Loved by the public and sometimes despised by the elite, Roman gladiators were the heroes of antiquity. For almost seven centuries, they have attracted crowds of people to the arenas and amphitheatres, showing their skill, strength and dexterity. Bloody gladiator fights were equal parts sport, theatrical production, and cold-blooded murder.
Here are some facts about the mysterious warriors who became the pillar of the most massive, brutal and popular entertainment that history has kept. 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 to free people has changed a lot. Shouts and recognition of the crowd, awe and excitement attracted many free people to gladiator schools who hoped to get 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 to fight in the arena. Sometimes some patricians and even senators who wanted to show their military training temporarily adjoined the ranks of gladiators.
Gladiator fights were originally part of the funeral ceremony
Most modern historians insist that gladiator performances in the arena are rooted in the bloody tradition of arranging 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 rites took the place of human sacrifice. On the occasion of the death of his father and daughter, Julius Caesar organized fights between hundreds of gladiators. Representations enjoyed mass popularity in the first century BC. e. Ancient Rome began to arrange Gladiator fights whenever the government needed to calm, distract, or garner the support of 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, the fights were one-on-one between gladiators of similar build and with equal combat experience. The judges looked after the battle and stopped it if one of the opponents was seriously injured. Sometimes the fights ended in a draw if they were too long. If the gladiators managed to show an interesting performance and bring the crowd to delight, both opponents were allowed to leave the arena with honor.
The famous "thumbs down" gesture didn't mean death
When a gladiator was seriously wounded or preferred to admit defeat by throwing his weapon aside, it was up to the audience to decide his fate. Various works of fiction often describe the crowd with their index fingers thrown up if the audience wanted to save the loser. But this opinion is probably not entirely correct. Historians believe that the gesture of mercy was different - a thumb hidden in a fist. The fact is that the finger symbolized the sword, and the crowd showed them exactly how it was necessary to kill the loser: a finger up could mean a cut throat, a finger to the side - a blow with a sword between the shoulder blades, and a finger down - a deep blow with a sword in the neck, towards the heart. The gestures were often accompanied by loud cries demanding to be released or killed.
Gladiators were divided into types and classes, according to the types of fights and experience.
By 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. The division of fighters into classes took place according to their level of training, experience in the arena and weight class. The division into types depended on the choice of weapons and the type of fighting, the most popular types were murmillons, hoplomakhs and Thracians, whose weapons were a sword and shield. There were also equites - riders, essedaries - chariot fighters, dimachers - armed with two swords or daggers, and many others.
They very rarely fought wild beasts.
Among the military types were bestiaries, who were originally criminals sentenced to duel with wild animals, with a negligible chance of surviving. Later, bestiaries began to train specifically for fights with animals, they were armed with darts and daggers. Other gladiators participated in battles with animals very rarely, even though the fights were organized in such a way that the beast had no chance to survive. Often performances with the participation of wild animals opened the fights and at the same time were used for the public execution of criminals.
Women were gladiators too
Mostly they were slaves, too self-willed for domestic work, but occasionally free women of Rome also joined them. Historians cannot say for sure when women first tried on gladiatorial armor, but it is known for sure that by the first century AD. e. they were constant combatants. They were often the butt of ridicule by the patriarchal Roman elite, but were comparatively popular with the crowd. Despite this, Emperor Septimius Severus forbade women from participating in any games at the beginning of the 3rd century.
The gladiators had their unions
Despite the fact that the gladiators were forced to fight each other, sometimes even to the death, they considered themselves as a brotherhood and sometimes met in colleges. The 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 arranged a decent funeral for the fallen.
Emperors sometimes participated in gladiator fights
Among the regulars of the arena were Caligula, Commodus, Adrian 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.
Roman historians often called gladiators uneducated brutes, looked down on them by the elite, but successful fighters enjoyed resounding success among the lower classes. Their portraits adorned taverns and houses, children played with clay figurines of their favorite gladiators, and girls wore hairpins covered in gladiator blood.
Weak-willed slaves who were driven into the arena, or adventurers hungry for wealth and blood? Who were the gladiators of ancient Rome? Disputes on this issue continue among historians to this day. Research over the past decades has shed much light on the history of this bloody sport.
During its existence, gladiator fights have been fun, punishment, and even part of the political game. Gladiators caused delight and horror, they were loved and feared. Many stereotypes about gladiators and arena fights 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. It happened in 106 BC. This is also known from legal documents. So, in many resolutions of the Roman Senate it was said 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 the costs in relation to gladiator fights. It follows from this that the custom of gladiatorial games existed long before that.
The Latin word "gladiator" itself comes from the word "gladius" (sword) and is translated as a swordsman. The study of ancient Roman traditions led historians to the idea that the original gladiatorial games were some kind of punishment or execution of a court decision. Most likely, the first games of gladiators were held among the captives of military campaigns and criminals who were doomed to death. Two people were armed with swords and forced to fight. The one who survived the battle was left with his life. Apparently, this custom originated among the Roman soldiers, since the Roman army, like most ancient armies, had a "tradition" of eradicating the entire male population in the captured settlement. In the same unsophisticated way, the soldiers not only decided who to kill, but also had fun. Over time, the tradition could become widespread and become very popular among all the Romans. Of course, such games required a living resource, and here their “talking tools” came in handy for Rome. However, it is one thing to force two doomed to fight among themselves, 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 had to fight. Moreover, Roman written sources tell that in the Colosseum alone, performances of legendary battles and battles were staged, in which dozens, and sometimes hundreds of gladiators participated. Naval battles were even held in the Colosseum, for this purpose several decorative ships were placed in the arena, and the arena itself was flooded with water. All this shows that gladiatorial games from 106 BC. distinguished not only by colossal capital investments, but also by good organization. Obviously, the gladiators were not meant to be just a bunch of slaughtered slaves.
It should be understood that when comparing the fight of armed slaves in the arena, driven there from some quarry, and the fight of professional gladiators, you can find as many differences as between the fight of drunkards at the local grocery store and the fight professional boxers in the ring. This means that the gladiators had to be not just slaves, and written sources testify to this.
Of course, the vast majority of gladiators were just slaves, but only the strongest, hardiest and most prepared were suitable for an effective performance. In addition, some physical data for such an event is not enough, you need training, the ability to fight, to handle certain types of weapons. After all, it was not in vain that the type of weapon was one of the determining factors in the type and name of the gladiator. Besides, making a man fight, even a bonded one, is not so easy. Yes, the fear of death is a great stimulant, but after all, death was also waiting for the gladiators in the arena, which means there must be other incentives.
Successful gladiators, although they remained slaves, received many privileges, the number of which grew depending on the number of successful fights. So, after the first two fights, the gladiator was supposed to have a private room with a bed, a table and a figurine for prayers. After three fights, each victory or at least the 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 ammunition and weapons were fully provided by the state or master, then the place of spending money went beyond the arena.
There is a lot of written evidence that gladiators were released into the city according to special documents. Apart from this, professional gladiators did not know the need for anything. The fighters were well fed, their clothes and cleanliness were taken care of, 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 treatment of stab, laceration and cut wounds. Opium was used as an anesthetic. Over time, the most successful gladiators could even win their freedom, it is noteworthy that many even after that remained gladiators and continued to earn their living in this way.
With the flourishing of blood sports in ancient Rome, gladiatorial schools also appeared. The selected slaves began to be prepared, making real "death machines" out of them. The training of gladiators was already carried out according to the army model with the addition of training in possession 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. Prior to this, according to written sources, it becomes known that the inhabitants of the empire, in addition to slaves, are beginning to be accepted into gladiator schools. According to the Roman chronicle, the mortality in these schools was relatively low, given the occupation - 1 per 10 gladiators during training. Thus, we can conclude that gladiator fights at some point became something akin to sports. It is also interesting that the fight 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 to survive.
From the foregoing, we can conclude that the gladiators were more likely professional athletes of his time, rather than just a crowd of people driven to the slaughter without will. Romans treated gladiators with adoration. They were known in common people. In those dark times, they were comparable in popularity to modern pop stars. In this regard, gladiators often became a political tool, 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 made from wine corks and Lego.
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, it was possible to exchange life for finances gained in battle. Then ordinary people who desperately wanted to achieve fame and material well-being joined the gladiator fights. In order to get into the number of fighters, they had to take an oath and become "legally dead." Each person who decided on this was fed high-calorie food free of charge and provided timely treatment. Sponsors of the fights 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 cases when bloody gladiatorial battles of women were arranged.
gladiator schools
In ancient Rome, there were even special institutions in which gladiators were trained in combat. They could belong to both the state and a private person. The manager of such an institution was called "lanista". In his submission was a staff of teachers teaching fighters fencing, gunsmithing, as well as cooks, doctors and even a funeral team. The daily routine and discipline at the gladiator school were extremely strict.
In some of these institutions, fighting with wild animals was also taught. Such fighters were trained much longer. They were trained in training, habits various kinds animals. Elephants, lions, tigers, bears, panthers, leopards died in the ring along with people.
Classification of gladiators
Ancient Rome was full of gladiator fights, which were first held during church holidays, and then became an integral part of almost everyday entertainment of 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 an opponent.
2. Bestiaries were originally criminals sentenced to fight with animals. The convicts actually had no chance to survive. Subsequently, these gladiators began to be trained. Armed with darts or, fighters began to often win in such fights.
3. Bustari - gladiators who fought in memory of those who died at ceremonial games.
4. Velites - pedestrian gladiators who fought with darts, a small dagger and a shield.
5. Venators were not gladiators, but were present at every battle. Entertained the audience, using animals. They did tricks: put their hands in the mouth of a lion, rode a camel.
6. Dimachers in the process of fighting had 2 swords with them. A helmet and shield were not allowed.
7. The Gauls were armed with a spear, a small shield and a helmet.
8. Lakvearia. Their task was to catch the enemy with a lasso.
9. Murmillos. On the crest of their helmet was a stylized fish. They are armed with a short sword and a shield.
10. Noxii - criminals who were released to fight each other. Sometimes they were blindfolded, given this or that weapon. The judge or someone from the crowd was allowed to prompt the combatants. However, most often the audience shouted over the instructions and nothing was heard by the fighting.
11. Pregenaries. Speaking first, they "warmed up" the crowd. These gladiators wrapped their bodies in rags and used wooden swords.
12. Provocateurs - armed with gladiuses and gladiator shields, were the only ones who were allowed to protect the body with a cuirass.
13. Rudiarii - fighters who deserved freedom, but decided to remain in the ranks of the gladiators. Awarded with a wooden sword. They became coaches, judges or assistants.
14. Sagittarii fought on horseback, armed with a bow.
15. Scissors - fighters armed with weapons resembling scissors.
16. Tertiary - a substitute player who came on as a substitute if, for some reason, one of the gladiators could not participate in the battle. In other battles, tertiarii fought the winner of the main competition.
17. Equites 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 cestus - an old analogue of brass knuckles.
The tradition of gladiator fights in the territory of Ancient Rome has been preserved for more than half a millennium.
Gladiators (lat. gladiatores, from gladius, “sword”) - among the ancient Romans, the name of the fighters who fought each other in competitions in the arena of the amphitheater. Of all the games that satisfied the passion for spectacles of the Roman people, gladiator fights (munera gladiatoria) enjoyed the greatest favor of all classes. Gladiator competitions have their origins in the Etruscan funeral games, which replaced human sacrifices that were once performed in memory of the dead. As a result, gladiator fights were held among the ancient Romans initially only at funeral feasts (ad rogum); the first mention of them refers to 264 BC Chr. In the course of time, however, these games lost their significance as sacrifices to the dead and turned into mere entertainment for the cruel and proud of their freedom of the 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 such a character in the last days of the republic. In this era, the aediles, as well as other officials, especially when they took office, began to organize gladiatorial games on occasion of the most diverse events, and special amphitheaters with an open arena were even built for this purpose. The number of pairs of fighting gladiators gradually increased. Julius Caesar, in office aedile(65 BC) exhibited 320 pairs of gladiators.
gladiators. Blood sport of the Colosseum. video film
The ancient Roman emperors alternately restricted gladiatorial games or encouraged them to the point of madness. Augustus allowed the praetors to give gladiator fights no more than twice a year, and, moreover, with the condition that no more than 60 couples participate in each of them. At the games arranged by him, according to his own testimony, in general, no less than 10 thousand people fought. Augustus' prohibition was soon forgotten. Trajan is said to have given for 123 days various games, on which 10 thousand gladiators fought, and the 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 Flavius, Herod Agrippa I, at the opening of the amphitheater in Caesarea, put up 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 significant city in Italy or in the provinces that did not have its own amphitheater for gladiatorial games.
Duel of gladiators retiarius and myrmillo. Modern reconstruction
Gladiators were recruited for the most part from prisoners of war, who were brought in masses in ancient Rome by numerous wars. Many slaves were awarded to compete in the arena as a form of punishment. There were also many among the gladiators and free citizens, desperate and impoverished people who had no other means to support themselves. Gladiators who managed to emerge victorious from the competition not only gained great fame and were immortalized in works of poetry and art, but also received a significant payment (auctoramentum) for each performance, so that they could hope to spend the rest of their lives wealthy people. These free gladiators were called auctorati and had to take an oath that they would allow themselves to be "cut with rods, burn with fire and kill with iron."
Fight of gladiators 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 in the strictest discipline and severely punished for the slightest misconduct, but they were treated with great care for their bodily well-being. Gladiators practiced their art under the guidance of a fencing teacher (lanists). Beginners used a special rapier (rudis), which was also given to a well-deserved gladiator (rudiarius) after a successful fight, as a sign of complete liberation from the gladiatorial service.
By armament, 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 gaiter on the left leg, a strong belt, a helmet with a visor and a crest, and a short sword. Retiarii(retiarii - "fighters with a net"), whose main weapon was the net (rete), went out almost without clothes; they were protected only by a wide belt and a leather or metal armlet 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 head of the enemy, 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 secutors, they often also fought with retiarii. myrmillons(myrmillones), armed according to the Gallic model with a helmet, shield and sword. A special kind of gladiators were the Thracians (thraces), armed in Thracian, with a small, usually round shield (parma) and a short curved sword (sica). Also often mentioned essedaria(essedarii), who fought on a war chariot (esseda) drawn by a pair of horses, while the gladiators andabata(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 in advance the day of the games and published their program (libellus). These libelli, which gave the number of gladiators and listed by name the most prominent of them, were diligently distributed; often bets were also made on the expected victory of one fighter or the other. At the beginning of the performance, the gladiators passed in a solemn procession through the arena, greeting the Roman emperor of the mentioned Suetonius the phrase: “Ave, Imperator (Caesar), morituri te salutant” (“Glory to you, emperor, those who go to death greet you!” Suetonius, “Vita Claudii”, 21).
Arranged then in pairs, the gladiators began an exemplary battle (prolusio) with blunt weapons, often to music. But now the trumpet gave a signal for a serious fight, 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 red-hot irons. If the gladiator received a wound, then they shouted: "Habet". But usually they did not pay attention to the wounds, and the battle continued until one of the fighters was left with strength. Then he lowered his weapon and, raising forefinger pleaded with 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 demanded death blow. The ancient Roman people showed concern for the brave fighters, but cowardice aroused rage in him. Fallen gladiators were dragged with special hooks through the Porta Libitinensis ("gate of death") to the so-called spolarium(spolarium) and here they finished off those who still had signs of life.
"Fingers down". Painting by J. L. Gerome on the theme of gladiator fights
In Italy, Campania was the birthplace of the gladiatorial schools mentioned above, 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 Spartacus Revolt) . In the internecine wars of Otho with Vitellius, gladiators served in the troops and rendered 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 in the reign Honoria (404).
Artistic depictions of gladiator fights are not uncommon. Of great importance is a large bas-relief found in Pompeii, representing various scenes from ancient Roman gladiatorial battles. Images of similar battle scenes have been preserved on a mosaic floor found in Nennig (in the district of Trier, Germany).
