1. Gladiators

2. History and Origin Etruscans and /or Samnites
funeral rites (religious origins)
munus = a funeral gift for the dead
First one:
honor father by shedding blood
3 pairs of slaves in cattle market

3. Gladiators and culture
nearly 7 centuries
Caesar ludi
legislation to limit
elite during Republic
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4. Romans and concept of death
“Socially dead”
Slaves, prisoners of war, convicted prisoners
If fought well
Reclaim lives
Reclaim social identities

5. Romans and concept of death
Face death and overcome death
High mortality rates
Life-span – age 30
Meet death with honor and dignity
Militaristic culture
Valued art of killing
Hand-to-hand combat important
Ability to kill single handedly important to survival of empire

6. Who entered the arena? Damnati ad mortem Committed capital crimes
“condemned to death”
Committed capital crimes
Fought without weapons

7. Who became a Roman Gladiator?
Criminals who did not commit capital crimes
prisoners of war
Slaves purchased by Lanista
Citizens sold selves to lanista

8. Spread of gladiatorial performances
Mosaics and paintings
Conquered towns built amphitheaters
Lanistae followed troops
Animals from distant provinces
Excessive cost
showed empire’s power

9. Ludi vs Munera Ludi Munera Frequent Associated with god
Public treasury
Munera
Infrequent
Associated with funeral
Private individual

10. Venationes Animal hunts Bestiarii – trained to fight animals
Need to protect self from hostile nature

11. Humiliores Execution of non-elite Romans convicted of capital crimes
Burned at stake, crucified, ad bestias
Contradictory attitude
Power of society
Don’t watch

12. After lunch…gladiatorial contests
Ethnic names
identified weapon used
NOT ethnic identity of gladiator

13. Samnite Galea – visored helmet with large crest and plume
Scutum -large oblong shield
gladius
Ocrea- boiled leather greave

14. Samnite Scutum Ocrea Galea Used gladius Large oblong shield
Metal or boiled leather on left leg
Galea
Visored helmet with large crest and plume
Used gladius
Root of word “Gladiator”

15. Secutor Round helmet w/ crest and 2 eye holes
Leather or metal protected right arm
Spatha- short sword
Ocrea -Metal leg guard

16. Secutor Name from fighting technique Chased opponent Rounded helmet
Good pairing with net of Retiarii
Leather or metal protects right arm
Short sword called spatha
Had large shield
Leg guard called ocrea

17. Thracian Metal helmet with Grifone Sica- Curved dagger
Parma - Small round shield

18. Thracian Parma Sica Grifone Small round or square shield Curved dagger
Mythological beast on metal helmet

19. Retiarius Trident Iaculum -net Subligaculum –loin cloth
Protection on one arm and shoulder

20. Retiarius “net man” Iaculum Trident Net trip and hold opponent ‘Fork’
skewer captured victim

21. Retiarius continued Left arm protected Metal shield on left shoulder
No helmet or shield
Light and fast
Main opponent Secutor

22. Mirmillo Visored helmet decorated with fish, the mirmillo
Used large rectangular or round shield

23. Mirmillo Shield Visored helmet Main opponent Retiarius Rectangular
Sometimes round
Visored helmet
decorated with a fish - mirmillo
Main opponent Retiarius

24. Hoplomacus Heavy metal visor Large rectangular shield, scutum gladius
sword
Arms, legs protected by metal or leather and right arm has additional armor to shoulder - manica

25. Hoplomacus – Arena bulldozer
Most heavy armored
Scutum
Gladius
Heavy visored helmet
Legs and arms protected
Manica
additional armor to shoulder
Extra armor = speed limited

26. Free citizens who sold selves to be gladiators
End of Republic
½ gladiators
Economic factors
Three meals
Medical care
Career opportunity
Jobless
Trades limited to army, teaching (if literate) and gladiator schools

27. Free citizens took oath
Agreed to be
Branded
Chained
Killed by iron weapon
Pay for meals “with blood”
“Suffer things even if they did not wish to”

28. Training Fighting techniques Efficient killing blow
How to submit for effective finish

29. Women Female gladiators? Skill in killing and dying well
More important than gender

30. Conditions Gladiators – investment property Diet Medical care
high in protein and fat
Medical care
Survival = freedom
Relationships
legally recognized marriages and families

31. Fighting Fought few matches year Survived, win freedom Lost match
Could plead for life
Could have another chance

32. Decisions Habet, Hoc Habet! Mitte! Lugula! He’s had it! Let him go!
Kill him!

33. The thumb Crowd signified disapproval Crowd signified approval
Extending thumbs up and down
Turning thumb upwards and toward heart
Crowd signified approval
Pressing thumb and forefinger together

34. thumbs up gesture Meant death, not mercy
Waving handkerchief signified mercy
Shouting “dismissed” could result in mercy

35. Honor in death Loser to be valiant in death Honorable way to die
Loser grasped thigh of conqueror
Victor held loser’s head
Plunge sword into neck

36. Just checking…. Charon et Mercury costumed attendants
Charon struck dead with hammer
Mercury poked dead with hot iron

37. Winner Gladiators paid Winner receive symbol of victory
golden bowl, crown, coin, palm leaf