The larger frequency of chariot races may be explained partly by the truth that they had been comparatively cheap compared with the big prices of gladiatorial fight. The editor who staged the video games often rented the gladiators from a lanista and was required to reimburse him for losers executed in response to a “thumbs down” signal. [newline]Brutal as these combats were, most of the gladiators have been free men who volunteered to battle, an apparent signal of intrinsic motivation. Indeed, imperial edicts were needed to discourage the aristocracy’s participation. During the reign of Nero (54–68), female gladiators had been …