Around the middle of the III century. BC the Romans borrowed from their Etruscan neighbors the custom of arranging mortal battles of armed prisoners of war during the burial of noble persons. However, unlike the Etruscans, the Romans were attracted not so much by the religious meaning of this ritual as by the game with death itself, giving strong sensations. So from the funeral rite arose something completely different Roman gladiatorial phenomenon, which has no analogue in the history of mankind.