|
Life of a Gladiator
Some were sentenced 'damnati ad gladium' meaning they were
condemned to death either by execution by sword or to fight
until dead as a gladiator. These new recruits were heavily
guarded they had no freedom.
Life of a Gladiator -
Different Types of Gladiators
When a new recruit, called
a novicius
entered one of the gladiators schools he was assessed by the lanista
(owner of the school), a doctor and the trainers. He would
first be checked by a medici (a doctor, not to be confused with the doctores)
to ensure he was fit. Their physique would be assessed and a decision
made as to what type of gladiator he would be trained as in
the gladiator school.
Would his physique be suited to wearing heavy armor or would light
armor be preferable? At first the majority of gladiators
were taken as prisoners of war. There ethnic background was
reflected in the type of gladiator they would be and they
would wear the armor and use the weapons of their homeland.
Thus, some were called
Thracians,
Gallus and
Samnites. As time moved on into the era of the Roman
Empire old enemies became allies and gladiators were named
according to the type of fights they fought in or the
weapons they used e.g.
Bestiarii (Beast Fighters)
or
Retiarii (Net Fighters).
The lanista and the trainers of
the gladiator school made the decision how they
would be trained and the type of gladiator that they would
fight as (see
Types of Gladiators) - the life of a gladiator was
totally pre-determined. The Gladiator trainers who worked
in the school were often retired gladiators who specialised in
specific styles of fighting and weapons. The trainers were
called Doctores. A Doctor who trained the type of gladiator
called a
Retiarius would be
referred to as Doctores Retiarii whereas one who trained
Secutores, was called Doctores secutorum.
Types of Gladiators
Life of a Gladiator - The
Tiro and Tattoos
The life as a gladiator
started as a raw recruit who were called novicius. When they had completed their initial training and were
ready to fight in the arena they were called Tirones
gladiatores or Tiro. The Tirones
often had tattoos applied as an identifying mark on the
face, legs and hands in order to make it difficult to hide
if they escaped.
Life of a Gladiator - The
Training
The life as a gladiator and
his training at first concentrated on getting the new gladiator to the peak of
fitness. Their initial training did not involve using highly
dangerous real
weapons,. Wooden training swords called the
the rudus were used (lusoria arma). Gladiator Training focussed
on the different fighting styles and weapons required by specific
types of gladiators. Gladiators who fought in heavy armor
were slower and required different techniques and skills
than those of the gladiators who were lightly armed, who were
fast and light. The different types of gladiators required
customised training according to their armor, weapons and
fighting techniques.
Gladiator Training
Gladiator Techniques
Life of a Gladiator - The
Daily Routine - Food
The life as a gladiator
started at dawn when their cells were unlocked and they were
sent for the first meal of the day. Strict discipline was
enforced and new gladiators were not allowed to speak at
mealtimes and were bound in shackles unless they were
training. New Gladiators were watched and guarded at all
times. The new gladiators were seen as valuable commodities
and were therefore well fed with a high protein diet. The
life of a gladiator included eating three meals a day. The
roman gladiator's diet consisted of meat or fish, bread,
cereals and vegetables. Other types of food included barley,
dry fruits, cheese, goat milk, eggs and olive oil. The
gladiators drank only water.
Life of a Gladiator - The
Daily Routine - Hygiene
The life as a gladiator
included attention to personal hygiene. Gladiators were
given frequent massages and allowed to take hot and cold
baths. When so many gladiators were forced to live in close
proximity the medici would ensure that the threat of
diseases and infection were kept to a minimum. The life of a
gladiator in terms of food and living conditions was
therefore often superior to the lower class of Romans.
Life of a Gladiator -
Women
The monotony of living the
life as a gladiator was sometimes lifted when women were
provided for the gladiators. These women were usually slaves
who worked in the kitchens of the gladiator schools. The
gladiators were usually allocated the women by the guards or
trainers.
Life of a Gladiator - Free
Gladiators
The Life of a Gladiator
held some appeal to free men. The living conditions of
gladiators were good. And the role of a gladiator could be
highly lucrative. Gladiators were paid each time they fought
and they were allowed to keep any rewards and purses of
money. The most successful gladiators were also treated like
modern day 'Pop Idols' with fan worship, fame and glory. It
is therefore not surprising that some free men enrolled as
gladiators. These free gladiators were ex-soldiers and some
were wealthy Romans who craved the adulation and the glory
given to gladiators. Other free men simply needed money to
pay off their debts. Their living conditions were much
better than the conscripted gladiators and they were given
much more freedom and were allowed to leave the gladiator
schools, or barracks. In addition to this most gladiators
were only expected to fight 3 - 5 times a year. So which was
better life as a Roman Gladiator or life as a Roman Soldier?
Life of a Gladiator -
Comradeship and Families
Close bonds were often
formed between gladiators, despite the fact that they might
be called upon to kill each other. The trained gladiators
joined formal associations, called collegia, to ensure
that they were provided with proper burials and that compensation
was given to their families. It is a little known fact
that some gladiators could marry, have children and even leave
inheritances to their families. Gladiators could also own
their own slaves. Once again for the free men or successful
men the life of a gladiator was not all bad...
Life of a Gladiator - The
Last Meal
The day before the
gladiatorial games a public banquet was held for the
gladiators which was called the coena libera. During this
feast the gladiators were all determined to enjoy themselves
as they were all aware it could be their
last meal and their last day in the life of the gladiator.
Life of a Gladiator -
Death
The life of a gladiator was
lived on a knife edge in that he knew that he would have to
face death in the arena. Roman gladiators were even taught
how to die. They were expected to die with dignity, honor
and no complaint. They were never allowed to show fear. Free
gladiators had to swear an oath (sacramentum
gladiatorium) and enter a legal agreement (auctoramentum)
agreeing to submit to beating, burning, and death by the
sword if they did not perform as required .
Life of a Gladiator
The content of this Life of a Gladiator
category on life in Ancient Rome provides free educational
details, facts and information for reference and research
for schools, colleges and homework. Refer to the
Colosseum Sitemap for a comprehensive search on interesting
different categories containing the history, facts and
information about Ancient Rome. Just like the subject of
Life of a Gladiator there is hardly a page of Roman history and the Romans that is not, on
some way, connected to the Roman Colosseum which became a
symbol of Rome, its society, culture and life.
|
