Gladiators Types dress and armor and history Origins

Gladiators Types, dress and armor and history

Origins Gladiatorial games originated in Etruria Predates Rome by hundreds of years (the first kings of Rome were Etruscan) Part of the funeral games for a king

Types The first gladiators were prisoners of war, so were experienced in battle were given the typical armor and weapons of their area Types of gladiator reflect some of the ancient enemies of Rome

Murmillo Helmet with dorsal fin Quilted or metal arm guard (manica) Large shield (scutum) Short sword (gladius) Padded foot guard

Secutor (Murmillo variant) Helmet, smooth top, two small eye holes (protect against retiarii) Short sword (gladius) Large shield (scutum) Quilted or metal arm guard (manica) Padded foot guard

Retiarius Armored shoulder guard (galerus) Net Trident Padded arm guard (manica) Padded foot guard

Hoplomachus Spear Helmet Padded arm guard (manica) Short sword (gladius) small shield Grieves Padded leggings

Thraex Curved Thracian sword Helmet often with feathers or gryphon Padded arm guard (manica) Grieves Small square shield (parmula)

Specialized Fighters These were the 5 most common, Certain occasions would call for charioteers (essedarii), horsemen (equites or sagittarii), or trained hunters (bestiarii or venatores) venatores were also often animal trainers who could do tricks with “wild” animals

Non combatant participants Gladiators were trained by the school’s Lanista, who was often also the owner of the school (ludus) and the gladiators The referee who maintained the strict rules of the games was the Rudis

Death and Freedom Gladiators were expensive to buy and expensive to own. Most gladiatorial fights did not result in the loser’s death Gladiators were the sports heroes of the day and were just as famous as modern athletes As slaves they were generally free to roam and were treated very well. Many ended their career by being set free

Oath All gladiators, either a slave or a free citizen, had to publicly swear this oath to the owner of the ludus: uri, vinciri, verberari, ferroque necari “I will endure to be burned, to be bound, to be beaten, and to be killed by the sword”

Myth of the Thumb Gladiators were more likely to die in large public games The emperor or sponsor could be swayed by public opinion and call for the death of a defeated opponent thumbs up/down did not mean life/death. In fact, it is more likely the opposite is true: thumbs down=swords down This painting is the source of confusion Pollice Verso 1872 Jean-Léon Gérôme