1. Gladiators 2. A gladiator was a man, usually a slave or a prisoner from Rome, who was forced to fight to the death in the arena. The gladiator was named for the gladius , a basic Roman sword. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Vocabulary Review Retiarius: net-fighter Secutor: chaser Ludus: gladitorial school Gladius: basic Roman sword Doctores: gladiator trainers 10.