Daily+Life+-+Gladiator

=Gladiators=

Gladiator means swordsman from the Latin word “Gladius,” meaning sword. Gladiators were professional fighters in ancient Rome that fought each other or wild animals for the entertainment of the audience. They originally performed at funerals to give the dead armed companions in the next world; but gradually they became more popular and into public entertainment. Gladiatorial shows started at about 264 B.C. and became the biggest in 107 A.D (during Trajan’s rule). But the shows started to become less popular as Christianity grew, and in 325 A.D. the emperor Constantine banned them but they still continued until 423 A.D, when Emperor Honorius outlawed them once again. Even then it may have continued for another century.
 * [[image:gladiatorreportpic.jpg width="169" height="168" align="left" caption="Fight with wild animals"]]Origin of Gladiator**

Gladiators were mostly slaves, criminals, war captives, or bankrupt Romans. Rarely were they high class men that had fallen into crisis, and were gladiators to earn a living. It was also very rare to find female gladiators (gladiatrix). Most gladiators trained at one of these special gladiatorial schools; //Ludus gallicus, Ludus dacicus, Ludus magnus// or //Ludus matutinus//. Life was very hard as a gladiator, the staff was very harsh, they were trained with rigorous exercise and carefully controlled diets. Gladiators were trained by experts (some were former gladiators) that taught them how to fight with weapons such as swords, nets, chains, or daggers. All gladiators swore a solemn oath (//sacramentum gladiatorium):// //“I will endure to be burned, to be bound, to be beaten, and to be killed by the sword.”// They also signed a contract with their gladiator manager (//auctoramentu)// that said how much they would be paid, what weapons they would use, and how often they’d compete.
 * Training**

The customs of having gladiator shows have been borrowed from the Etruscans. Gladiator shows were originally held in open large spaces, but then it was moved to an //amphitheater;// huge round arenas covered with sand that had seats surrounding it that could hold up to 20,000 people. Gladiator shows began with a colorful parade called a //Pompa// where gladiators, jugglers, acrobats, and other performers marched to music played by trumpets, drums, flutes, and large organs. During the Pompa the audience could see how many fighters of which type, would take part in the performance. The parade was followed by a fake wooden sword fight. The signal to start the real fighting was given by the sound of a trumpet. Gladiators that refused to fight were driven into the arena with whips and red hot pokers. Fighters fought till death, but they could ask for mercy. The loser’s death was determined by the audience. It is not sure which gesture meant what, but a popular belief is that if most of the crowd put their thumbs down it means the gladiator must lower their weapons and they don’t have to die. A thumbs up pointed towards the throat or chest means the gladiator must be stabbed there. Another popular belief is if most of the crowd puts their thumbs down his life can be spared, a thumbs up means the gladiator must die. The biggest gladiator game was held during Emperor Trajan’s rule. It continued for 123 days nonstop, and killed 5,000 humans and 11,000 animals.
 * Gladiatorial Shows**

Gladiators were distinguished by their arms or mode of fighting. There were 4 main categories:
 * Types of Gladiators**


 * Samnite:** later called //hoplomachus or secutor// fought with national weapons, such as a short sword, lance, cutum (shield). He wore a metal helmet and protective armor on his legs.


 * Thracian:** got their name from the fighters of Thrace, Greece, because they resembled them. They only had a small round shield (parma), and a short curved dagger (sica).


 * Myrmilo:** also called “fishermen” because of the fish-shaped crest on their helmet. They were armed in Gallic fashion, with a long heavy rectangular shield and a dagger.


 * Retiarius:** also called “net man” because he used a net to trip his opponent and then he would stab him with a long sharp trident. Had no armor, just a short tunic or apron.

Other types of gladiators were **Andabatae, Dimachaeri, Essedarii**, and **Laquearii**. A successful gladiator recieved a palm branch that symbolized victory or an award such as money (gold coins), a crown, a golden bowl, or even being freed. They were regarded as heroes and honored for their courage and bravery. If they desired, they could stop fighting. Some gladiators became trainers, or body guards.

Gladiators tell us that Rome used blood, murder, and human sacrifice as entertainment. It also symbolized the Roman Empire’s military power. code Works Cited code

code Marks, Anthony, and Graham Tingay. __Romans.__ New York: Scholastic, n.d. code

code Nardo, Don. __Games of Ancient Rome.__ San Diego: Lucent Books, n.d. code

code Reid, T.R. “The Power and Glory of the Roman Empire.” __SIRS RENAISSANCE.__ 4 Nov. 2007 http://www.sirs.com code

code "**gladiator**." __Britannica Junior Encyclopedia__. 2007. . 28 Nov. 2007 . code

code "**gladiator**." __Britannica Student Encyclopedia__. 2007. . 28 Nov. 2007 . code

code "**gladiator**." __Encyclopædia Britannica__. 2007. . 28 Nov. 2007 . code