What attitudes towards the Roman games did the ancient writers express? How would you account for these differences and similarities between these attitudes ?

The attitudes towards the Roman games expressed by the ancient writers varied enormously between different individuals. What follows is a look at some of the attitudes expressed by writers contemporary to the games and how and why these attitudes differ. The games took place in Rome and the wider empire from around 264bce till around 450ce. They could be elaborate and ritualistic involving the death of hundreds of men and animals at any one time. …

…effect on the participants and little compassion is shown to them. It is worth pointing out however, that both Martial and Statius show a modicum of Compassion towards the animals in the arena to which they had anthropomorphized. In doing so they regarded them not as wild beasts being needlessly slaughtered but as combatants who espoused the very values of strength, courage and the desire to win which were so highly prized within Roman society.