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Gladiatorial Games Aaron M.
General • Gladiatorial games started at the funeral of Julius Brutus’s funeral in 264 BC as tribute. Experts think that this fighting came from an Ethiopian tradition in which when slave’s masters died 2 slaves would fight to the death. Gladiators were named after the roman sword, which was called the gladius. Men, women, slaves, and children could watch the gladiatorial games. These games were held in theatres like the Coliseum.
Fighting • If a gladiator could kill his opponent he would look into the crowd and if the crowds had thumbs up they killed them and if they had their thumbs down the opponents life would be spared. Gladiators usually only had to fight 2 or 3 times, but a gladiator could fight longer for money. After the usual 2 or 3 fights the gladiator became a freedman. He could also join the army if he was really good, but most just lived the normal life of the city person.
Classes of Gladiators • Most of the gladiators were slaves, freedman, and prisoners of war. Some though were volunteers. These volunteers would be in the middle to upper classes. Though volunteers were very rare.
Training • The training to be a gladiator was tough. They would train on how to use different weapons, such as the war chain, net trident, lasso, etc.
Rumors • There are rumors that women and emperors fought in the gladiatorial games. Based on artifacts it seems that there were women gladiators . The women would be captured from Rome’s enemies’ lands. Many emperors were in the gladiatorial games but the risks were not as severe.
Bestiarius • The Bestiarius was the animal fighter. He was not respected as much as the other gladiators.
Eques • The Eques was the horseman. He would have a lance, sword, small round shield, and a distinct helmet. The Eques would normally fight another Eques.
Gaul • The Gallic gladiators were Gallic war prisoners in the early ages of gladiatorial games. The Gallic gladiators were very heavily armed. They were some of the 1st gladiators.
Hoplomachus • The Hoplomachus was the heavy weapon fighter. He would have a helmet, spear, heavy arm padding and a small shield. The Hoplomachus usually fought a Thraex.
Murmillo • The Murmillo was the fish. He was called this because he had decorative helmets and shields that resemble a fish. His weapon would be a gladius and would have arm padding like the Hoplomachus. He would fight the Thraex or Hoplomachus.
Provocator • The provocator was the attacker. He would have a breastplate, shield, sword, and helmet. He was also the most heavily armed gladiator of them all. He would usually fight another provocator.
Retiarius • The Retiarius was the net man. He would have no armor except for a padded arm protector (like many of the gladiators), which made him the quickest of the gladiators. He would fight with a net and trident. He would use the net to trip the person then stab them with the trident.
Scissor • The Scissor was named after his sword which looked like scissors. He wore the armor of the Murmillo and the helmet of the Secutor.
Secutor • The Secutor was the pursuer. His armor was exactly like the Murmillo, except that his helmet was more closed and protected. The Secutor would usually face a Retiarius.
Thraex • The Thraex was named after the Thracians who were the Roman’s former enemy of Rome. The Thraex wore the same armor of the Hoplomachus. The Thraex would either fight the Hoplomachus or the Murmillos.
