The theater of ancient Rome
The theater is like a small stadium: its rows on rows of tiered seats, holding over 15000 excited spectators, encircle the huge stage-a platform more than 300 feet long, upon which every pair of eyes is focused.
On this stage two men are fighting to the death. This is a play, and the two man who are fighting have roles in the play; but the script calls for one of them to die, and the spectators, accustomed to the actual death in gladiatorial contests, will not be cheated with mere imitation. The actor who is to die knows it; beneath his mask he is perspiring with fright, his body is trembling. Any attempt to escape would be punished not only by death but by torture as well. The audience is urging the fighters on, licking its lips in expectation of the kill.
The fight reaches a climax; the despairing slave meets his destined death giving one last shiver of agony as blood stains the stage. The audience sighs with pleasure and then forgets him.
That was the theater of Rome in its decline.