Gladiator fights helped surgical science

Ruins of the Great Theatre at the ancient city of Ephesus. Gladiators and beasts came out from between the pillars at the base of the arena. Photo by Sim Kih

With a seating capacity for 25,000, the Great Theatre was used not only for concerts and plays, but also for religious, political and philosophical discussions and for gladiator and animal fights.

A gladiator is an armed combatant in a violent confrontation other gladiators, wild beasts such as lions or condemned criminals for public entertainment during the Roman Empire. The gladiator games lasted for nearly a thousand years, reaching their peak between the 1st century BC and the 2nd century AD.

Surgical practice took a great leap forward as a result of this cruel and barbaric practice.

Acts 19:23-41 records a riot against the apostle Paul sparked by his preaching at this Great Theatre. His proclamation that "gods made by hands are not gods" caused the merchants of silver idols to lose their business.

The church at Ephesus is also one of the 7 churches that Jesus instructed the apostle John to write Revelation to.

Stephy @ Ephesus  Photo by Sim Kih