Marcus Aurelius did not ban gladiatorial games during his reign as Roman Emperor. In fact, he ruled from 161 to 180 AD during a time when these games were still quite popular among the Roman populace.
While Aurelius was known for his philosophical writings and emphasized the importance of virtue and reason, he did not take significant steps to outlaw the brutal spectacles that captivated audiences. Gladiatorial contests were deeply ingrained in Roman culture, symbolizing bravery, skill, and honor in combat. Even though some emperors and philosophers criticized these games for their cruelty, they continued to be a source of entertainment.
It’s important to note that towards the end of the 3rd century AD, there began to be movement against gladiatorial games, especially under the influence of Christianity, which condemned the violence of such events. However, during Marcus Aurelius’s time, there was no official ban on the gladiatorial games.