Beloved by the public and sometimes despised by the elite, Roman gladiators were the heroes of antiquity. For almost seven centuries, they attracted crowds of people to arenas and amphitheaters, demonstrating their skill, strength and dexterity. Bloody gladiator fights were equal parts sport, theatrical performance and cold-blooded murder.
Here are a few facts about the mysterious warriors who became the pillars of the most massive, cruel and popular entertainment that history has recorded. Ancient Rome.
Not all gladiators were slaves
Most of the first warriors were brought to gladiatorial schools in chains, but by the first century AD. e. The ratio of slaves and free people has changed greatly. The screams and recognition of the crowd, awe and excitement attracted many free people to gladiator schools who hoped to gain fame and money. These free birds were most often desperate people who had nothing to lose, or former soldiers who had the necessary training and knowledge for fighting in the arena. Sometimes some patricians and even senators temporarily joined the ranks of gladiators, wanting to show off their military training.
Gladiator fights were originally part of a funeral ceremony
Most modern historians insist that gladiator performances in the arena are rooted in the bloody tradition of staging fights between slaves or criminals at the funerals of prominent aristocrats. This kind of bloody obituary follows from the belief of the ancient Romans that human blood cleanses the soul of the deceased. Thus, these cruel rituals replaced human sacrifice. On the occasion of the death of his father and daughter, Julius Caesar organized fights between hundreds of gladiators. The performances enjoyed mass popularity in the first century BC. e. Ancient Rome began to organize gladiator fights whenever the government needed to calm, distract, or gain support from the crowd.
They didn't always fight to the death
Despite the popular depiction of gladiator fights in literature and cinema as spontaneous and uncontrolled bloodshed, most of them were carried out according to strict rules. Most often, battles were one-on-one between gladiators of similar build and equal combat experience. The judges oversaw the battle and stopped it if one of the opponents was seriously injured. Sometimes battles ended in a draw if they were too long. If the gladiators managed to put on an interesting performance and delight the crowd, both opponents were allowed to leave the arena with honor.
The famous "thumbs down" gesture did not mean death
When a gladiator was seriously wounded or chose to admit defeat by throwing his weapon aside, it was left to the spectators to decide his fate. Various works of fiction often depict a crowd with their index fingers raised in the air if the spectators wanted to save the loser. But this opinion is probably not entirely true. Historians believe that the gesture of mercy was different - the thumb hidden in the fist. The fact is that the finger symbolized a sword, and the crowd showed them exactly how to kill the loser: a finger up could mean a cut throat, a finger to the side could mean a blow with a sword between the shoulder blades, and a finger down could mean a deep blow with a sword in the neck, towards heart. The gestures were often accompanied by loud screams demanding release or death.
Gladiators were divided into types and classes, according to types of battles and experience
For the opening of the Colosseum in 80 AD. e., gladiator fights became a highly organized, bloody sport with its own directions and types of weapons. Fighters were divided into classes according to their level of training, experience in the arena and weight category. The division into types depended on the choice of weapons and type of fighting, the most popular types were the Murmillons, Hoplomachus and Thracians, whose weapons were a sword and shield. There were also equites - horsemen, essedarii - chariot fighters, dimacheri - armed with two swords or daggers, and many others.
They very rarely fought with wild animals
Among the military types were bestiaries, who were originally criminals sentenced to fight with wild animals, with little chance of survival. Later, bestiaries began to train specifically for fights with animals; they were armed with darts and daggers. Other gladiators very rarely participated in fights with animals, even though the fights were organized in such a way that the beast did not have a chance to survive. Often, performances involving wild animals opened battles and were simultaneously used for the public execution of criminals.
Women were gladiators too
These were mostly slaves, too headstrong for housework, but occasionally they were joined by free women of Rome. Historians cannot say exactly when women first tried on gladiator armor, but it is certain that by the first century AD. e. they were constant participants in battles. They were often the subject of ridicule by the patriarchal Roman elite, but were comparatively popular with the crowd. Despite this, Emperor Septimius Severus banned women from participating in any games at the beginning of the 3rd century.
Gladiators had their own unions
Despite the fact that gladiators were forced to fight each other, sometimes even to the death, they viewed themselves as a brotherhood and sometimes met in colleges. Gladiatorial unions had their own elected leaders, patron deities and levies. When one of them died in battle, the colleges paid compensation to his family and gave the fallen a decent funeral.
Emperors sometimes participated in gladiator fights
Among the arena's regulars were Caligula, Commodus, Hadrian and Titus. Most often, they took part in staged battles or had a clear advantage over their opponents. Emperor Commodus once defeated several frightened and poorly armed spectators.
Gladiators often became famous and were popular with women
Gladiators were often described by Roman historians as uneducated brutes and looked down upon by the elite, but successful fighters were resoundingly popular among the lower classes. Their portraits decorated taverns and houses, children played with clay figurines of their favorite gladiators, and girls wore hair clips covered in gladiator blood.
Weak-willed slaves who were driven into the arena, or adventurers thirsty for wealth and blood? Who were the gladiators of Ancient Rome? Disputes on this issue continue among historians to this day. Research conducted over the past decades has shed considerable light on the history of this blood sport.
During its existence, gladiatorial fights were fun, punishment, and even part of a political game. Gladiators aroused delight and horror, they were loved and feared. Many stereotypes about gladiators and arena fighting stem from the fact that they were slaves. But, however, as the results of archaeological excavations, as well as the study of ancient documents, show, things were somewhat different.
The exact date of the appearance of gladiatorial games as a form of entertainment in Ancient Rome is not known. At the same time, the Roman chronicles accurately indicate the date of the formation of gladiatorial games as a public event. This happened in 106 BC. This is also known from legal documents. Thus, many decrees of the Roman Senate stated that from that moment on, all cities with arenas had to take care of their improvement and maintenance. Also from about 106 BC. There is evidence that the state assumed all costs in relation to gladiatorial fights. It follows from this that the custom of gladiatorial games existed long before this.
The Latin word “gladiator” itself comes from the word “gladius” (sword) and is translated as swordsman. The study of ancient Roman traditions has led historians to believe that gladiatorial games were originally something like punishment or execution of a court decision. Most likely, the first gladiator games were held among prisoners of military campaigns and criminals who were doomed to death. Two people were armed with swords and forced to fight. Those who survived the battle were allowed to live. Apparently, this custom originated among Roman soldiers, since the Roman army, like most ancient armies, had a “tradition” of exterminating the entire male population of a captured settlement. In the same ingenuous way, the soldiers not only decided who to kill, but also had fun. Over time, the tradition could acquire a mass character and become very popular among all Romans. Of course, such games required a living resource, and here Rome came in handy with their “talking instruments.” However, it is one thing to force two people doomed to the death to fight each other, and quite another to organize an unforgettable bloody way to entertain the crowd.
There were many types of gladiators. As a rule, they were differentiated according to the principle of weapons and ammunition, as well as the type of enemy they must fight. Moreover, Roman written sources say that in the Colosseum alone, legendary battles and battles were staged, in which dozens and sometimes hundreds of gladiators took part. Naval battles were even held in the Colosseum; for this purpose, several decorative ships were placed in the arena, and the arena itself was filled with water. All this shows that gladiator games from 106 BC. distinguished not only by colossal capital investments, but also by good organization. Obviously, the gladiators were supposed to be more than just a bunch of downtrodden slaves.
It is worth understanding that when comparing the fight of armed slaves in the arena, driven there from some quarry, and the fight of professional gladiators, one can find as many differences as between a fight of drunkards at a local grocery store and a fight professional boxers in the ring. This means that gladiators were supposed to be more than just slaves, and written sources testify to this.
Of course, the vast majority of gladiators were slaves, but only the strongest, most resilient and most prepared were suitable for an effective performance. In addition, physical data alone is not enough for such an event; one needs training, the ability to fight, and handle certain types of weapons. It was not for nothing that the type of weapon was one of the determining factors in the type and name of a gladiator. Besides, forcing a person to fight, even a forced one, is not so easy. Yes, the fear of death is a wonderful stimulant, but death also awaited gladiators in the arena, which means there must be other incentives.
Successful gladiators, although still slaves, received many privileges, the number of which increased depending on the number of successful battles. So, after the first two fights, the gladiator was entitled to a personal room with a bed, a table and a statuette for prayers. After three fights, each victory or at least survival of the gladiator was paid. Approximately one successful battle cost the gladiator the annual salary of a Roman legionnaire, which at that time was a very, very decent amount. And since the gladiators received money for their work, they should have been able to spend it somewhere. Since the ammunition and weapons were completely provided by the state or the master, it means that the place where the money was spent went beyond the arena.
There is a lot of written evidence that gladiators were released into the city using special documents. Apart from this, professional gladiators did not need anything. The fighters were well fed, their clothing and cleanliness were taken care of, and they were provided with women and men. After each battle, the surviving wounded gladiators were treated by Roman doctors, who were famous for their excellent ability to deal with puncture, lacerations and incised wounds. Opium was used as an anesthetic. Over time, the most successful gladiators could even win their freedom; it is noteworthy that even after this many remained gladiators and continued to earn their living in this way.
With the rise of blood sports in Ancient Rome, gladiator schools also appeared. They began to train the selected slaves, making them real “death machines.” The training of gladiators was carried out according to the army model with the addition of training in the use of exotic species weapons, such as fighting with a net. After the decree of Emperor Nero in 63 AD, women began to be allowed to participate in the games. Before this, according to written sources, it became known that residents of the empire, in addition to slaves, were beginning to be accepted into gladiator schools. If you believe the Roman chronicle, then the mortality rate in these schools was relatively low, given the type of occupation - 1 in 10 gladiators during training. Thus, we can conclude that gladiator fights at a certain point became something akin to a sport. Another interesting fact is that the battle was judged not only by the emperor and the crowd, but also by a specially appointed judge, who could often influence the emperor’s decision, helping the most effective but defeated gladiators survive.
From all of the above, we can come to the conclusion that the gladiators were more likely professional athletes of his time, rather than simply a weak-willed crowd of people driven to slaughter. The Romans treated gladiators with adoration. They were known in common people. In those dark times, their popularity was comparable to modern pop stars. In this regard, gladiators often became a political instrument, the purpose of which was to win the love of the people in relation to the future emperor, because Rome was always ruled by the one whom the crowd loved. Gladiator games were banned only in 404 AD, due to the spread of Christianity in the empire. Today, the times of gladiators have become a very popular theme for movies, and enthusiasts are making things out of wine corks and Legos.
Initially, gladiators were people sentenced to death who had nothing to lose. The statutes of ancient Rome made it possible to fight for freedom and, in case of victory, one could exchange one’s life for money gained in battle. Then ordinary people who desperately wanted to achieve fame and material well-being joined the gladiatorial fights. In order to become one of the fighters, they had to take an oath and become “legally dead.” Every person who decided to do this was fed high-calorie food free of charge and provided with timely treatment. Fighting sponsors spent a lot of money on the maintenance of gladiators, so it was often very expensive at the show where the fight was fought. There are known cases when bloody gladiatorial battles of women were staged.
Gladiator Schools
In ancient Rome, there were even special institutions in which gladiators were trained in combat. They could belong to either the state or a private person. The manager of such an establishment was called a “lanista.” Under his command was a staff of teachers teaching fighters fencing and weaponry, as well as cooks, doctors and even a funeral team. The daily routine and discipline at the gladiator school were extremely strict.
In some similar institutions they also taught fighting with wild animals. Such fighters underwent training much longer. They were taught training, habits various types animals. Elephants, lions, tigers, bears, panthers, and leopards died in the ring along with people.
Gladiator classification
Ancient Rome was full of gladiator fights, which were first held during church holidays, and then became an integral part of almost everyday entertainment for citizens. There was even a classification of fighters by specialization.
1. Andabats - gladiators who fought on the principle of cavalry competitions, without the right to see their opponent.
2. Bestiaries were originally criminals sentenced to fight with animals. The convicts actually had no chance to survive. Subsequently, these gladiators began to undergo training. Armed with darts or darts, fighters often began to win such battles.
3. Bustarii - gladiators who fought in memory of those killed at ceremonial games.
4. Velites - pedestrian gladiators who fought with javelins, a small dagger and a shield.
5. The Venators were not gladiators, but were present at every battle. They entertained the audience using animals. They performed tricks: they put their hands into the lion's mouth, they rode on a camel.
6. Dimachers had 2 swords with them during the fight. A helmet and shield were not allowed.
7. The Gauls were armed with a spear, a small shield and a helmet.
8. Laquearia. Their task was to catch the enemy using a lasso.
9. Murmillons. On the crest of their helmet was a stylized fish. Armed with a short sword and shield.
10. Noxii are criminals who were released to fight each other. Sometimes they were blindfolded and given this or that weapon. The judge or someone from the crowd was allowed to give hints to the combatants. However, most often the public shouted down the instructions and the fighters could not hear anything.
11. Pregenaries. By performing first, they warmed up the crowd. These gladiators wrapped their bodies in rags and used wooden swords.
12. Provocateurs - gladiators armed with gladiuses and shields were the only ones allowed to protect their bodies with a cuirass.
13. Rudiarii - fighters who earned freedom, but decided to remain in the ranks of gladiators. They were awarded with a wooden sword. They became coaches, judges or assistants.
14. The Sagittarii fought on horseback and were armed with a bow.
15. Scissors - fighters armed with weapons resembling scissors.
16. Tertiary - a reserve player who came in as a substitute if for some reason one of the gladiators could not participate in the battle. In other battles, the tertiaries fought the winner of the main competition.
17. The Equiti spent the first half of the battle on horseback, and after the spear with which they were armed was thrown, they continued to fight on their feet with short swords.
18. Cestus - fighters who fought using only a cestus - an old analogue of brass knuckles.
The tradition of gladiator fights in the territory of Ancient Rome persisted for more than half a millennium.
Gladiators (Latin gladiatores, from gladius, “sword”) - among the ancient Romans the name of fighters who fought each other in competitions in the amphitheater arena. Of all the games that satisfied the passion for spectacle of the Roman people, gladiatorial combat (munera gladiatoria) enjoyed the greatest favor of all classes. Gladiator competitions originate from funeral games among the Etruscans, which replaced human sacrifices that were once performed in memory of the dead. As a result, gladiatorial fights were initially held among the ancient Romans only at funeral feasts (ad rogum); the first mention of them dates back to 264 BC. Over time, however, these games lost their meaning as sacrifices to the dead and turned into simple entertainment for the cruel and proud Roman people, who enjoyed the sight of gladiators fighting to the death. At the same time, they began to be seen as an excellent means of maintaining a warlike spirit among the people.
This custom took on this character in the last times of the republic. During this era, aediles, as well as other officials, especially when taking office, began to organize gladiatorial games on the occasion of a wide variety of events, and for this purpose special amphitheaters with an open arena were even built. The number of pairs of fighting gladiators gradually increased. Julius Caesar, holding office aedile(65 BC) exhibited 320 pairs of gladiators.
Gladiators. Blood sport of the Colosseum. Video
The ancient Roman emperors either limited gladiatorial games or encouraged them to the point of madness. Augustus allowed the praetors to hold gladiator fights no more than twice a year, and, moreover, with the condition that no more than 60 couples would participate in each of them. At the games organized by him, according to his own testimony, in total, no less than 10 thousand people fought. Augustus's ban was soon forgotten. They say about Trajan that for 123 days he gave various games, on which 10 thousand gladiators fought, and Emperor Commodus was not so proud of anything as the glory of a skilled gladiator who performed hundreds of times in the arena. Soon, however, gladiatorial games found access to other major cities of the Roman Empire. Yes, according to the story Josephus, Herod Agrippa I, at the opening of the amphitheater in Caesarea, fielded 700 gladiators in one day. Even in Athens and Corinth, these games met with a sympathetic reception, and in later times there was hardly a single significant city in Italy or in the provinces that did not have its own amphitheater for gladiatorial games.
Gladiator fight between Retiarius and Myrmillon. Modern reconstruction
Gladiators were recruited mostly from prisoners of war, who were brought in masses in numerous wars in Ancient Rome. Many slaves were assigned to compete in the arena as punishment. There were also many among the gladiators and free citizens, desperate and impoverished people who had no other means of supporting themselves. The gladiators who managed to emerge victorious from the competition not only acquired great fame and were immortalized in works of poetry and art, but also received a significant fee (auctoramentum) for each performance, so that they could hope to spend the rest of their lives as wealthy people. These free gladiators were called auctorati and had to take an oath that they would allow themselves to be “flogged with rods, burned with fire and killed with iron.”
Gladiator fight between retiarius and secutor
During the Roman Empire, imperial schools for gladiators (ludi gladiatorii) were established, one of which was found in Pompeii. Here the gladiators were kept under the strictest discipline and severely punished for the slightest offenses, but their physical well-being was treated with great care. Gladiators practiced their art under the guidance of a fencing teacher (lanista). Beginners used a special rapier (rudis), which was also given to an honored gladiator (rudiarius) after a successful battle, as a sign of complete release from gladiatorial service.
According to their weapons, the gladiators of Ancient Rome were divided into several genera. The so-called Samnites(samnites), who wore an oblong shield, a strong sleeve on right hand, a legguard on the left leg, a strong belt, a helmet with a visor and crest, and a short sword. Retiarii(retiarii - “fighters with a net”), whose main weapon was a net (rete), went out almost without clothes; They were protected only by a wide belt and a leather or metal sleeve on their left arm. In addition, they were armed with a trident (fuscina) and a dagger. Their art was to throw a net over the enemy's head and then stab him with a trident. Their opponents were usually gladiators - secutors(secutores - “pursuers”), armed with a helmet, shield and sword. In addition to the secutors, they often also entered into battle with the retiarii. myrmillons(myrmillones), armed in the Gallic manner with a helmet, shield and sword. A special kind of gladiators were the Thracians (thraces), armed in the Thracian style with a small, usually round shield (parma) and a short curved sword (sica). Also often mentioned essedarii(essedarii), who fought on a war chariot (esseda), drawn by a pair of horses, while gladiators andabats(andabatae) fought on horseback, wearing helmets, with a visor without holes for the eyes and, armed with a round shield and a spear (spiculum), rushed at each other, seeing nothing.
Armament of a Thracian gladiator. Modern reconstruction
The one who organized gladiatorial games was called editor muneris or munerarius. He appointed the day of the games in advance and published their program (libellus). These libelli, in which the number of gladiators was given and the most prominent of them were listed by name, were diligently distributed; often they also bet on the expected victory of one or another fighter. At the beginning of the performance, the gladiators walked in a solemn procession through the arena, greeting the Roman emperor with the mentioned Suetonius with the phrase: “Ave, Imperator (Caesar), morituri te salutant” (“Glory to you, Emperor, those going to death salute you!” Suetonius, “Vita Claudii”, 21).
Then positioned in pairs, the gladiators began an exemplary battle (prolusio) with blunt weapons, often to the accompaniment of music. But then the trumpet gave the signal for a serious battle, and the gladiators rushed at each other with sharp weapons. Pipes and flutes drowned out the groans of the wounded and dying. Those who retreated were driven into battle with whips and hot irons. If a gladiator received a wound, they shouted: “Habet.” But usually no attention was paid to the wounds, and the battle continued until one of the fighters lost his strength. Then he lowered his weapon and, raising index finger, begged the people for compassion and mercy. The fulfillment of a request (missio), which in later times was usually granted to the emperor, was announced by waving handkerchiefs, and also, probably, by raising a finger, while turning thumb required fatal blow. The ancient Roman people showed sympathy for brave fighters, but cowardice aroused rage in them. The fallen gladiators were dragged with special hooks through the Porta Libitinensis (“death gate”) into the so-called spolarium(spolarium) and here they finished off those who still had signs of life.
"Thumbs down." Painting by J. L. Gerome on the theme of gladiator fights
In Italy, the birthplace of the above-mentioned gladiator schools was Campania, and the huge mass of slaves who gathered to study in these schools repeatedly created a serious danger for Ancient Rome with their uprisings (see Revolt of Spartacus) . In the internecine wars of Otho with Vitellius, gladiators served in the troops and provided great services in hand-to-hand combat. Although Christianity rebelled against gladiatorial games, for a long time it was unable to eradicate the addiction to these spectacles in Ancient Rome. They finally stopped, apparently, only during the reign of Honoria (404).
Artistic depictions of gladiator fights are not uncommon. Of great importance is the large bas-relief found in Pompeii, representing various scenes from ancient Roman gladiatorial battles. Images of similar battle scenes were preserved on a mosaic floor found in Nennig (in the district of Trier, Germany).
