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Reflection # 5 - Telemachus

In around the year  400 AD a Christian monk from the east, named Telemachus, entered Rome.  Telemachus was immediately appalled by what he saw.  Gladiators, a fancy name for prisoners, slaves or  criminals, fighting to the death with crowds of onlookers cheering them on.  The “games” began as a part of the Roman culture in the year 264 BC and, as such, when Telemachus entered the arena these fights to the death were a deeply entrenched part of the Roman culture for over 600 years.  Seeing this gruesome scene,Telemachus ran down to the edge of the arena and cried out for such injustice to be stopped.  Although the accounts vary as to whether Telemachus was stoned to death by the crowd, or killed by a gladiator, the crowd at the sight of his death dispersed.  Soon thereafter the gladiator games were outlawed by the Roman emperor Honorius.  Telemachus was a follower of Christ, the Word of God living in his heart and flowing into his actions changed the world.