Roman Gladiators

Roman Roman Gladiators Gladiators

Latin A3Latin A3

Contents Contents

Gladiator FactsGladiator Facts Types of Gladiator GamesTypes of Gladiator Games Gladiator types Gladiator types A day at the gamesA day at the games History of gladiatorsHistory of gladiators The Coliseum The Coliseum

Gladiator FactsGladiator Facts Professional and amateur fighters in Professional and amateur fighters in

Ancient Rome Ancient Rome Fought for the entertainment of its Fought for the entertainment of its

"civilized" spectators, the common "civilized" spectators, the common peoplepeople

matches took place in arenas throughout matches took place in arenas throughout the empire and for the bulk of its historythe empire and for the bulk of its history

Man vs. man and man against animal Man vs. man and man against animal engagementsengagements

Combat that was at times to the death Combat that was at times to the death

Romans liked watching other people dieRomans liked watching other people die They believed that the gods liked the They believed that the gods liked the

fightingfighting Roman people went to the big Roman people went to the big

amphitheaters (like football stadiums) amphitheaters (like football stadiums) Came early in the morning, and paid for Came early in the morning, and paid for

your ticket, and sat in your seatyour ticket, and sat in your seat Sometimes all the seats were free, if a Sometimes all the seats were free, if a

wealthy person had bought all the seatswealthy person had bought all the seats Other times, you would have to pay, have Other times, you would have to pay, have

only been able to get cheap seats only been able to get cheap seats

AnimalsAnimals

Men in armor came out and fought Men in armor came out and fought animals, like bears, bulls, ostriches, lions, animals, like bears, bulls, ostriches, lions, & tigers& tigers

They captured the animalsThey captured the animals Treated the animals badly to make them Treated the animals badly to make them

hungry so they would fight hungry so they would fight Sometimes animals would kill the men, Sometimes animals would kill the men,

and vice versaand vice versa

Lunchtime Break Lunchtime Break

Around lunchtime there would be a Around lunchtime there would be a break, and people would eat lunchbreak, and people would eat lunch

People brought picnics with them: People brought picnics with them: bread, cheese, & vegetables. bread, cheese, & vegetables.

Others bought food from the vendorsOthers bought food from the vendors Half-time show that had singers, Half-time show that had singers,

dancers, a play, or criminals being dancers, a play, or criminals being killed killed

Another show, where men fought menAnother show, where men fought men

FactsFacts Gladiators were so enjoyed by the Romans Gladiators were so enjoyed by the Romans

that Augustus had to pass laws which that Augustus had to pass laws which limited their influence limited their influence

Gladiators could not fight without Gladiators could not fight without permission of the senate permission of the senate

During this time, games were limited to During this time, games were limited to eight annually, not more than sixty pairs eight annually, not more than sixty pairs could be in combat at one time could be in combat at one time

During Augustus’ reign, less than 10,000 During Augustus’ reign, less than 10,000 men foughtmen fought

Spartacus was one of the most famous Spartacus was one of the most famous gladiatorsgladiators

The ColiseumThe Coliseum

Sat 50,000 people Sat 50,000 people Used for a variety of public entertainment, Used for a variety of public entertainment,

which included Gladiatorswhich included Gladiators In hot weather, large awnings were In hot weather, large awnings were

stretched over the top of the Coliseum to stretched over the top of the Coliseum to provide shadeprovide shade

In the foreground are columns of the In the foreground are columns of the Temple of Venus Temple of Venus

The ColiseumThe Coliseum

HistoryHistory Tradition of was adopted from the Etruscans, Tradition of was adopted from the Etruscans,

but there is little evidence but there is little evidence First games-held in 310 BC by the First games-held in 310 BC by the

Campanians Campanians – re-enactment of the Campanians' military re-enactment of the Campanians' military

success success 11stst Roman gladiatorial games held in 246 BCE Roman gladiatorial games held in 246 BCE

by Marcus and Decimus Brutus by Marcus and Decimus Brutus small affair that included the combat of three small affair that included the combat of three

pairs of slaves in a cattle market pairs of slaves in a cattle market evolved into symbols of Roman culture and evolved into symbols of Roman culture and

became an important part of culture for 700 became an important part of culture for 700 yearsyears

HistoryHistory

183 BC- was traditional to hold 183 BC- was traditional to hold games in which 60 duels took place games in which 60 duels took place

65 BCE, Caesar was pitting 320 pairs 65 BCE, Caesar was pitting 320 pairs of gladiators, against another in a of gladiators, against another in a wooden amphitheater wooden amphitheater

By this point, gladiatorial games By this point, gladiatorial games expanded beyond religious events, expanded beyond religious events, taking on political elements in Rome. taking on political elements in Rome.

Who were the gladiators? Who were the gladiators? Were condemned criminals, Were condemned criminals,

prisoners of war, or slaves prisoners of war, or slaves bought for the purpose of bought for the purpose of gladiatorial combatgladiatorial combat

Professionals were free men Professionals were free men Crowds preferred combat by Crowds preferred combat by

free men over free men over Free men found popularity Free men found popularity

of wealthyof wealthy Criminals entered the arena Criminals entered the arena

weaponless weaponless As man gained immediate As man gained immediate

statusstatus

Gladiator Training Gladiator Training Trained like true athletes , received Trained like true athletes , received

medical attention and three meals a medical attention and three meals a dayday

Training included learning how to use Training included learning how to use various weapons, including the war various weapons, including the war chain, net, trident, dagger, and lasso chain, net, trident, dagger, and lasso

Allowed to fight in armorAllowed to fight in armor Were paid each time they fought. If a Were paid each time they fought. If a

gladiator survived three to five years gladiator survived three to five years of combat they were freed. of combat they were freed.

Gladiator Clothing in the Gladiator Clothing in the Arena Arena

ManicaeManicae -wraps of leather for arm and wrist -wraps of leather for arm and wrist paddingpadding

BalteusBalteus- which was a sword belt- which was a sword belt CingulumCingulum -wide leather belt which was to -wide leather belt which was to

protect waistline protect waistline FasciaFascia- leather, protective leg padding worn - leather, protective leg padding worn

below shin below shin Galerus-Galerus- metal shoulder guard of the gladiator metal shoulder guard of the gladiator SubarmallisSubarmallis- padded linen worn under armor - padded linen worn under armor

to provided extra protection, straw- filledto provided extra protection, straw- filled OcreaOcrea- a metal leg guard, ran from the knee, or - a metal leg guard, ran from the knee, or

sometimes the thigh, to below the shin sometimes the thigh, to below the shin protecting the front of the legprotecting the front of the leg

Types of Gladiators Types of Gladiators

There were many categories of gladiatorsThere were many categories of gladiators They were distinguished by the kind of They were distinguished by the kind of

armor they worearmor they wore– the weapons they used, the weapons they used, – their style of fightingtheir style of fighting

Most gladiators stayed in one category, Most gladiators stayed in one category, and matches usually involved two different and matches usually involved two different categories of gladiator. categories of gladiator.

ThracianThracian Thracian:Thracian: Wide- Wide-

brimmed crested brimmed crested helmet with visorhelmet with visor

Protection on both Protection on both legslegs

arm protectorarm protector very small shield, very small shield, short, curved short, curved

swordsword

Secutor Secutor Egg-shaped helmet with Egg-shaped helmet with

round eye-holesround eye-holes Guard on one leg, arm Guard on one leg, arm

protectorprotector Legionary-style shield Legionary-style shield

and sword and sword Small black helmet in Small black helmet in

the. the. The The secutor secutor was called a was called a

“chaser,” “chaser,” Frequently paired with Frequently paired with

the the retiariusretiarius, who used , who used running as one of his running as one of his tactics. tactics.

RetiariusRetiarius RetiariusRetiarius (“net-and- (“net-and-

trident” fighter): trident” fighter): Arm protector Arm protector Large net, trident, small Large net, trident, small

dagger, and no helmet dagger, and no helmet The only type of The only type of

gladiator whose head gladiator whose head and face were and face were uncovered.uncovered.

Wore no defensive Wore no defensive armor, the retiarius was armor, the retiarius was more mobile more mobile

More vulnerable to More vulnerable to serious wounds.serious wounds.

Hoplomachi or SamniteHoplomachi or Samnite Fully armored, and Fully armored, and

based on Greek based on Greek hoplites. hoplites.

Wore a helmet with a Wore a helmet with a stylized griffin on the stylized griffin on the crest, crest,

woollen quilted leg woollen quilted leg wrappings, and shin-wrappings, and shin-guards. guards.

They carried a spear They carried a spear in the Hoplite style in the Hoplite style with a small round with a small round shield. shield.

Guess the gladiator typesGuess the gladiator types