts and while they were monsters in the gym I'm sure, they were gassed before we even finished the 3 mile warm up run! When fighting for your life in an arena setting, I would think it'd be more advantageous to be agile and have endurance with moderate strength vs. Huge and slow
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: _bruce_ on October 24, 2014, 11:03:46 AM
(http://media.giphy.com/media/H89gy9BqKv8D6/giphy.gif)

The Bay factor was strong in ancient Rome... all those sweaty unwashed supermen crossing swords and the crowd roaring with delight when the blood was flowing.
Even the higher up wives were lusting for the Gladiators of the rectagon.
Back in school we learned about the rich gentleman Tupacus who always wondered why his wife's breath reeked of foreign semen after she visited the newly bought stock...  :D
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: SamoanIrishman on October 24, 2014, 11:11:11 AM
How old is that first statue? I mean! If it a couple of hundred years old Im curious how the artist could make a body like that without having a modell for it! All the muscles looks just right and real.

My point is. They hade some men who lookd liked that. In that time they didnt have roids. So, this must be a natty!? Pretty impressed!

Shit man I'm sure there were some out there especially soldiers. Well fed and trained with heavy weapons and shields. Then when at war marching for miles would lean them out...fuck man imagine the battles. No pussy warfare of shooting at someone 100+ yards away you looked a guy in the eyes when you killed him. Battles would rage on for hours at a time... exhausting workout I'm sure.
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: Stan Diego on October 24, 2014, 04:40:42 PM
How old is the first statue? I mean! If it a couple of hundred years old Im curious how the artist could make a body like that without having a modell for it! All the muscles looks just right and real.

My point is. They hade some men who lookd liked that. In that time they didnt have roids. So, this must be a natty!? Pretty impressed!

"Gladiator stands over fallen slave" Sculpted by Viktor Oskar Tilgner in 1897

http://viktortilgner.blogspot.com (http://viktortilgner.blogspot.com)
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: Stan Diego on October 24, 2014, 04:42:44 PM
You wish. I can try to sound intelligent when I want too.

Its too bad that there aren't more threads like this.

You should try harder.
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: King Shizzo on October 24, 2014, 04:46:15 PM
You should try harder.
You should stop talking shit for no reason. Maybe try to contribute to an interesting topic?
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: Stan Diego on October 24, 2014, 04:59:21 PM
You should stop talking shit for no reason. Maybe try to contribute to an interesting topic?

Lighten up Francis...


Go scroll up a post. I "contributed" the history of the 1st sculpture in Adonis' original post.

How can you be so obtuse?
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: The Abdominal Snoman on October 24, 2014, 05:00:42 PM
Not surprised.  Most Alpha men are vegetarians.

Could there be an argument that a true Alpha could never be caught and become a slave like Gladiators were? LIVE FREE OR DIE
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: King Shizzo on October 24, 2014, 05:03:13 PM
Lighten up Francis...


Go scroll up a post. I "contributed" the history of the 1st sculpture in Adonis' original post.

How can you be so obtuse?
Brutal Google search. Mary
Title: Re: Gladiators were mostly on Meat-Free Diets.
Post by: no one on October 25, 2014, 01:15:10 AM
It's called cruising. Hunting is when you are hiding in the woods with a rifle, not hiding in the park with a dildo.

hahahahahah holy shit