ARENA, among the Romans, sometimes signified thesame with Circus, or Amphitheatre, viz. a place where thegladiators had their combats. See CIRCUS, AMPHITHEATRE.
But, properly speaking, Arena was only the pit or space inthe middle of those places. The Arena was the same thingwith regard to the gladiators, that the Campus, or field,was to soldiers and armies, viz. the place where theyfought. And he who fought in the Arena was called Arenarius. See GLADIATOR.
The word is originally Latin, and signifies Sand, in regard the place was always strewn with sand, to concealfrom the view of the people, the blood spilt in the combat.
ARENA
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- Written by: Ephraïm Chambers
- Category: Unclassified