Long have the games of ancient Rome been a source of fascination and, perhaps, repugnance for modern civilization. Of all the great and terrible aspects of the fallen Roman Empire, the gladiatorial games time and again rise from the history books into the imaginations of millions. Just as we gather in arenas to watch athletes struggle for supremacy, ancient Romans congregated to watch slaves and criminals (or in one rare instance, Rome's own emperor) face each other with swords and spears raised high.