April 2, 2011

Moment of Zen: Thumbs Up

By Joe

The Latin phrase pollice verso is used in the context of gladiatorial combat for a hand gesture used by Ancient Roman crowds to pass judgment on a defeated gladiator. However, the type of gesture described by the phrase pollice verso and its meaning is unclear in the historical and literary record.


In modern popular culture, it is assumed that “thumbs down” was the signal that a defeated gladiator should be condemned to death; “thumbs up”, that he should be spared, a view popularized by a widely reproduced painting by the 19th-century artist Jean-Léon Gérôme, whose Pollice Verso (usually known in English as “Thumbs Down”) depicts a triumphant gladiator looking up into the stands for the verdict of the crowd.

To see the painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme, click to see more below and go to the second part of the post.

About Joe

I began my life in the South and for five years lived as a closeted teacher, but am now making a new life for myself as an oral historian in New England. I think my life will work out the way it was always meant to be. That doesn't mean there won't be ups and downs; that's all part of life. It means I just have to be patient. I feel like October 7, 2015 is my new birthday. It's a beginning filled with great hope. It's a second chance to live my life…not anyone else's. My profile picture is "David and Me," 2001 painting by artist Steve Walker. It happens to be one of my favorite modern gay art pieces. View all posts by Joe
This entry was posted on Saturday, April 2nd, 2011 at 1:08 pm and posted in Art, Moment of Zen. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

2 responses to “Moment of Zen: Thumbs Up”

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