Roman gladiators had a much different diet from most modern athletes, eating a mostly vegetarian diet and drinking a tonic made with ashes,
according to anthropological investigations published in Plos One.
The bones of warriors found in the ancient city of Ephesos were examined in a study by the Department of Forensic Medicine at the MedUni Vienna in cooperation with the Department of Anthropology at the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the University of Bern.
The study revealed that
Roman gladiators ate grains and beans, and that the ash drink quoted in literature probably really did exist, Science Daily reported.
"Plant ashes were evidently consumed to fortify the body after physical exertion and to promote better bone healing," study leader Fabian Kanz from the Department of Forensic Medicine at the MedUni Vienna said, according to Science Daily. "Things were similar then to what we do today — we take magnesium and calcium (in the form of effervescent tablets, for example) following physical exertion."
The study examined 53 individuals,
including 22 gladiators, The Daily Mail reported. It found differences between gladiators and those in the general population in the amount strontium measured in their bones.
Twitter users expressed interest in the report.
Related Stories:
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.