In the ancient world, which lacked daily newspapers, television, radio, the Internet, and other means of conveying news and advertising, people often painted ads on city walls. Archaeologists have found many such ads among the abundant graffiti on the walls of Pompeii, a Roman city buried and preserved by the eruption of the nearby volcano Mt. Vesuvius in A. D. 79. One news flash reads,

Twenty pairs of gladiators sponsored by Decimus Lucretius Satrius Valens... and ten pairs of gladiators sponsored by Decimus Lucretius Valens, his son, will fight in Pompeii on April 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12. There will also be a suitable wild animal hunt.

This was exciting news at the time. Gladiatorial combats were not everyday events, in large part because they were very expensive to stage. So, people reading this ad no doubt looked forward to the scheduled bouts...