The gladiators of Ancient Rome were the sport stars of their day, drawing epic crowds and winning the respect of emperors. Although many perished in the arena, a rare few achieved fame and glory for their heroic deeds. One such success story is that of the gladiator Flamma. Although he died at 30 years of age, Flamma had fought in the Colosseum 34 times, winning 21 of his fights, drawing nine times and was beaten just four times. Roman leaders were so impressed by his skills that he was offered his freedom not once but four times. But Flamma was so dedicated to the gladiator life that he refused the chance to become a free man over and over again. The young warrior’s popularity grew so much that by the end of his career his face was used on a Roman coin.
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