Kill or Be Killed By Mollie Emrick and Sam Phelps The Beginning Gladiator fights were one of the most important forms of entertainment. It has transformed since its early beginning. The first recorded fight was in 264 AD. Etruscans also had a fight like that at funerals, but they would both die at that fight. This article will be about those gladiator fights. Who Fought and How Did They Train The fighters were often prisoners of wars, slaves, or convicts. Once they were a gladiator it meant they were a slave. But sometimes a free man would joined in for the fight. They were trained by a Lanista in the lanista’s school. The lanista would also feed and house them. After they were trained the
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Kill or Be KilledBy Mollie Emrick and Sam Phelps
The BeginningGladiator fights were one
of the most important forms of entertainment. It has transformed since its early beginning. The first recorded fight was in 264 AD. Etruscans also had a fight like that at funerals, but they would both die at that fight. This article will be about those gladiator fights.
Who Fought and How Did They Train
The fighters were often prisoners of wars, slaves, or convicts. Once they were a
gladiator it meant they were a slave. But sometimes a free man would joined in for the fight.
They were trained by a Lanista in the lanista’s school. The lanista would also feed and house them. After they were trained the lanista would sell or lease the slave. The slaves would endure branding, chains, flogging, or death by the sword. There was rarely women gladiators because it wasn’t their place to be fighting.
The ArenaThe most famous Arena
was the Colosseum. But
when gladiators fought that wasn’t all that happen. It was a full out event with chariot races and they pitted animals against helpless people.
The EventIt was often full out
events. It contained chariot races, killing criminals, and the favorite, gladiator fights. I want to point out, that the criminals were not always what we call murderers or thieves. Yes, that was some of them, but Christians were also called criminals. Nero (Born in 37 AD and died in 68 AD) put Christians to death in the arena because they did not worship roman gods, they worshipped their own one god so they classified them as criminals. The criminals dies in multiple ways, like being put against hungry lions and leopards to being crucified.
Gladiator fights were very different depending on the gladiators fighting. There was over 20 different types of gladiators. One is called the Mirmillones and they fought against the Retairii. The Retairii fought against Mirmillones and Secutores.
But if you had a Dimichaerus and a Hoplomachi, the outcome and rules would be much different. One reason they could have many different gladiators is to keep the Romans interested. It adds more variables, and with more variables more things can happen, so it is more interesting.
During the fight, a gladiator might ask for mercy. So if the emperor gives him the thumbs-up sign he lives, and if it is the thumbs-down sign he dies. So it is all based on a matter of luck.
The fights were not always bloody and quick. The Ancient Romans had a want for blood and fighting so they enjoyed very bloody fights. Since the Ancient Romans enjoyed very gruesome fights the gladiators had to cater to the Ancient Romans wants.
Basically, gladiator fights were very gruesome. It was man and beast fighting for glory, freedom, and survival. But with gladiator fights they added many more events, to keep the crowd going, like
when Nero put Christians to death in the arena. The Christians were forced to die. But the gladiators had two choices. To Kill or To Be Killed.
Word MeaningsEtruscans- A group of people who lived in Rome before Rome was Rome. Lanista- The person who taught the gladiators in the gladiator school.Colosseum- A big building where many gladiators fought to the death.Nero- An emperor who ordered thousands of Christians to be killedMirmilllones- Fought against the Retairii, Fought with a gladius, Wore shinguards, arm guards, and a heavy oblong shield.Retairii-Fought against Secutores and Mirmillones. They fought with tridents, nets, and daggers, and wore a loin cloth held with a wide belt and a manica.
Secutores- Fought against the Retairii. They fought with a gladius or a spatha, and wore an Ocrea (metal greive on leg) and a manica, and a loincloth. Dimichaerus-Fought Mirmillones and Hoplomachi. They fought with 2 sica with a 16-18 inch blade, and a gladius. They wore light visored helmets, and arms/legs covered with leather wrappings.Hoplomachi- Fought similar armed gladiators. They fought with a 27 inch gladius and a 6 foot hasta, spear. They wore galea, a manica on right arm, and a metal greave on the left foot.Thumbs-up Sign- When the gladiator lifted one of his fingers on his left hand the emperor gave this sign to say that they would live.Thumbs-down Sign-When the gladiator lifted one of his fingers on his left hand the emperor gave this sign to say that they would die.Gladius- A short sword.
Resources:"Ancient Roman Gladiator Fights." N.p., n.d. Web.Carr, Karen. "Roman Gladiators." N.p., 2012-14. Web. 28 Oct. 2014."Types of Gladiators." N.p., 2011. Web. 29 Oct. 2014."Who Were the Ancient Roman Gladiators?" N.p., 2002-2014. Web. 29 Oct. 2014.Steel, Phillip. "SERIAL MURDER! PARANOIA! PSYCHODRAMA!" HAIL! ANCIENT ROMANS. Ed. Lynn Peppas. Ontario: Crabtree, 2011. 4-32. Print.
Macdonald, Fiona, and Mark Bergin. The Roman Colosseum. Ed. David Salariya and Penny Clarke. New York: Peter Bedrick, 1996. Print. Inside Story
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