Did gladiators win their freedom by defeating their oppenent?

Answer 1

Gladiators won prize money. They could also win their freedom after fulfilling certain obligations. If they performed in five bouts they were freed from their gladiatorial oaths and given freedom. If they performed exceptionally well in even a single bout, they could also be given their freedom on the spot.

Answer 2

This was quite complex in actuality. There is a common misconception that Gladiators were simply out to kill, but recent evidence supports quite another truth. Skeletons unearthed in Ephesus and York display multiple wounds, all across a span of time, most of them singular. This implies that the Gladiators in question fought many fights, and received few and minor wounds. There is also present in ancient images, such as mosaics or reliefs, a referee of sorts. This collective information tells quite a different story about how Gladiators fought and won.

Gladiators would have fought traditionally in pairs, although it was not unheard of for small groups to match against one another. They followed rules; if an opponent lost a weapon, oftentimes the other would also relinquish one of his own. The amount of non-fatal wounds implies that the Gladiators intent was not to kill, but to draw blood. When one fell, they would raise a hand towards the Editor, the organizer of the games, in a plea for mercy. The crowd would then make some sort of gesture of approval or disapproval, depending on the Gladiator's popularity. A veteran, who had fought more, and shown a great deal of courage would be more likely to receive favor, whereas a less experienced Gladiator, who was perhaps timid, would not.

The Editor, especially post-Tiberius was a wealthy man. During the reign of Tiberius, a freed slave presented public games in a wooden Ampitheater. However, due to a lack of funds, the unstable Arena collapsed, killing may of the spectators. The furious Tiberius issued an edict that all Editors must have a certain degree of wealth. Even prior to this, the sheer cost of such an event would have eliminated many of the poor classes. Regardless, the games served an agenda far more comlpex than simple entertainment. By pleasing the people, the Editor hoped to gain some sort of favor, and the games became a political tool. The Lanista, owner and manager of the Gladiators, "rented" them out to the Editor for a steep asking price. If a Gladiator perished in the games, the Lanista could ask a price five times that of the original in compensation. This meant that the Editor had to be shrewd in their decision. if a Gladiator plead for mercy, and the crowd was not pleased with their performance, the Editor had to make the choice- either endanger his politial career, or his wealth. From this, the Editor would make his decision, and the Gladiator would either die, or be allowed to leave the Arena alive.

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Answer 3

if a gladiator put on a particularly good fight, then they could be awarded "the wooden sword" which was as it's name suggests. however, this sword granted a gladiator his freedom!