There Will Be Games
A wonderful story that has been revealing itself to me over the last few years, is the one surrounding the gladiators of York…..a city that I have the good fortune to visit, frequently.
‘Our great Emperor Septimus died, here in Eboracum (York), in the Spring. It was a sad day and the city has been in mourning ever since.
The governor, Gaius Julius Marcus, has decreed that there will be games!
My legion had been disgraced for siding with Albinus, during the great civil war, more than a decade ago…. It was ‘decimated’ and I was selected. My life was not ended, but I was put into slavery and I have been training and fighting as a gladiator ever since.
The games will be huge!
The forum has been receiving senators, merchants and officers of Rome…. Much coin is being spent. Many of my fellow warriors will not survive the month, and perhaps I will not.
Yesterday we were marched out to the main road leading into the city. There we expanded the ditch….. it will be the site of our burial, should we fall.
Men here are from all over the Empire… there are warriors from Germania, from Syria, Epirus, Thracius, Hispania and of course from Brittania.
Men like me are here because of the woes of our commanders, others were common criminals….. two are unwanted political hostages. Now we are all equal and I fear that few of us will survive.
Perhaps, someday, someone will remember those of us who fall !’
Visit York…..it’s a great city!