The empreror gets to decide the final decision, whether the gladiator is going to die or live. He does this buy using his thumb. Thumbs up means "live" and thumbs down obviously means "die".
The emperor's role at Roman festivities, particularly gladiatorial games, involved making critical decisions about the fate of gladiators, demonstrating significant power over life and death. This authority was an embodiment of the emperor's status and connection with the public, highlighting the blend of entertainment and imperial leadership. Emperors like Commodus even participated directly, which challenged traditional norms and reinforced their authority among the masses.
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