I heard that this was a fallacy and that the emperor would do thumb sticking out to the side or thumb hidden in hand.
2006-09-04 23:33:03 · 14 answers · asked by Silkie1 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
to the best of my research i have found that they did thumb to side and hidden in fist at first.
but because it was hard to tell from a distence and some ...misteaks were made...
they went to thumb up or thumb down.....
however form the historical accounts that i have been able to find
thumbs up...meant that the gladiator had the go ahead to kill his opponet.
thumb down ...meant to stop,,, the match is over.
this is not something that everyone agrees on and it is not known if the same signals were given in every arena.
2006-09-04 23:43:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually they NEVER did the thumbs down, it was invented purely by Hollywood.
According to many historians, Romans signalled a kill by holding out a closed fist with the thumb on the outside, they hid their thumb for an aquital.
The only reason people think it's thumbs up or down was a misunderstanding of the term 'turned thumb' which meant turned out, but was mistakenly translated as meaning turned up or down.
2006-09-04 23:47:11 · answer #2 · answered by sian_raven 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The second poster is right.
We have historical records to show that the thumb up/down thign was indeed used by the Emperor to decide wether a gladiator lived or died after being either floored or cornered.
We dont, however, know which way was live, and which way was die
2006-09-04 23:43:00 · answer #3 · answered by thomas p 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No they did not. Fact!
Yet another poetic licence from Hollywood, to make films better.
Norman Vaughn TV Compare, popularised 'Thumbs Up & Thumbs Down; whilst saying swinging, dodgy, Elsie Tanner. Also used as an advert by him for Roses Choclolate's.
Saying "Roses Grow on You"
2006-09-05 00:36:57 · answer #4 · answered by ?Master 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that continues to be the oftentimes used delusion yet in reality a thumbs up presented the lack of existence message in honestly Roman gladitorial wrestle and replaced into basically about not in any respect used because actual gladiators were extreme priced athletes and in the journey that they died the fellow putting on the instruct had to pay dearly. nonetheless gladatorial wrestle replaced into one of those theatre, i have not in any respect heard of a thumbs down or up in historic Rome for the actors in a play. that does no longer mean u won't be able to apply the myth for your ending.
2016-12-06 10:42:51 · answer #5 · answered by burkett 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the emperor had the choice but the crowd would also make the signal to show their appeasement or dissatisfaction. There is lots of references I would suggest Senica and Cicero as a stating point, both wrote passages on the games
2006-09-04 23:42:04 · answer #6 · answered by break 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the actual fact is the thumb up was directed at the chest to instruct the gladiator to thrust his weapon into the loser, the thumb down was to say drop your weapon and let him live.
the confusion was created by the cheer of the crowd as the gladiator who fought badly was killed, thus it was interpreted as a sign of celebration.
quite odd that in modern times a thumb up is like saying ' cheers mate !'
2006-09-05 00:30:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thumb rule is to keep thumb in control.
2006-09-04 23:36:47 · answer #8 · answered by a j 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes 100% Thumb up "let him live", thumb down "kill him"
2006-09-04 23:38:28 · answer #9 · answered by - Storm - 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you are correct we do not know which way the thumb was held
2006-09-04 23:34:47 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋