IILLUSTRATION EDWARD CROOKS/WWW EDWA RDCROOKS.COM
Gladiatorial games, were the great sporting spectacles of Ancient Rome, known as the ludi, they were lavish affairs which at the height of their Popularity during the first and second centuries BC, could last for more than a hundred days and involve thousands of gladiators.
Enemy soldiers were typically forced to become gladiators after being taken Prisoner. Other were Criminals, usually condemned either to gladiator schools for training or to the arena without it in which case, they weren't expected to live for long.