Competitive team sports are strangely similar to ancient stadium fighting (see second image below). Minus the tiger, of course--unless it's a mascot.
Check out how fervently the fans of ancient Rome cheer or boo in the third image below. More humane, perhaps. But much the same, yes?
Top image: Courtesy of Tim Mossholder via Unsplash
Middle image: from the movie Gladiator
Bottom image: 19th century painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme, "Pollice Verso" (Thumbs Down); photo in the public domain.
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