Those About To Die
Daniel P. Mannix
Aug 2024 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Brian P. Craig
headphones
Audiobook
7 hr 11 min
Unabridged
family_home
Eligible
info
reportRatings and reviews aren’t verified Learn More
Want a 47 min sample? Listen anytime, even offline.
Add
About this audiobook
Putting the games in the context of Rome's rise and dramatic fall, Mannix captures all the history, planning, and savage pageantry that went into creating the first spectator sports. The games began in 238 BC as nearly county fair-like entertainment, with trick riding, acrobats, trained animals, chariot racing, and athletic events. The contests then evolved into slave fights thanks to wealthy patricians Marcus and Decimus Brutus, who wanted to give their father an unforgettable funeral by reviving an old tradition. What the brothers wrought, Rome devoured, demanding even greater violence to satisfy the bloodlust of the crowd. Architectural wonders in themselves, massive arenas like Circus Maximus and the Colosseum were built, able to host sea battle reenactments on actual water. Successful gladiators found fame, fortune-and freedom. But as Rome begin to fall in the fifth century, so did the games, devolving into nothing more than pointless massacres. In the end, millions of humans and animals were sacrificed in barbaric displays. What were once ceremonies given in honor of gods met an inglorious fate, yet they still captivate the imagination of people today. Contains mature themes.
About the author
Daniel P. Mannix was an award-winning American author, journalist, magician, and filmmaker. His magazine articles about his experiences in the carnival, where he performed under the stage name "The Great Zadma," became popular in the mid-1940s and were compiled with the assistance of his wife in the book Step Right Up!
From his home studio on the Jersey Shore, Brian P. Craig uses his voice in a number of contexts to help his clients make a lasting connection with their audiences. Audiobooks are his favorite type of project, and his work has included titles in both fiction and nonfiction genres.
Rate this audiobook
Tell us what you think.
Listening information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can read books purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
