Final answer:
Gladiators who didn't show any initiative were met with disapproval and scorn from the audience. They were expected to fight bravely and skillfully, and those who didn't were seen as cowardly and dishonorable. There are several historical accounts that describe what happened to such gladiators.
Step-by-step explanation:
In ancient Rome, gladiators who didn't show any initiative were often met with disapproval and scorn from the audience. They were expected to fight bravely and skillfully, and those who didn't were seen as cowardly and dishonorable. There are several historical accounts that describe what happened to such gladiators.
Example 1:
In one account by Juvenal, a gladiator named Gracchus fled from the arena, and his actions were seen as shameful and degrading. The spectators would mock and jeer at gladiators who didn't show bravery and fought poorly.
Example 2:
In another account by Florus, it is mentioned that Spartacus, who led a slave revolt, fought bravely alongside his fellow gladiators. However, the gladiators who didn't fight with the same level of courage and dedication often faced severe consequences and even death.
Example 3:
Suetonius describes an instance where a former senator and lawyer fought as a gladiator. Although it is not explicitly mentioned what happened to the gladiator who didn't show initiative, it can be inferred that they wouldn't have been viewed favorably by the audience.