Roman Gladiators 264 B.C. – 404 A.D.
Roman Gladiators
264 B.C. – 404 A.D.
Origin of Gladiator Matches
• Originated as tributes paid to dead ancestors• Connected to funerals
First Gladiators
• First gladiator match in 264 B.C.• Staged by Marcus and Decimus Junius Brutus• Used three pairs of slaves• Match happened in the Forum Broarium• Tribute to Junius Brutus
Gladiators’ new purpose
• After becoming more popular later turned into public entertainment.
Spectators
• Original matches were done in open spaces• As the matches became more popular larger
and permanent structures were built• Example was the colosseum, which held
around 40,000 to 60,000 spectators
Gladiator Training
• Trained in schools called “LudI”• 4 ludI in Rome• Interesting fact: The school located in Capua is
where the slave rebellion of Spartacus started
Gladiator Recruits
• Most of the time they were prisoners of war, criminals, or slaves
• Some free born decided to become gladiators
Gladiator Oath
• Called sacramentum gladiatorium• Oath swore, “I will endure to be burned, to be
bound, to be beaten, and to be killed by the sword”
• All gladiators had to swear the oath