GLADIATOR (Questions)

Chapter 1- Farmer and soldier

1 – How big was the Roman Empire at the height of its power?
It stretched from the deserts of Africa to the borders of northern England. Over one
quarter of the world’s population lived and died under the rule of the Caesars.

2 – Why was so important to win one last battle against the people of Germania in the
winter of A.D. 180?
Because Emperor Marcus Aurelius’s twelve-year war was coming to an end. There was
one last battle to win. Then there would be peace across the Roman Empire.

3 – Who was Maximus?

He was the Commanding General of the Army of the North. But he was also a farmer
and often thought of his wife and son whom he had left on his farm in Spain.

4 – What could Maximus and his men see as the horse came closer from the line of
trees?
They could see that the Roman messenger was tied to his horse because his head had
been cut off. Far away, at the edge of the trees, a German chief appeared holding in one
hand, the head of the Roman messenger.

5 – Who were travelling toward the battle area protected by Roman soldiers?
The royal family – the Emperor’s son and daughter. Twenty-eight-year-old Commodus
and his beautiful older sister Lucilla.

6 – Why had Marcus Aurelius sent for Commodus and Lucilla, according to
Commodus?
Commodus thought his father was dying and had decided to name him as the new
Roman Emperor.

7 – What did Maximus do before every battle?

He bent down from his horse and took some earth in his hand. Then he let it fall through
his fingers. It was a sign his men had seen many times before and they knew what it
meant.

8 – Why did the Romans win the battle against the Germans?
Because Roman soldiers were well-trained and had the best equipment and armour.

Chapter 2 – The last battle

1 – What did Marcus Aurelius ask Maximus and what did Maximus answer?
Marcus Aurelius asked Maximus how he could reward Rome’s greatest general. And
Maximus replied quickly, ‘Let me go home.’
2 – Why was Prince Commodus filled with jealousy?
When Prince Commodus heard the Roman soldiers cheering Maximus loudly, he was
filled with jealousy. Roman soldiers were honouring a Spaniard above the Emperor and
his family
3 – Why was Commodus angry as he watched his father the Emperor go?
When the Emperor decided to leave, Commodus called for Marcus’s horse, and some of
the guards ran forward to help him. But the old man waved them away, and looked at
Maximus. Maximus came quickly to his side and helped him onto the horse. Without a
word to his son, Marcus rode slowly away.

4 – What were Commodus and his guards doing at the edge of the forest in the cold
morning?
They were practicing sword fighting. The young prince was proud of his body. He was
strong and healthy as a result of the strict training he did every morning. His training
program was taken straight from the gladiator schools, where men learned to fight for
their lives. His greatest wish was to fight against real gladiators, although he knew that
his father would never allow it. Marcus had ended the tradition of gladiator fights in
Rome.

5 – What had Maximus heard about the Emperor’s son?

He had heard plenty of stories about Commodus, how strong and skilled he was. He had
also heard that Commodus was a cruel man.

Chapter 3 - One more duty

1 – What stories had Maximus heard about Rome?

He had heard that people in the cities were hungry and food prices were much too high.
Some Romans had become very rich, but most were poor. Bridges, roads and ports all
needed repairs, while tax money went into the pockets of the rich. There were many
things wrong at the heart of the enormous empire.

2 – What was the one more duty Marcus Aurelius had to ask of Maximus before he
went home?
Marcus Aurelius wanted to give power back to the Senate; and the Senate represented
the people of Rome. For that reason, he wanted Maximus to become the Protector of
Rome, in order to give power back to the people of Rome.

3 – Why did Commodus freeze when he heard his father speak?

Because Marcus Aurelius told Commodus he would not be Emperor. His power would
pass to Maximus until the Senate was ready to rule. Rome would be a republic again.

4 – What did Commodus do to Marcus as he put his arms around his son?
Commodus held his father’s head tighter and tighter. Marcus could not breathe. Marcus
tried to get away, but Commodus held his father’s head close against his his chest. His
strength was too great; Marcus could not escape. Commodus did not relax until he felt
his father’s body drop in his arms.
Commodus placed Marcus on the bed, dead.
5 – What did Maximus know without a doubt as Commodus held out his hand for him
to kiss as as a sign of loyalty?
Maximus knew, without a doubt, that Commodus had killed his father.
6 – How did Commodus say his father had died?
He said Marcus had died in his sleep.

7 – Why did Quintus and the four royal guards come to Maximus’s tent?
They came to tie Maximus´s hands and arms. Maximus understood. Quintus was a
soldier, and his order had come from the top. He had to obey.

8 – What did Maximus ask Quintus and what did Quintus reply?
Maximus asked Quintus to look after his family. But Quintus replied that Maximus
would greet his family in the next world.

9 – What did one of the guards do to Maximus when he jumped at Quintus in anger?
He hit Maximus on the back of the head with the handle of his sword and the prisoner
fell to the ground.

10 – What did Quintus order the four royal guards?

He ordered them to take Maximus as far as the sunrise and then kill him.

11 – Why could Maximus escape death?

Because these were royal guards – they almost never left Rome, and they did not
usually go into battle. They were not experienced fighters.

Chapter 4 – A prisoner again

1 – What did Maximus’s eight-year-old son think when he saw the twenty royal guards
riding down the road?
He thought his father was among them. But the horses suddenly came faster, riding over
the small boy and crashing him into the dirt of the road. Then they rode straight towards
his screaming mother.

2 – What did Maximus find when he arrived at his family home and farm?
His family home and farm were burning, completely destroyed. In the field of
vegetables, hanging on ropes, were the burnt bodies of his wife and son.

3 – Who found Maximus lying on the black earth beside his wife and son’s graves?
Some Spanish thieves. They came because they had smelled the smoke in the air. Fire
meant there was something to be found and taken.

4 – Where did Maximus find himself when he finally opened his eyes after days and
nights had passed?
He realized that he was one of several men chained together in a dirty slave carriage.

5 – Who bought Maximus and the other slaves at the slave market?
Aelius Proximo did. Proximo was a large man with big, blue eyes and white hair and
beard.
6 – Where were they taken?
They were taken to Proximo´s School. It was a school where men learned how to fight –
to live one more day in the face of death. It was a gladiator school.

Chapter 5 – New gladiators

1 – Who was Haken?

Haken was a gladiator teacher. He took great pleasure in knocking away the swords of
his new students and then hitting them hard so they fell onto the dirt.

2 – What did Haken see when Maximus picked up the sword and stood facing Haken?
Haken saw that this man was a fighter. There was something about the way he held the
sword, the way he stood – but most of all there were his eyes. There was no doubt – he
knew how to fight.

3 – What did Maximus do with his wooden sword?

He lifted the sword and then dropped it to the ground. He seemed to be saying, ‘ I could
kill, but I choose not to.’
Haken was surprised. He looked to Proximo for orders.
Proximo made a sign to him to continue.
Haken struck Maximus across the stomach. Maximus fell forward but then stood
straight again and faced him.
Haken looked again to Proximo, and again Proximo, and again he was told to continue.
This time Haken struck Maximus across his wounded arm. Maximus almost fell to the
ground but managed to stay on his feet. All the time he stared straight at Haken.
When Haken lifted the sword again, ready to hurt Maximus really badly, Proximo told
him to stop.

4 – Where did Proximo and his gladiators walk to?

Proximo and his gladiators walked to the arena. Haken and the gladiators were chained
together, and Proximo’s guard walked with them.

5 – What was the method for chaining the gladiators together?

The gladiators were all put in teams of two – the method was to chain a good fighter
with a certain loser.

6 – W ho was Maximus chained to?

Maximus – a ‘loser’ , because he had refused to fight Haken – was chained to Juba, the
African, who was a good fighter.

7 – What did the crowd realize?

The crowd quickly realized that Juba and Maximus were a strong fighting pair and
began to cheer them. Soon all the attackers were on the ground.
The fighting had ended. The crowd were on their feet, cheering.

Chapter 6 – Caesar’s arrival in Rome

1 – What was the new Emperor’s arrival in Rome like?

The crowd was not very big and it was not very enthusiastic. They cheered, but not
loudly. They were worried about the stories they had heard – that Commodus was
selfish and cruel. He was not like his father, and they had loved Marcus Aurelius.
Commodus had much work to do to make himself popular and win the support of the
people.

2 – How would Commodus make himself popular and win the support of the people?
Commodus was planning better and longer games than any emperor before him.
Commodus knew he had no choice. He and the Senate did not agree about anything and
he could not be certain of their support. So he had to look beyond the Senate and go
straight to the people for his power. The games were the key. The people must have
their traditions. And he would not deny his citizens their traditional games.

Chapter 7 – The Spaniard and the crowd

1 – Why wasn’t Proximo happy with Maximus’s fighting style on the arena of the
Moroccan town?
‘You make it look too easy,’ Proximo told Maximus. ‘The crowd wants a hero, not just
someone cutting up meat. Don’t kill so quickly – take more time! Remember, you’re an
entertainer!’

2 – Why was Maximus suddenly interested in Proximo’s words?

Because Proximo was saying that after five years in the Moroccan town, they were
going back to the Colosseum in Rome because the young Emperor had arranged some
games in honour of his dead father, Marcus Aurelius

3 – Why did Proximo think it was a strange way to honour Marcus Aurelius?
Proximo thought Commodus had chosen a strange way to honour his dead father,
because he had to leave his school in Rome when Marcus Aurelius stopped all
gladiators contests.

4 – Why did Lucilla go to Senator Gracchus’s house?

She went to talk to Gracchus and Gaius. They were Senators and they were worried
because they knew that the Senate was full of Falco’s spies. They also knew that anyone
who said anything against the Emperor was in danger.

5 – What did Lucilla tell them?

She told them that Commodus was selling the wheat they had saved for the future, in
order to pay for the games. In two years time the people would die of hunger. Lucilla
thought Commodus had to die.

6 – What did Gracchus think?

He thought they had to be patient and wait, prepare and be ready because they could do
nothing while Commodus had the support of the people. If they killed Commodus,
Gracchus knew, Quintus and the guards would take control.

7 – What was Maximus’s only one thought as Proximo and his gladiators arrived in
Rome?
Maximus’s only one thought was that he was now close to Commodus. And that the
time was coming when he would see him and kill him.
8 – Who was Cassius?
Cassius’s job was to organize the contests in the Colosseum. He also had to please the
Emperor.

9 – What was Cassius telling Proximo?

Cassius was telling Proximo that the crowd wanted battles. So, the Emperor wanted to
give them battles. Cassius told Proximo that his gladiators were going to act the Battle
of Carthage. The Battle of Carthage was the last of a number of wars between Rome
and the city of Carthage (now Tunis) in North Africa in 146 B.C. (before the birth of
Christ).

Chapter 8 – The Colosseum

1 – What were the gladiators given for their contest?

The gladiators were given helmets, body armour, and swords. Maximus chose a helmet
with a face guard. Maximus chose a helmet with a face guard that covered his face
completely, so that his face could not be recognized.
Proximo’s gladiators were dressed to look like soldiers from Carthage. They carried
spears and long, curved, heavy shields.

2 – What did an official tell the gladiators as they waited to go into the arena?
‘When the Emperor enters, raise your spears in salute,’ he said. ‘Face the Emperor.
Don’t turn your backs.’

3 – When did the crowd go wild, cheering and shouting salutes?

When Commodus and his sister Lucilla entered the crowd went wild, cheering and
shouting salutes. Lucilla and her son Lucius Verus, went to their seats. Commodus
moved forward and waved to the crowd.

4 – What was the latest news the Senators who sat next to the Emperor had just heard?
The Senators had just heard that in order to help pay for the games, Commodus was
taking the houses and money of Senators he disliked.

5 – Why didn’t Maximus kill Commodus right away?

Because the distance between them was too great – this was not his chance.

6 – What happened when the doors at the ends of the arena opened with a crash?
When the doors at the ends of the arena opened with a crash, six chariots came in from
each end. The chariots raced through the line of gladiators, who jumped out of the way.
Then the chariots raced around the outside of the arena.

7 – Why was it difficult for the men on foot to see well?

Because of the cloud of dust and sand from the wheel of the chariots.

8 – What did Maximus see as the chariots thundered past the gladiators on foot?
Maximus saw a spear flying through the air. It hit one of the gladiators in the neck and
killed him immediately.
9 – What could Maximus see at once?
He could see that he must take control and he called to the other gladiators.
10 – Why did Maximus make the other gladiators move in closer, put their shields
together with their shoulders against the shields?
Because when the men in the chariots circled around the group, firing arrows and
spears, they could only hit the gladiators’ shields.

11 – The gladiators followed Maximus’s orders – except Haken. Why not?

Haken stood alone, because he was ready to fight his own battle.

12 – What happened to Haken?

A Roman spear from one chariot hit Haken in the leg.

13 – What did Juba and Maximus do to help Haken?

Juba threw his spear and killed the chariot driver, and Maximus pulled Haken into the
safety of the group.

14 – Two chariots drove straight at the gladiators. Fixed to the wheels were short, sharp
spears. What could these sharp spears do as the wheels turned?
They could cut a man to pieces.

15 – Why did the shields prove to be good protection against the wheel spears?
Because the wheel spears broke when they hit the shields.

16 – What happened when the wheels of one chariot hit the corner of a shield?
It turned over.

17 – What happened to another chariot driver who was close behind the chariot which
turned over?
He crashed his chariot into the one which turned over, and was thrown out. His chariot
raced on, and its wheel spears killed him as he tried to get away.

18 – Maximus ran for one of the broken chariots and cut the horse free. What did he do
then?
He rode fast toward one chariot. The driver was watching Maximus carefully, but he
didn’t see that he was very close to another vehicle. Their wheels touched, and both
drivers were thrown onto the sand. One was killed by Maximus’s spear, and the other
died under the feet of his horse.

19 – What happened when the gladiators pulled two crashed chariots into the path of the
others?
The drivers were forced to slow down. Then the gladiators rushed at the drivers, striking
them with their spears.

20 – What did Maximus finally do when he looked around and saw that all their
enemies were dead?
He raised his right arm and sword high. It was the gladiators’ traditional sign of beating
death. The crowd cheered wildly.
21 – Why did Commodus call for Cassius?
Because he wanted to meet Maximus.

22 – Who did Maximus see when the gladiators were almost at the gate?
When the gladiators were almost at the gate, Maximus turned and saw the Emperor
walking out onto the sand, smiling at him. He noticed a broken arrow in the sand and, as
he fell to his knees, he quickly closed his hand around it. This would be his chance.

23 – Why couldn’t Maximus strike Commodus with the broken arrow?

Because when Commodus was almost close enough to kill him, Lucius, Lucilla’s son,
ran out and took Commodus by the hand. Commodus laughed and moved the boy in
front of him, facing the gladiator hero. Maximus could not strike Commodus – Lucius
was in the way.

24 – What did Maximus do when Commodus asked him what his name was?
Maximus answered his name was Gladiator. Then he turned and walked away. It was a
great insult to turn his back on the Emperor. The crowd was shocked. Commodus was
very angry.

25 – What did Commodus do?

Commodus made a sign to Quintus, who moved the royal guards into the arena. They
stood at the gate, swords ready, and did not let Maximus pass.

26 – What did Commodus order Maximus to do?

Commodus ordered Maximus to remove his helmet and tell him his real name.

27 – Maximus knew he had no choice. He took off his helmet. How did Commodus,
Quintus and Lucilla react to this?
Commodus stared. Quintus could not believe his eyes. Lucilla recognized Maximus
from her seat in the arena and put her hand over her mouth in total shock.

28 – Maximus spoke in a clear, proud voice. What did he say?

‘My name is Maximus Decimus Meridas, Commander of the Army of the North,
General of the Western Armies, loyal servant to the true Emperor, Marcus Aurelius.’

29 – Then Maximus turned to Commodus and spoke more quietly. What did he tell
Commodus?
‘I am father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife, and I will punish their
killer, in this life or the next.’

30 – Commodus gave a sign to his guards and they moved closer. What was the crowd’s
reaction to this?
The crowd shouted out. They didn’t want their hero to die, They reached out a forest of
thumbs, pointing up to the heavens. Their meaning was clear – Let him live!

31 – Commodus looked around at the crowd. What did he decide to do with Maximus?
With great difficulty, Commodus forced himself to smile, and slowly lifted his own
thumb.
32 – What was the crowd’s reaction?
The crowd cheered. ‘Maximus! , Maximus!’ they shouted.

33 – How did Lucilla and the Senators feel?

Lucilla and the Senators could not believe the scene happening in frnt of them.

34 – Another shocked face was watching from his seat in the Colosseum. Who was it?
It was Cicero, Maximus’s servant in the army.

35 – What was Cicero thinking about?

As he watched the General, his mind saw many possibilities.

36 – Why did a guard take Maximus to another prison room, chained him to the wall
and left without a word?
Because Lucilla was coming to tell Maximus that she had seen that day a slave become
more powerful than the Emperor of Rome. She wanted Maximus to use that power
against Commodus,

Chapter 9 – A man for the people

1 – How did the Emperor show he loved his people during the games at the Colosseum?
Servants came into the arena pulling great boxes. They removed the covers and took out
loaves of bread. Then they started to throw them into the crowd. Other servants
appeared at the top of the steps and threw the bread down. There were thousands of
loaves. T he crowd cheered and caught as many loaves as they could.

2 – Who did Cassius introduce as the greatest gladiator in Roman history?

Cassius introduced Tigris of France as the greatest gladiator in Roman history. He was a
large man of about forty-five and he looked dangerous. He wore silver armour and a
silver tiger helmet with a face guard. He was carrying a sword and a spear and he
looked frightening.

3 – Who did Cassius introduce from the great school of Aelius Proximo?
He introduced Maximus, the Spaniard, who appeared from his gate carrying only a short
sword and a round silver shield. He had no armour or helmet.

4 – Who were there among the crowd that day?

There were soldiers from the Army of the North. They had come to see if it was true
that their general was really still alive. When he got close enough for them to recognize
him, they were very happy.

5 – Where did the strange noise come from as Maximus and Tigris fought?
A door opened in the sand behind Maximus and an enormous tiger came out. It jumped
at Maximus and he felt the tiger’s breath on his back as he moved quickly to one side.
When he looked, he saw that the tiger was on the end of a long chain held tightly be
three men near the wall.
6 – What happened as Maximus attacked and drove Tigris in a new direction?

A second door opened in the sand, and another tiger jumped into the arena.
As Maximus found a new position and continued to fight, two more tigers appeared
from the ground. There were four tigers, one in each corner of the battlefield. Maximus
had five enemies to fight.

7 – What did Maximus realize?

When Tigris was near a tiger, the men holding the chain pulled it in a little. When
Maximus was near, they let the chain out further.

8 – What happened when Maximus knocked Tigris back and stood over him, his sword
at his throat?
One of the teams of servants let go of the chain and a tiger ran at Maximus. He just had
time to turn and push his sword upward into the tiger’s shoulders. The animal fell on
top of him and died.

9 – What happened as Maximus was under the heavy body of the dead tiger?
This gave Tigris time to get to his feet, pick up his sword, and prepare to attack again.
But Maximus still had enough strength to throw his shield up at Tigris.

10 – What did Tigris do when Maximus’s shield hit him hard on the face guard of his
helmet and bent it?
Tigris was forced to drop his sword so he could use both hands to try to pull the cover
up, because it was impossible for him to see through it.

11 – What happened after Maximus was able to squeeze out from under the tiger?
Maximus picked up Tigris’s sword while the French was still blindly pulling at his
helmet, and knocked him to the ground.

12 – What did Maximus do when he stood over Tigris, his sword point at his throat?
He looked to Commodus.

13 – What did Commodus do?

Commodus was very angry, but tried not to show it. He slowly stood and looked down
at Maximus. He raised his arm and held out his hand – thumb down.

14 – What did Maximus do?

He raised his sword to kill Tigris – but suddenly threw it down on the sand, next to his
head.

15 – What was the reaction of the crowd?

The crowd was silent, then suddenly there was an enormous cheer. The shouts of
‘Maximus…Maximus..’ grew louder and louder.

16 – What did Commodus do?

He turned and disappeared from sight.
17 – What happened when Maximus was almost at the gladiators’ exit from the arena?
A group of royal guards appeared in front of Maximus, stepped back as Commodus
walked through them and toward the great fighter.

18 – Maximus and Commodus stared at each other, just an arm’s length away. The
crowd was quiet now, but they could not hear what was said. Why couldn’t Maximus try
to kill Commodus?
Because Maximus knew he only had to take one step toward Commodus and the guards
would kill him.

19 – What was the reaction of the crowd when Maximus turned his back on the
Emperor and walked away?
The crowd went mad! They cheered Maximus, their hero. And then some started
laughing at the Emperor and throwing bread at him.

20 – Such insults to the Emperor usually resulted in death. But, why weren’t the people
afraid now?
All this was because of one brave man, Maximus the Spaniard.

21 – Who did Maximus hear and see in the crowd as the gladiators, chained together,
walked back to Proximo’s school?
Maximus heard a familiar voice and saw Cicero, ahead in the crowd.

22 – What did Cicero tell Maximus?

Cicero told Maximus that his men were camped at Ostia, a day’s ride from Rome and
that they could be ready to fight at once.

23 – What did Maximus tell Cicero to do?

Maximus told Cicero to contact Lucilla, the Emperor’s sister.

Chapter 10 – Secrets and lies

1 – How could Cicero contact Lucilla, the Emperor’s sister?

It was easy to find Lucilla, but much harder to speak to her. For two days Cicero stayed
in the streets around the palace. Finally, he was lucky. Lucilla’s carriage came toward
him, surrounded by royal guards and followed by a small man blind in one eye.

2 – Who was the small man blind in one eye that followed Lucilla’s carriage?
He was one of Senator Falco’s secret police.

3 – Why was he following Lucilla’s carriage?

He was watching her.

4 – What did Cicero call out as Lucilla’s carriage passed?

He called out ‘I served General Maximus.’

5 – What did Lucilla do after she called for her carriage to stop?
She asked her servant for a coin and held it out to Cicero.
6 – What did Lucilla understand at once when Cicero said ‘And I serve Maximus still,’
as he came closer to take the coin?
She understood at once that he was a messenger.

7 – What did Cicero whisper to Lucilla as she told her guards to step back?
He whispered that Maximus had agreed to meet Senator Gracchus.

8 – Proximo’s school was dark and quiet. The men were all asleep, except one. Why did
Proximo go quietly to wake Maximus?
Proximo woke Maximus and took him to his own rooms because Lucilla and Gracchus
were there, waiting for Maximus.

9 – What did Maximus want to know when Lucilla introduced Gracchus to him?
He wanted to know if the Senate was with Gracchus, and if Gracchus could buy his
freedom.

10 – Why did Maximus ask Gracchus to get him out of Rome and fresh horses ready to
take him to Ostia?
Because his army was camped there.

11 – What did Maximus promise?

He promised he would be back with 5,000 men.

12 – What did Maximus answer when Lucilla told him there were new commanders
loyal to Commodus?
Maximus insisted that his men were still loyal to him.

13 – What did Maximus answer when Gracchus asked him what would happen after he
took control of Rome?
Maximus told Gracchus he would leave, but the soldiers would stay to protect them,
under the command of the Senate. Because that was the last wish of Marcus Aurelius.

14 – Why did Proximo come to see Maximus in the dark of night in his prison room?
Because Lucilla dad come to see him.

15 – Why did Lucilla tell Maximus he had to leave that night?

Lucilla told Maximus she knew Commodus planned to put Gracchus in prison. So, the
couldn’t wait any longer.

16 – What was Maximus supposed to do that night?

Proximo would come for him at midnight and take him to the gate. Cicero would be
there with horses.

17 – Who was Lucius, Lucilla’s son, with when she got back to the palace?
He was with Commodus, his uncle, the Emperor of Rome.
18 – Commodus was telling Lucius a story about the people closest to Emperor
Claudius, who didn’t deserve his trust. What did Emperor Claudius know?
Emperor Claudius knew they had been planning against him, so he told this person very
close to him that ‘she’ should tell him what they had planned, or he would kill the
person ‘she’ loved the most.

19 – Lucilla kept her eyes on her son, Lucius. What did she clearly understand?
She understood she had no choice but to tell her brother Commodus everything.

Chapter 11 – Broken plans

1 - What broke the silence of night in the area around the Colosseum?
The sound of marching feet broke the silence of night in the area around the Colosseum.

2 – What did Proximo know when he heard the marching feet coming toward the
school?
He knew how he was going to die.

3 – What did Proximo do?

He picked up his bunch of keys and hurried across to the prison rooms. He didn’t turn to
look at the guards who ordered him to open the gates. He continued toward the prisons
and handed the keys to Maximus.

4 – What did Maximus do?

He quickly unlocked his door. Then he and Juba let Haken and the others out.

5 – Why did Juba, Haken and the other gladiators throw themselves between the guards
and Maximus?
To slow them down enough for Maximus to get away.

6 – What did Maximus find waiting for him by the back entrance?
He found his army sword and armour.

7 – What happened as Maximus got closer to Cicero?

There were two horses waiting, one with a rider. As he got closer, he could see that it
was Cicero. But something felt wrong. When Cicero whispered Cicero’s name, he
turned and tried to stop Maximus.

8 – What happened as Cicero shouted to stop Maximus?

His horse suddenly ran and Cicero was pulled from it by a rope around his neck.

9 – What happened as Maximus rushed forward and caught Cicero by the legs to try to
help him?
Six arrows flew into Cicero’s chest, killing him immediately.

10 – Maximus had his sword ready. But there were too many guards, so he had no
chance. What happened to him?
A voice called out ‘Take him alive!’ and the guards quickly caught him, making him a
prisoner again.
11 – What happened to several Senators and many private citizens?
Several Senators, also many private citizens were killed.

12 – Where was Maximus led by Quintus and the royal guards?

Maximus was led under the floor of the Colosseum arena where there was a large
elevator operated by servants with ropes.

13 – Who joined Maximus on the elevator?

Emperor Commodus himself appeared suddenly with a group of servants wearing his
own gold armour.

14 – What did Commodus tell Maximus?

He told Maximus they would fight against each other.

15 – The servants began to fix armour to Maximus body, first his arms, legs, and
shoulers. They left the body armour until last. Why did Maximus let out a sudden cry of
pain when Commodus reached out his arms to Maximus and put them around him?
The Emperor had a small, sharp knife in his hand. He had wounded Maximus in the
side, cutting him deeply.

16 – What did Commodus say to his servants, as Quintus stared, shocked ?

‘Now put on his body armour. Hide the wound.’

17 – What happened when the elevator came up to the Colosseum arena?

Commodus stepped off and onto the sand. He took his sword from Quintus. Maximus
stood straight, but he was in great pain.

18 – Maximus slowly bent down and picked up some sand from the arena. What did
Maximus do when Quintus threw Maximus’s sword down on the ground near his feet?
Maximus picked it up, slowly, and stood facing the Emperor. And the fight began.

19 – What happened when Commodus rushed at Maximus and knocked him to the
ground?
Maximus got to his feet with difficulty. The arena seemed to be turning around.

20 – Commodus struck Maximus again and Maximus almost fell again. How did the
crowd react when Maximus pushed himself forward and, as he did so, he struck
Commodus?
The crowd cheered.

21 – Commodus came forward again and knocked Maximus back to the ground. How
did the crowd react this time?
The crowd were silent.

22 – Maximus saw something else now… A woman stood in the doorway of a pink
stone house… There was a field of wheat behind the house …What did one person in
the crowd call out in the silence?
‘MAXIMUS!’ One person in the crowd called out in the silence.
23 – The crowd repeated the cry. ‘MAXIMUS!!!! What did Commodus do?
Commodus looked around angrily, turned back and brought his sword down.

24 – But the sound of the crowd had brought Maximus back to the arena and given him
new strength. What could he do?
He pushed his sword up and knocked Commodus’s sword away.

25 – Suddenly Maximus got to his feet and attacked the Emperor, forcing him back. The
crowd cheered loudly. Then Maximus saw an opportunity, and what did he do?
He pushed his sword forward and caught Commodus under his arm and he dropped his
sword.

26 – What did Quintus do when Commodus called to him ‘Give me your sword!’?
Quintus just stared through Commodus.

27 – Commodus turned to the guards and called out to them ‘A sword! Give me a
sword! What did Quintus do as some guards started to come forward?
Quintus stopped them, and ordered them ‘ Put your swords away!’

28 - Commodus looked around, suddenly frightened. He saw the great crowd, and what
did he hear?
He heard the name of his enemy on all sides. ‘MAXIMUS! MAXIMUS! MAXIMUS!’
they shouted. Senators joined in the cry. Juba and the gladiators shouted the name, too.

29 – But Maximus was dying. He could not stand. He dropped his own sword. He
seemed to be reaching out toward something. What was Maximus reaching out to?
A pink stone wall with a gate… a wheat field … the sound of a child’s laugh …

30 – What did Commodus do when he saw Maximus fall to his knees?

He stood over him, took the small knife in his hand again and lifted it, ready to strike
Maximus one last time.

31 – What did Maximus do as he saw the knife coming toward him?

He held Commodus’s arm and pulled him onto the ground. Suddenly finding power
from somewhere, Maximus turned the knife around and pushed it deep into
Commodus’s neck.

32 – There was a look of surprise on the Emperor’s face, then he took one last breath
and died. What did Maximus see?
Maximus saw his own hand on the gate, pushing it open … Walking away from him
was a woman, and a child running … They looked back and smiled at him. Maximus
fell to the sand, dead.

33 – After Maximus died in Licilla’s arms, she placed him gently on the sand. Then,
she stood up, turned and spoke to the Senators. What did she tell them?
‘Rome is free again,’ she said. ‘He was a soldier of Rome. Honour him.’
34 - Quintus voice rang out, ‘Free the prisoners!’ A hand turned a key, and Juba led the
last of Proximo’s gladiators inti the silent arena. What did the gladiators do?
They picked Maximus up on their shoulders. Silent and proud, they carried him out of
the arena.

Chapter 12 – Home at last

1 – The Colosseum was empty and silent as Juba walked across the sand, now dressed
in his African clothes, a free man again What did Juba do before going home?
Juba moved to the centre of the arena looking for a small area of blood on the sand. He
dropped to his knees and made a little hole in the ground. He took something from his
pocket – the small wooden figures of Maximus’s wife and son.
He carefully put them in the hole and covered them with the earth that carried their
loved one’s blood. Now it would be easier for them to find each other in the next world.