As revealed in books written about the topic, this rite of passage was simple.Īt the crack of dawn, the volunteer would find a minimum of four fighters lined up along the outer curvature of the Colosseum. Others included heavy lifting and games involving strategy.īut to be considered an elite soldier, you had to prove your manliness by swallowing seed.
Examples included sword fighting and hand to hand combat. If you happened to be a Hastatus, you were expected to demonstrate your abilities through certain activities. And while it is true that some were forced to commit sexual acts as part of slavery, not everyone engaging in gay sex did so by force. If you were one of these soldiers, you saw real action on the front line and were (likely) the first to die in battle.Īt that time, giving your life up for the Empire was considered an honor with only the bravest of men serving in the legion. This was particularly the case for the Hastatus the youngest of infantrymen in the pre-Marian armies before 107 BC.
