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The authors of the study on the gladiators’ bones at Ephesus however were more careful in their conclusions.Īccording to the authors, gladiators may have been high in Sr because they drank a concoction made of plant ash. Since vegetarians have a higher level of Strontium in their bodies, many assumed that gladiators were vegetarians. Gladiators had a higher Sr/Ca ratio than the general Roman population. And it is certainly not the case with gladiators. This isn’t always a fair representation of a person’s diet. Strontium levels in bones have long been used by scientists to estimate the amount of meat eaten. The ratio of Strontium (Sr) to Calcium (Ca) in the bones found in the gladiator cemetery holds the key. You may wonder how scientists concluded that gladiators consumed a plant-based diet before it became a point of contention in the media. Missing pieces of the puzzle: plant ash and mollusks This contradicts the mainstream coverage and misconceptions spread by Game Changers. The authors concluded based on analysis of the bones of gladiators that they were a “ heterogeneous group who ate a diverse variety of foods.” When animal protein was available, they added it to the mix. This provided them with a complete protein source. Since legumes have a limited supply of plant protein, gladiators mixed it with another source of plant protein, grains. This is because of the involvement of symbiotic bacteria in legumes, which can penetrate the collagen of those who consume them. Nitrogen bioavailability is poor in legumes.
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The authors of the paper also believe that the low levels of nitrogen in the gladiators’ bones are caused by their excessive consumption of legumes. Fish was most likely eaten as fish sauce ( garum), but also cooked and salted”. “An ancient cookbook written by Apicius which contains a collection of Roman recipes, suggests that seafood was probably consumed in Ephesus. Ephesus had a plentiful supply of fish and seafood, so they may have served the gladiators a rich seafood-based broth with barley and legumes. The Romans desired to spend as little money as possible on their upkeep. Gladiators were slaves, thus Romans fed them whatever was available. Samples from the burial site at Thebes had a high concentration of sulfur, which suggests the gladiators from Thebes ate more fish. If we look at the research paper closely, we can see that evidence from other burial sites suggests gladiators consumed more animal products. Thus, by eating a lot of barley, gladiators could grow a protective sheath of fat around their vital organs. To shield themselves from injury, gladiators had a layer of fat on their bodies. As a result, eating plenty of barley after a long day of training made sense. Grains were plentiful in Rome, as it was an agricultural society. Romans fed them the cheapest and most abundant food available. The gladiators consisted mostly of captured enemy soldiers or convicted criminals from Roman society who were searching for a way out. They had a notorious reputation for eating a lot of barley earning them the nickname hordearii, or barley eaters. But the levels of nitrogen were lower than the average Roman population, though this does not indicate they were vegetarians.īarley and legumes were the staple foods of the gladiators. Gladiators’ bones have a sufficient amount of nitrogen, indicating that they ate animal products. Unfortunately, most media reports claiming gladiators were vegetarian were based on an incomplete analysis of the Ephesus evidence. They consumed some animal protein such as meat, fish, and dairy products. The original paper, which looked at the minerals in the bones of Ephesus gladiators, did not suggest that gladiators were vegetarian. Gladiators ate animal products and seafood Let’s take a closer look at the facts and discover why gladiators ate more grains compared to meat. They ate a lot of grains such as barley and legumes. The diet of gladiators was primarily plant-based. But this isn’t just a historical issue we also need to look at the science behind the assertions.Īlthough scholars have differing opinions on the matter, it is clear that data from the gladiator burial site at Ephesus in modern-day Turkey is selectively interpreted in order to construct a narrative. The “story” aspect of “history” can often take precedence over reality. I was taken aback by their claims, so I wanted to investigate further and check their authenticity. The Game Changers (2018) documentary went even further, claiming that the gladiators were vegan. Is it true that the gladiators were vegetarians? On the internet, in history, and in diet forums, this has been a hot topic of discussion. Image source and licensing: Wikimedia Commons. Pollice Verso, a gladiator being given the thumbs down by the Roman crowd.