Penn Museum Celebrates Rome's Birthday With...Gladiators!
By John McDevitt
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - What's a birthday party without entertainment? Some people have clowns, others magicians, but sword-wielding gladiators will in the spotlight at a celebration today at the Penn Museum.
The city of Rome is turning 2,768 years old and Penn Museum is marking the occasion with a birthday celebration featuring gladiatorial bouts, with actors dressed in a range of armor with weapons that match their fighting styles.
New York trial lawyer John Ebel (far right in above photo) is one of the gladiators in the Historical Enactors Group. He says his day job and his hobby go hand in hand:
"I was a golden gloves boxer when I was kid, so I like combat. I'm a trial lawyer, obviously, I like combat and that energy transfers from my gladiatorial work right to my work as a trail attorney and vice versa."
Visitors can also attend lectures on the Ancient Roman Empire or explore the museum with more than 1,400 ancient artifacts.
If you wear a toga or gladiator attire, you receive half-off the price of admission. The celebration takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.