The Gladiators
The gladiatorial battles of the Colosseum were one of the most popular spectacles, where exotically armoured gladiators, wild animals and criminals fought to a cheering crowd. While the majority of gladiators were slaves, prisoners of war and lawbreakers, roman citizens, women and even some emperors have all fought in the Colosseum. These games originally began as a etruscan funeral practice to honour the deceased, where slaves fought to the death, these games eventually became the popular spectacle of the Roman Empire.
Gladiatorial battles were usually set up as one-on-one matches to show off skills against ‘equal’ opponents. This meant that they would either be paired with similarly armed types of gladiators or match gladiators with opposite fighting styles. This would lead to matches against gladiators like the Thraces and Hoplomachus, or the Retiarii and the Murmillones. Since most gladiators were taught how to fight right-handed opponents, left-handedness was considered an advantage and an attribute to brag about, since they could attack their enemies from unexpected angles and directions.
Despite being popular, the gladiators were considered Infamia, having restrictions placed on them in society and giving them a low class with that of prostitutes and the like. Despite this, free Roman citizens and even some aristocrats swore the gladiator’s oath, since a popular gladiator could earn more fame, fortune and favour with women. However, some men may have simply became gladiators to escape mandatory army enlistment. Gladiator's records were engraved on tombstones, and many articles of graffiti boasting about gladiators, like "Celadus the Thracian gladiator is the delight of all the girls", found in Pompeii.
Gladiatorial battles were usually set up as one-on-one matches to show off skills against ‘equal’ opponents. This meant that they would either be paired with similarly armed types of gladiators or match gladiators with opposite fighting styles. This would lead to matches against gladiators like the Thraces and Hoplomachus, or the Retiarii and the Murmillones. Since most gladiators were taught how to fight right-handed opponents, left-handedness was considered an advantage and an attribute to brag about, since they could attack their enemies from unexpected angles and directions.
Despite being popular, the gladiators were considered Infamia, having restrictions placed on them in society and giving them a low class with that of prostitutes and the like. Despite this, free Roman citizens and even some aristocrats swore the gladiator’s oath, since a popular gladiator could earn more fame, fortune and favour with women. However, some men may have simply became gladiators to escape mandatory army enlistment. Gladiator's records were engraved on tombstones, and many articles of graffiti boasting about gladiators, like "Celadus the Thracian gladiator is the delight of all the girls", found in Pompeii.
Famous Gladiators
Spartacus : |
Emperor Commodus : |
Flamma : |
Praegenarii - The Opening Act
The Praegenarii fought other Praegenarii during scenery changes and intermissions for the amusement of the crowd with mock armour and exaggerated clothing, wooden swords, nets and lassos and may have acrobatics or gymnastics training or have missing limbs or stunted growth. They were also accompanied by music and sound effects to enhance their comical nature, and occasionally had trained animals perform tricks.
The Andabatae - The Blind Comedic Relief
The Andabatae were unlucky criminals, sent to fight each other to the death for comedy. Only wearing eye-less helmets, a loincloth and sometimes sandals, they entered battle completely blind with a gladius against other Andabatae. They also fought on horseback, blindly charging at their opponents attempting to joust them for the amusement of the crowd.
Types of gladiators
Gladiators had to follow strict guidelines when it comes to armour and clothing, which lead to the development of varying types of gladiator. These different gladiators trained to use specific weapons, and tended to develop unique fighting styles depending on their armour and weapons since it determines their speed, protection and hitting range, with around 30 different types of gladiator discovered. The differing types also allow for better matching to help make fights fairer as well as being able to put opposite fighting styles against each other to diversify the battles and excite the crowd. Some of these different types of gladiator include:
The Retiarius : |
The Murmillones : |
The Hoplomachus: |
The Samnites : |