Emphasis Preaching Journal

Foxe's Book of Martyrs contains a remarkable story of the simple monk, Telemachus. Following the victory of Stilicho during the mid-fifth-century, a great Roman gladiatorial combat was planned in the Coliseum as part of the celebration. Part of the incredible spectacle involved large numbers of gladiators fighting to the death. The competition included waves of battle. After each wave the dead were carted off and new sand was distributed to cover the blood before the next "contestants" emerged to do battle.