Most of the Roman gladiators were strong, fierce fighters as well as being prisoners, slaves and criminals. Some were forced to fight as gladiators, while others participated because they had their eyes set on the generous money prize being offered. Others became gladiators for the physical challenge and the excitement of danger. Whatever the reason for becoming a gladiator, these fierce fighters were forced to undergo intense training at gladitorial camps throughout the Roman Empire, facing death both in the camps and during combat.
Origins of Gladiatorial Games
It is believed that the gladiatorial games began with the Etruscans who practiced them as part of funeral rites. For the right to follow the deceased into the afterlife as a companion, servants would fight to the death. There was also evidence of gladiatorial games in the Campanian culture of southern Italy. Early Christians thought the gladiatorial games were a form of human sacrifice, and therefore, had pagan origins. The Romans first used the games as funeral rites as well, until they became used for entertainment and sport.
- Gladiatorial Games: A floor mosaic depicting the gladiatorial games.
- The Roman Gladiator: Gives links to pictures of gladiator armor and discusses the history of the gladiatorial games and some of the great gladiators.
- Roman Civilization: Provides the history and interpretation of the gladiatorial games.
- Arena-Gladiatorial Games: A lengthy description of the arena, types of gladiators, their training and a day at the arena—with pictures.
- The Performance of Gladiators: Sections on gladiators and roman identity, background and status, weaponry and armor, performance and audience, chronology and bibliography.
The Roman Amphitheater
Until the late first century BCE gladiatorial fights were performed in Rome at the Circus Maximus and the Forum until the construction of the Colosseum which became the main venue for gladiatorial games. The amphitheater was a large part of Roman society. It was built with seating arrangements reflecting the hierarchy of the Roman class system. The Emperor had his own special box, with the senators sitting on marble seating divided into fourteen separate sections. From there the seating was arranged from the equestrian order down to the nondescript civilians. To the Romans, the amphitheater had significant meaning as a symbol of civilization's triumph over lawlessness.
- Arles, France-The Roman Amphitheater: Multiple pictures of the amphitheater in Arles, France.
Roman Gladiatorial Games: Provides sections on the gladiator’s origins, types of gladiators, the experience, roman culture as it relates to gladiators and the animals involved in the games—with http://web.bobbasement.com/master/searchbls.cgipictures of the amphitheater. - Roman Amphitheater in Naples: Shows pictures of the amphitheater ruins and discusses the architecture of it.
- El Jem, Roman Amphitheater: Picture of the Roman amphitheater at El Jem (Tunisia).
- Roman Colosseum: Various pictures and detailed representations of the Colosseum.
History of the Gladiator
The first gladiatorial fights took place in the 200's BCE as part of a funeral rite, the death of a gladiator being a gift for the dead. This practice went on until the late first century CE when they were first introduced as a public game. Types of gladiators including the murmillo, the retarius, the equesthe, the provactor, and the thraex. The different types were determined by their protective gear, helmet and the way in which they fought. The gladiators were ready to die and demonstrated this by the bearing of their torsos. There were gladiators of both sexes and even some of the high society were commanded by a deviant emperor to engage in battle. There were many styles of fighting and rules and regulations depending on the type of fighting.
- Gladiator: Multiple depictions of the gladiators and the Colosseum, accompanied by a written history.
- The Gladiator: Covers the history and origins of the gladiator, who they were, training and combat, public perception, and female gladiators.
- Heroes of the Roman Amphitheatre: Pictures accompanied by a history of the gladiators.
- Gladiator History: History of the gladiators with depictions of the battles.
- Origins: A brief history of the games with pictures.
Animals
Animals of the gladiatorial games were trained to fight each other as well as the gladiators. Wild exotic animals such as lions and tigers were most often used. At times, several animals would be released to fight one lone gladiator. Roman art depicts these battles with bloody attacks by leopards and lions against the freely moving gladiator or one tied to stakes.
- Gladiators and Beasts: Depictions of gladiators and animals in battle.
- The Roman Arena: Discusses the context of the games, arenas, social hierarchy and public punishment and animal fights. Gives depictions of animals and gladiators.
- Beast and Gladiators: Depiction of gladiators fighting animals and one another.
- Gladiators and the Lions: A depiction of gladiators in battle with lions.
- Gladiators Fighting Animals: Picture depicts the animal and gladiator fights in Rome.
The popularity of gladiatorial games spread far and wide throughout the Roman Empire, lasting until the late third century CE. As the Empire declined, so did the practice of gladiatorial games.
Written by Michael S. Atwood