Roman Gladiators

The gladiators trained in their "ludi" or schools, under the instruction of their trainers, who were either ex-gladiators themselves, or specialists in some category of combat brought in by the owner of the school.

The basic reason was for entertainment. Some historians like to put symbolism in the hunting event by proposing that they were showing the people the superiority of the Romans over forces of nature. But to the people of the time it was exciting entertainment as the hunts were staged in elaborate forest settings, and in the Colosseum, live trees and shrubs were used.

It is believed that professional gladiators, like boxers of today, fought twice a year.

Galen didn't train gladiators. Galen was a medicus at a Ludus in Pergamum. In other words, Galen, the famed physician, treated Gladiator's wounds.

If you are looking for information about how Gladiators were trained, there isn't very much to be had. It is known that they trained using wooden poles as false bodies, known as Palus. They would have trained to be proficient in grappling and boxing along with the various weapons that they were assigned. They would have used weights of sorts, and done a great deal of body-weight training, along with improving flexibility.

As Romans adopted much of Greek culture (along with others) it can be assumed that they also adopted the ancient Greek martial Pankration (the oldest martial art form known to man, predating all eastern martial arts, and being the first western martial art) . The gladiators most likely learned pankration, which covers not only simple weapon-less combat, but also combat with sword, shield, and spear. However, the gladiators would have improved on the martial art, and their style would have been somewhat theatrical, though no less practical, as they were primarily entertainers. If you are interested in further information, I am writing my thesis on this subject.

tom_mrsn@yahoo.com

The types of gladiators who fought with a sword and a shield were the hoplomachus, the murmillo, the thraex (Thracian) and the secutor.

Of course they did, otherwise they would die. The trainers made a lot of money out of their trade. It was in their interests to keep the gladiators healthy and fit.

When the gladiators wern't fighting they would practice at the ampitheatre or be at their quarters. Gladiators wenrnt often completely killed as they were hard to replace and provided a great source of entertainment. When the crowd wanted a gladiator to be completely killed the kind would have to rule the decision.

Hibernia was the Roman name for Ireland.

The Romans had a very well developed army. It was one of the first organized army. They had armor plated uniforms. powerful weapons such as the scorpion crossbow. Had the first military ranks too

First of all he would get paid. Then, depending on the circumstances, he would either be given his release from his gladiatorial oath and be a free man, or he could be granted a wooden sword, which also meant that he was freed of his gladiatorial obligations. But remember that the conditions differed regarding freedom, some were granted freedom after five bouts, others had to remain for five years---contracts differed then as much as contracts do today.

The gladiators were named by their parents when they were babies. When they grew up and became gladiators they either used their own names or they assumed a "stage name" such as Felix, meaning lucky. Other names used by gladiators seemed to connote strength, greatness, courage, etc. all the qualities that were admired. Names derived from Hercules, and the name Alexander were popular. A possible example of this is the gladiator Spartacus. That name is very closely allied to Sparta and the Spartans were the renowned fighters of their time. It makes some researchers wonder if, because he was a gladiator, Spartacus was a stage name and not the legal name of the man himself.

gladiators had to fight because they were slaves and their masters told them to do it.when in the arena they had to fight and win or fight well and lose or they would be killed.they did not want to die but part of their code was to die with honor,not flinching when the victor sliced his thoat and kneeling on 1 knee to await their death calmly.

Gladiators were a very important variable in Roman social and political life. They reached their peak in the first two centuries of the empire and their decline began as Christianity began to spread all over the empire until the former was abolished by emperor Honorius in the 5th century. Gladiator fights and similar spectacles could often had decided the fate of a politician in uprising. For example, in the republic, after the questarian office, one would be lifted up to an aedil office. That office's main duty among others was to represent spectacles in the arena at their own cost. The more spectacular and exotic it is, the bigger was the aedil's chance to climb up the office leader, as well to get social prestigue. Thus had gladiators great impact on politics. The better they were trained, the better their condition was, the better they fought, the better was the chance of an aedil getting a higher office thus influencing politics more. Further more, in the imperial era, spectacular and blood-soaking gladiator duels were essential for emperors who had just become so. The better the games, the better reception bay the crowd for the new Caesar.

In most cases, gladiators faced injury or death at the hands of their fellow gladiators, against whom they fought. In some cases, however, gladiators fought various wild animals, instead of other gladiators. The animals (such as lions) could also injure or kill gladiators. In general, the life of a gladiator was very uncertain.

Gladiators could indeed get married if that is what they chose to do. Many gladiators however choose not to get married.

The disposal of Gladiators depended mostly on status. For example, if the fallen gladiator was considered 'noxii' (obnoxious to the state) their body may be discarded without honour, ritual or even a burial. If the body was that of a regular gladiator he may be buried with tribute and memorial by his friends, family or his associated union. Gladiators who weren't considered noxii may join these unions who would arrange for a proper funeral and compensation for the gladiators family.

The burial ceremony for gladiators was held outside the town limits and in separate cemeteries to the citizens to avoid spiritual and physical impurity tainting the community.

Today, inscriptions can still be found on the tombs of fallen gladiators by their friends, family and unions.

In some cases, it's believed the remains of gladiators may have been fed to animals, thrown in mass graves or dumped in the River Tiber. Some of these bodies would have been reclaimed for proper burial.

Roman gladiators sent all their time at the gladiatorial schools. They were not allowed to leave because they were slaves. There were guards to ensure that they would not escape. We do not know much about what they did in their spare time. presumably they rested and played dice and board games like people did in those days.

In theory yes. But you would not get an aristocrat being a gladiator they woud host the events. Normally they were slaves and if they did well they may be freed. Contrary to popular belief not all Gladiator fights were to the death. One must consider that gladiators cost money and time to train so sometimes they may fight to the death other times not.

People paid nothing to watch the gladiators. All entertainment in ancient Rome was free. They might even come away with a prize as at the end. At many, if not all, of the events, the emperor or the sponsor of the games would toss out tickets for goods or money to the crowd.

Ancient historian Livy said that the earliest Roman gladiator games occurred in 264 BC. Decimus Iunius Brutus Scaeva had three gladiator pairs fight to the death to honour his dead father, Brutus Pera.

Originally the gladiatorial contests were part of funerary rituals, the munus (plural: munera), which was a commemorative duty owed the manes (deities which represented the souls of deceased loved ones).of a dead ancestor by his (rich) descendants. Later, staring from Julius Caesar, they developed into games for public entertainment.

The gladiatorial contests started earlier than this. They were imported to Rome. There has been a debate about their origins. They probably started by the people of Campania, the region around Naples.

Sparticus

spartacus was the most famous i doubt the best tho, id say flamma, he lived till he was 30 and as it over 2000 years ago and he was a gladiator id say that was a good life span, he fought 34 times which is a lot of fights, concidering how often each one got to fight, he won 21 times drew 9 and lost 4 which is impressive, how he won crowd favour 3 times, and he was awarded the retis which is a small wodden sword and his freedom 4 times, and stayed as a gladiator ever time, id say he was a great gladiator

The pre-fight rituals were more than likely unique to the individual gladiator, just as our baseball players have rituals that they perform before stepping into the batter's box. However some of them can be stated. If he were smart, he would warm up and loosen up. He would be certain that his armor and weapons were bright and shiny, as the entrance parade was one of music and glitz. He would check his weapons to be sure that they were usable and had no problem. He would sacrifice or pray to his favorite god.

Romans men generally wore togas and tunics. Women usually wore stolas.

Children wore tunics.