I was in Rome recently, when God said, “Get up, we’re going to the Colosseum today.” I was eager to explore, it didn’t take much to rouse me.
The day was a perfect 72 degrees and I just couldn’t stop taking photos at every turn.
Marble and stone architecture, at the sheer size and scale of masonry in this ancient city, was a gasping experience. I fell in love with Rome and it seemed to love me back.
When I arrived at the Colosseum, God said, “sit” and scribe. So the following is what I was told to tell you about the colossal ancient ruin.
God says:
The Colosseum was not built for Gladiators, it was built to organize slaves into a market way and then trade them in a bidding war between merchants and royals from different countries. It wasn’t just for sports.
The reason such a huge center was needed is that the center was an international trade location. Much like conferences are held today.
Slaves were a major investment in the day and represented a hierarchy of the cultural center.
Those who were not slaves owned slaves and slaves were among themselves very competitive to get the best of the owners.
Their life comfort depended on them becoming property to the wealthiest. They needed to be the prettiest and the strongest. If they were traded among the wealthy class the became well known with reputations that precede them. If they were educated slaves, they would be responsible for caring for the children. They had an easier life as well.
Master/slave relationships were cultivated. When a slave was new to a community he/she made it their responsibility to make the community love them. Gladiators were stars but they were slaves nonetheless.”
Sondra: Africans were not traded as slaves until the 17th century, so who were the slaves that were traded at the Colosseum?
God: Jews, Christians, Tiberians (Tiberians were a Jewish sect originating from the Israeli city of Tiberius. They were highly prized for their intellectual strength and penchant for languages.) And many other locations in the Mediterranean that had large enclaves of Jews and Christians.
Photos from my recent tour, from Greece, Naples, Rome, Paris, London.
