Gladiators In Ancient Rome
Gladiators in ancient Rome represented both amateur and professional fighters who entered into bloody combats to entertain thousands of spectators. These infamous gladiatorial matches were held in arenas that were found commonly throughout the Roman Empire. Initially, only slaves and prisoners of war were made to become gladiators and fight in the arena using their traditional weapons and equipments. |
At times, even the convicts were sentenced to die while fighting in the arena. Some professional, free-men also chose to become gladiators voluntarily. Successful Gladiators received huge rewards and were treated no less than present-day’s pop idols. The lavish lifestyle of a successful Roman gladiator is something that inspired men to risk their lives in the arena.
Gladiator fights first began in ancient Rome in 264 BC, when Brutus Pera’s son entered into three gladiatorial combats in front of the public to pay homage to his father. Such bloody events soon became the most popular form of entertainment for the Roman public. The history of Ancient Rome is well-known for its interesting stories of famous Roman gladiators, who fought in the infamous, blood-spattered arenas, including the Roman Colosseum, throughout their lives. Some of the most famous Roman gladiators, who fought great gladiatorial combats, include Spartacus, Emperor Commodus, Flamma, Thrimpus, Spiculus, Rutuba, Tetraides, Priscus, and Verus. Aristocratic women also fought the gladiatorial fights for entertainment during the reign of Nero in 63 AD.
The Roman gladiators were bought by lanistas and trained at special private schools, called Ludi. In the Ludi, the gladiators were trained like professional athletes and were taught to use different combat techniques and weapons, such as lasso, war chain, trident, net, and daggers, to defeat their opponent. They were allowed to fight with the equipments and weapons of their own choice and were required to fight 2-3 times a year. They were paid handsome sums of money every time they survived a gladiatorial combat. They were awarded their freedom if they managed to survive three to five years of deadly combats. The one was defeated in the arena begged for life or death, while the winner received awards that symbolized victory.
Gladiators were trained to play the role of Roman enemies in the arena. They wore an armor that was different from the Roman military armor and used non-Roman weaponry for the combats. The various roles that they played included that of a Thracian, a Secutor, a Retiarius, and a Samnite.
More Articles :
|
