- Roman Gladiator Combats were popular in the Roman Empire between 105 BCE until they were banned in 500 CE.
- They were often captured soldiers who were trained in dedicated Gladiator Schools.
The Rise of the Gladiators (264-105 BCE)
- The first Gladiator Games were privately sponsored and were held in the Forum Boarium in Rome in 264 BCE. They were performed as a ‘munus’, a dedication to the memory of the dead by wealthy families.
- The next Gladiator Games were held in 216 BCE in the Forum Romanum and in 206 BCE Gladiatorial Games were held in Spain by Scipio Africanus.
- By 174 BCE the holding of privately sponsored Gladiatorial Games had become commonplace.
- Up to 164 BCE, criminals were used as Gladiators, later they were replaced by captured soldiers.
- In 105 BCE the Roman Consuls put on state sponsored Gladiatorial Games and from then on they formed part of the Ludi in Religious Festivals.
- Gladiator Games were performed in the Roman Amphitheatres.
- The Gladiator schools were called Ludi.
- Gladiators were often used as private Bodyguards.
Gladiator Schools
- Ludus Magnus: (built 81-96 CE)
- This was the largest Gladiator School in Rome, located near the Colosseum with a tunnel connecting to it. It was built by Domitian (81-96 CE)
- The Ludus Magnus consisted of an arena for Gladiators to practice, with various offices and rooms around it, where the Gladiators lived.
- The Roman Public was able to observe Gladiators practicing here and this arena held seating for 3,000 people.
- Capua
- The Gladiator School here became famous when Spartacus escaped and formed an army of Gladiatorss and escaped slaves.
The Roman Amphitheatre: The venue for Gladiator Games (known as ‘Munera’)
- Roman Amphitheatre was the venue for Gladiator Games.
- The Gladiators each had their own supporters who often fought each other.
- There were many different types of Gladiator and each type had distinctive weapons and wore a distinctive armour and helmet.
- The Combat was by pairs of Gladiators and the battle was often a recreation of a Roman Battle.
- Unusually, the Emperor Commodus chose to fight in the arena as a Gladiator. He always won.
- Most Gladiators were men, but some female Gladiators have been recorded in the Arena.
Acta
- ‘Acta Diurna’ meaning ‘Daily Acts’ or ‘Daily Public Records’ were daily news sheets posted in the Forum Romanum in Rome.
- They contained news of Political Events, New Legislation, Trials, Scandals, Military Campaigns, Trials and Executions.
- They also had a Sports Section, the ‘Compositus Ludus’, which showed the results of Gladiatorial Contests and the Chariot Races.
Spartacus (73-73 BCE)
- During the Third Servile War (73-71 BCE), Spartacus escaped from the Gladiator school at Capua and formed a private army.
The End of the Gladiators (325-500 CE)
- 325 CE Constantine I banned Gladiator combats in the East.
- 500 CE Theodoric banned Gladiator combats in the West.
Types of Gladiator
Gladiators fought in pairs:
- Andabata
- Arbelas
- Bestiarius
- He fought wild beasts.
- Bustuarius
- Cestus
- An unarmoured boxer who used knuckledusters.
- Crupellarii
- Dimachaerus
- He used two swords.
- Eques
- He wore light scale armour, a rimmed helmet, a round shield and fought with a sword or spear.
- Essedarius
- He arrived in a chariot, but it is not known whether he fought in the chariot or dismounted and fought on foot.
- Gallus
- ‘Meaning ‘like a Gaul’, little is known of him except that he was a heavyweight fighter and probably wore heavy armour.
- Gladiatrix
- Meaning a female gladiator. There were very few of these and they operated from circa 30 BCE until they were banned in 200 CE.
- Hoplomachus
- He wore quilted trousers, a belt, a greave on his sword arm, a rimmed helmet with a plume of feathers, a tiny round shield and he used a Gladius (Broadsword).
- He was often paired with a Murmillo.
- Laquearius
- He may have used a lasso instead of a net.
- Murmillo
- He wore an armguard, a helmet with a fish on the crest, a loincloth and belt, an oblong legionary shield and he fought with a Gladius (Broadsword). He was often paired with a Thracian or Hoplomachus.
- Parmularius
- Provocator
- He was dressed like a Legionary, used a tall rectangular shield and used the Gladius (Broadsword).
- The Provocators were unique in wearing a breastplatem as no other gladiators wore one.
- Retiarius
- He wore a loincloth and belt, an armguard and used a trident and a net, but did not wear a helmet.
- They stood on a bridge or raised platform with steps and threw stones at the Secutors who tried to climb up the steps to attack him.
- Rudiarius
- These were gladiators who had received their freedom and been given a wooden sword. If they continued to be gladiators they were called a Rudiarius, and either continued to fight, or became trainers or referees.
- Sagittarius
- He was an archer.
- Samnite
- A gladiator during the Roman Republic, he was based on the soldier of the Samnite Wars (343-290 BCE), used a long rectangular shield, wore a plumed helmet and fought with a short sword.
- Scissor
- This gladiator used a sword with two blades.
- Scutuarius
- A Scutarius referred to any gladiator using a large shield.
- Secutor
- He wore the same armour and used the same sword (the Gladius) as the Murmillo, but his helmet covered his face.
- Thraex (Thracian)
- He wore the same armour, used the same small circular shield and rimmed helmet as the Hoplomachus, but wore a griffin on the crest and used a Thracian curved sword. They were often paired with the Hoplomachus or the Murmillo.
- Veles
- Early Republic but very little is known about this gladiator.
Gladiator Helmets
- Each type of gladiator had distinctive weapons and wore a distinctive armour and helmet.
- A Gladiator Helmet was found in Pompeii with a face covering and decorated with scenes from Greek Mythology.
- A Murmillo helmet was found in Pompeii. One is on display in the British Museum in London and another in the Neues Museum in Berlin.
- A Secutor helmet was found in Herculaneum.
- A Thraex helmet is on display in the Louvre, Paris.
Gladiators in Film
- Ben Hur (2016)
- Starring Jack Huston and Toby Kebbell
- The Eagle (2011)
- Starring Jamie Bell and Channing Tatum
- Gladiator (2000)
- Starring Russel Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix
- Spartacus (1960)
- Starring Kirk Douglas and Laurence Olivier
- Ben Hur (1959)
- Starring Charlton Heston and Stephen Boyd