The name of the gladiators. Types of gladiators. Not all gladiators were slaves

Hard sports were part of the Etruscan funeral rite as human sacrifices.

The Romans accepted the Etruscan funeral rite and changed it over time; they stopped killing participants in mortal combat immediately, but forced them to fight with swords in their hands near the grave of the deceased; the weak died in the duel, and strong fighter remained alive, causing the delight of those present. The Romans first saw this cruel spectacle in 264 BC. e. in a bull market , where three pairs of gladiators fought at the funeral of Brutus Pere, organized by his sons. The spectacle seemed so unusual and remarkable to the Romans that this event was included in the annals of Rome.

The connection between gladiatorial games and funerals has never been forgotten, they were called "funeral games", and the official name was mumus ("duty"), the duty of the living towards the deceased.

In 105 BC. e. gladiatorial games were introduced into public spectacles in Rome . From now on, the state entrusted its magistrates with the responsibility of organizing gladiatorial games, and they became a favorite spectacle, both in Rome and in the provinces of the Roman Empire. Caesar in 65 BC uh . organized gladiatorial games in which 320 pairs of gladiators took part. His enemies were frightened: not only were these armed fellows frightening, but the frightening thing was that luxurious games had become a sure way to gain the favor of the people and secure votes in elections. In 63 BC. uh . by the proposal Cicero's law was passed , which prohibited a candidate for magistrate from “giving gladiators” for two years before the election. No one, however, could prohibit a private person from “giving” them under the pretext of a funeral for his relative, especially if the latter bequeathed to his heir to organize games.

Depending on the weapon and specifics Their participation in fights distinguished the following types of gladiators:

Andabat (from the Greek word “άναβαται” - “raised, located on an eminence”) Andabata fighters were dressed in chain mail, like the eastern cavalry (cataphracts), and helmets with visors without slits for the eyes. Andabats fought each other in much the same way as knights did in medieval jousting tournaments.

Bestiary were armed dart or dagger, these fighters were initially not gladiators, but criminals (noxii), sentenced to fight with predatory animals, with a high probability of death for the condemned. Bestiaries later became highly trained gladiators, specializing in combat with a variety of exotic predators using javelins. The battles were organized in such a way that the animals had little chance of defeating the bestiary.

Bustuary. These gladiators fought in honor of the deceased in ritual games during the funeral rite.

Velit - foot gladiators armed with a javelin with a cord attached to it for throwing. Named after units of the early Republican Roman army.

Dimacher (from the Greek “διμάχαιρος” - “ bearer of two daggers" ). They fought without a helmet or shield with two daggers in each hand. They were dressed in a short soft tunic, their arms and legs were bandaged with tight bandages, and sometimes they wore greaves.

Gaul. The fighters were equipped with a spear, a helmet and a small Gallic shield.

Hoplomachus (from the Greek “οπλομάχος” - “armed fighter”). The fighters were dressed in quilted, trouser-like leg clothing, possibly made of thick cotton or linen fabric, a loincloth, a belt, and greaves. The armor was worn on the forearms (manica) of the right hand, and a helmet with a brim and a stylized griffin on the crest, decorated with a brush of feathers on the top and single feathers on each side. For weapons, they carried a very small round shield made from a single sheet of thick bronze; examples of shields were preserved in Pompeii. The fighters were sent to fight against the Mirmillons or Thracians.

Lakvearium - "lasso fighter" Laquearii may have been a type of retiarii that tried to catch their opponents using a lasso (laqueus) instead of a net.

Mirmillon - “mormylos” - “sea fish”, fighters They wore a helmet with a stylized fish on the crest, armor for the forearm (maniku), a loincloth and belt, a greave on the right leg, thick windings covering the top of the foot, and very short armor. The Mirmillons were armed with a gladius sword (40-50 cm in length) and a large rectangular shield, like legionnaires. They were fielded in battles against the Thracians, Retiarii, and sometimes also against the Hoplomachus.

Pegniaria They used a whip, a club and a shield, which was attached to the left hand with straps.

The provocateur is the “applicant.” The fighters were depicted wearing a loincloth, a belt, a long greave on the left leg, a manica on right hand, and a helmet with a visor, without brim or crest, but with feathers on each side. They were the only gladiators protected by a cuirass (cardiophylax), which was at first rectangular, then often rounded. The provocateurs were armed with a gladius and a large rectangular shield. They were exhibited in battles with the Samnites or other provocateurs.

Retiarius - “fighter with a net.” They are appeared at the dawn of the Roman Empire. The fighters were armed with a trident, a dagger and a net. In addition to the loincloth supported wide belt(balteus) and large armor on the left shoulder joint, the retiarius did not have any clothing, including a helmet. Sometimes a metal shield (galerus) was used to protect the neck and lower part of the face. There were retiarii who played female roles in the arena (“retiarius tunicatus”), who differed from ordinary retiarii in that they were dressed in a tunic. The Retiarius usually fought the Secutors, but sometimes also the Myrmillons.

Rudiary - gladiator who earned his release and was awarded a wooden sword - rudis, but decided to remain a gladiator. Not all rudiarii continued to fight in the arena; there was a special hierarchy among them: they could be trainers, assistants, judges, fighters, etc. Rudiarii fighters were very popular among the public, since they had vast experience and could be expected from them a truly exciting gladiatorial game.

Samnites — ancient type heavily armed fighters, which disappeared in the early imperial period, its name indicates the origin of gladiatorial combat. Historical Samnites were influential union of Italian tribes , living in the Campania region south of Rome, against whom The Romans fought wars from 326 to 291 BC. e. The Samnites' equipment included a large rectangular shield (scutum), a feathered helmet, a short sword, and possibly a greave on the left leg.

Secutor - this type of fighter was specifically intended for fights with retiarii.

Sagittarius - horse archers armed with a flexible bow capable of launching an arrow over a long distance.

Secutors were equipped with armor and weapons, large rectangular shields and gladiuses. Their helmet, however, covered the entire face except for two eye holes, in order to protect the face from the sharp trident of their opponent. The helmet is round and smooth so that the retiarius' net cannot catch on it.

Skissor (scissor, “one who cuts”, “cutting”) - a gladiator who was armed with a short sword (gladius) and instead of a shield had a cutting weapon - two small swords that had one handle or, put on his left hand an iron hollow rod with a sharp horizontal tip. With this cutting weapon, the scissor delivered blows that resulted in minor wounds to the opponent, but the wounds bled a lot. Otherwise, the scissor was similar to a pruner, except for the additional protection of the right arm from shoulder to elbow, which consisted of many iron plates fastened together with strong leather laces. The helmet and protective equipment of the secutors and scissors were the same

Tertiaries also called "Suppositicius" - "substitute". Some competitions involved three gladiators. First, the first two fought with each other, then the winner of this fight fought with the third, who was called tertiary - “third”.

Thracians were equipped with the same armor as the hoplomachus. The Thracians wore grand slam covering the entire head and decorated with a griffin on the forehead or on the front of the crest, the Griffin was a symbol of the goddess of retribution Nemesis. The Thracians wore a small round shield (parmula), and two large greaves. Their weapon was a Thracian curved sword-axe - sicca, about 34 cm long. Thracians fought with the Myrmillons or Hoplomachus.

The Venators arranged demonstration hunting of wild animals, without fighting them in close combat, like bestiaries. They performed tricks with animals - they put their hand in the mouth of a lion, rode a camel while holding lions on a leash nearby, and forced an elephant to walk on a tightrope (Seneca Ep. 85.41). The Venators were not gladiators, but their performances were part of gladiator battles.

Equitus ("rider"). In Sanskrit: – horse. In early descriptions, these lightly armed gladiators were dressed in scale armor and carried a medium-sized round cavalry shield ( parma equestris), a helmet with a brim, without a crest, but with two decorative tassels. During the Roman Empire, they wore forearm armor (manica) on their right arm, a sleeveless tunic (which distinguished them from other gladiators who fought bare-chested), and a belt. The Equites began the battle on horseback, but after they threw their spear (hasta), they dismounted and continued the fight with a short sword (gladius). Typically, equites only fought other equites.

Essedary - “chariot fighter” (from the Latin name for the Celtic chariot - “esseda”). Essedarii are mentioned in many descriptions starting from the 1st century AD. BC may have been first brought to Rome by Julius Caesar from Britain.

Pregenaries in performed at the beginning of the competition to “warm up” the crowd. They used wooden swords (rudis) and wrapped cloth around the body. Their fights took place to the accompaniment of cymbals, trumpets and water organs (hydraulis).

Why did Roman citizens become gladiators?
People who took the “gladiator oath” were deprived of many of the rights of free citizens, including the right to their lives, which depended on the outcome of the battle. Perhaps this freed the citizen from debts, and made it possible to get away from creditors, and even make money if the public liked you in the arena during a gladiator fight. Apparently, for many Roman citizens, gladiatorial combat was a good job - " shod, dressed, have a roof over your head and live on everything ready.”

Gladiators had to live in special gladiatorial schools, where they studied the art of gladiatorial combat under the supervision of freedmen, that is, former gladiators. Naturally, there were doctors, massage therapists, and cooks at their service, providing the gladiators with everything necessary to train and provide professional fighters.

A high salary was a good incentive for a brave, dexterous and warlike gladiator. Even slave gladiators had every right to part of the reward for victory in the arena; they received coins that spectators threw into the arena during the battle. If the former gladiator, having received his release, wished to remain in the arena, he received a generous reward. Emperor Tiberius offered one thousand gold coins to one of his freed gladiator slaves if he would return to the arena.

In the morning before the gladiator competition, a hunt for wild animals (venatio) took place; in the afternoon, criminals sentenced to death were executed, they were thrown to be torn to pieces by animals. Before the fight, the gladiators dined at public banquets with local residents. Before the start of the gladiatorial fights, the fighters entered the arena, organizing a kind of parade to pre-set the mood of the public and demonstrate their fighting form, then the gladiator fights began.

The number of gladiator fights depended on the number of competitors involved. Usually the fights lasted until the end of the day, and each fight lasted on average about ten to fifteen minutes.

A gladiator match was a hand-to-hand fight between fighters with different weapons. After one of the fighters was wounded or weakened, he threw his shield to the ground and raised his finger up (ad digitum), indicating his desire to surrender and stop the fight. The judge of a gladiatorial match was obliged to intervene and stop the fight, leaving the fate of the vanquished to the mumerarius (the owner of the gladiators). The decision he made sometimes depended on the opinion of the assembled public - he could spare (missio) the defeated one or even grant freedom to one or both fighters, but such release did not happen often, since this only brought losses to the mumerarium. Mumerarium entered the arena and handed it to the lucky gladiator wooden sword (rudis), which meant that the gladiator was no longer a slave, but a free man.

Mumerarium could raise thumb up (pollits verso) or point it down - this meant deciding the fate of the vanquished. The public also expressed their opinion by showing their thumbs up, which meant "missio" (mercy), which allows the gladiator to return to the ludus and prepare for the next fight. The thumb down meant that the winner of the fight must deal the defeated fighter a coup de grace.

There was a dual attitude towards male gladiators in Rome; they were loved and despised at the same time. Some citizens of Rome looked at the warlike gladiators as their idols, others treated them with contempt as barbarians.

It was a disgrace for a noble Roman to participate in gladiator fights in the arena, and participation in military campaigns, battles and wars was considered military valor.

Autocrats - Volunteer Gladiators They might not live in gladiator schools, but take lessons from private trainers or visit special studios for training. Autocrats entered the gladiatorial arena quite rarely, two or three times a year.

There is an opinion that all gladiators were doomed to death, but in fact this is not so! Of course, gladiators died, including by decision of the public. However, not as often as is commonly believed. It was very expensive to raise, train in the art of war, and maintain such a fighter. It was much more profitable to receive money from the audience for the performance of a good gladiator fighter than to pay for his burial.

Fights in the ancient Roman arena were not an exclusively male affair. In 63 AD er. Emperor Nero issued a decree allowing free women to participate in gladiatorial tournaments. After him, Pozzuoli allows Ethiopian women to fight.

Women in the gladiatorial arena fought like men, and trained before the performance, like male gladiators. It is known that most of the gladiators in the Roman Empire were slaves, but some citizens voluntarily became gladiators and took an oath that they agreed “to be doomed, to be beaten, and to die by the sword” (uri, vinciri, uerberari, ferroque necari). By the end of the Roman Republic, about half of the Roman gladiators were volunteers - a huge number, considering that the battles took place not only in Rome, but also in many of the country's major cities.

Women participated in fights, lived and died as fighters. The life of female gladiators was perhaps harder than that of males, daily physical training prepared them to wield various types of weapons during gladiatorial combat. Some Roman women, trampling all boundaries of all decency, visited special studios, while others trained with their gladiator fathers.

Roman historian Tacitus with condemnation he mentions women with a fairly high social status who participated in gladiatorial fights for entertainment, and considers these performances in the arena to be their disgrace. “This year's gladiatorial games were no less magnificent than last year. However, many ladies from high society and people of senatorial rank disgraced themselves by appearing in the arena.” In general, Roman society considered female gladiatorial combat to be reprehensible and undignified!

The Roman historian Suetonius (c. 69 – 122 AD) spoke about gladiator fights involving women, under the emperor Domitian, who outdid Caligula, Nero and Heliogabalus in his entertainment. Dio Cassius (ancient Greek: Δίων ὁ Κάσσιος,) wrote that these female gladiator fights were held by torchlight late at night, at the end of the entire gladiatorial performance.

Roman poet Statius in a poem about gladiatorial battles under the emperor Domitian, he reports that “Moors, women and pygmies” took part in the battles. “The sex unsuited to the use of weapons competes with men in battle! You'd think it was a gang of Amazons fighting."
According to the Roman senator and historian Tacitus (c. 56 AD - 177 AD), Even noble and rich women did not hesitate to appear in the arena, wanting to perform in the gladiatorial arena and receive the laurels of winners.

The Roman satirist Decem Juvenal in Satire IV (55 AD - 127 AD), denouncing the vices of Roman society, caustically ridiculed female gladiators: and described the gladiatorial performance in detail:
“Have you heard that women need war capes and oil to fight?
Have you seen the pieces of wood that they pound and crumble,
Using skillful techniques to pierce them through with a sword or spear?
This is about girls who trumpet the glory of Flora.
Or maybe they are preparing to enter the arena themselves for a real fight?
But is it proper for decent women to squeeze their head into a helmet,
By despising the gender you were born with?
They love manly things, but they don't want to be men
After all, little things (as they believe) make their lives more enjoyable!
What “pride” does the husband feel when he sees the market where
His wife looks like she’s for sale - in belts, shields and skins!
Listen to her grunts and moans as she works hard to parry and attack;
Look at her neck, bent by the heavy helmet.
Look how her legs are bandaged, like tree trunks,
Laugh as she drops her armor and weapons and reaches for the goblet.
How the daughters of our praetors and consuls are deteriorating!
Have you seen bare-breasted Amazons against wild boars at the games?
Isn’t this more disgusting than gladiator girls and naked whores?”

It is quite obvious that Women's gladiator fights are not a fiction at all, but a fact captured in ancient literature and history! Archaeological finds confirm the existence of female gladiators in Ancient Rome, inscriptions of a local magistrate from Ostia were discovered about the organization of women's gladiator fights, burials female gladiators, bas-relief from Helicarnassus , which shows two women wearing secutors. They wear belts, greaves and arm plates. Each woman is armed with a sword and shield, but both fight bareheaded and bare-chested. Their names are indicated below the images and confirm that these are women - one is called Amazonia, the other Achilleia. The inscription at the top in Latin means “missae sunt”, that is, both of them, or one of them, received an honorable release from the fight or the so-called “mercy” (missio) from the public watching the battle.

Legend and Achilles.

Achilleia, from Pergamum, a Roman province in Asia Minor, was the daughter of the 'castor' of Pergamum. The years of her life were during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius 'The Wise'. In 162 AD, when her life changed dramatically, she was about 20 years old.

Unlike her noble peers, Achilleia was an extraordinary girl, she had a large, strong physique and a cocky character. Since her father's duties included organizing gladiatorial games for the people of Pergamon, his daughter was intimately familiar with the gladiatorial business. When she was 17 years old, she began attending the city's ludum (gladiator school), where she observed gladiators training and brutal fights. Achilleia was no different from other noble women who were partial to gladiators; they openly admired their courage and did not miss the gladiatorial fights. Achille began to take lessons in gladiatorial combat from the school manager and former gladiator Partakos. In the Ludum, she met the famous scientist healer Claudius Galen, who studied human anatomy on wounded and dead gladiators, and later became the personal physician of Emperor Aurelius. Galen was about thirty years old and fell in love with an attractive young girl. Galen did not dissuade Achilleia from practicing gladiatorial art, but rather taught her the basics of human anatomy, showing her the most vulnerable and painful points of the body for blows. Since Achille was born left-handed, Partakos taught her to use this advantage in battle against right-handers.
This knowledge helped her Achillia improve in the art of armed martial arts, she was preparing to truly fight in the arena. By training with a wooden sword, Achilleia mastered the basics of gladiatorial art, as well as some wrestling techniques. At the age of 19, she competed in a women's gladiator match for the first time. Her skill exceeded all expectations, she was a strong and beautiful girl.

A rival for Achilleia was quickly found; it was Anahita, a captive captured in the Parthian army. She was a real warrior and fought in the gladiatorial arena of Smyrna. Anahita was so warlike and fearless that she was nicknamed “Amazonia.” Soon Ahilia and Amazonia had to meet in the gladiatorial arena. Well acquainted with the basics of gladiatorial art, After intensive training Achillia fought with the wild and ferocious Sarmatian warrior Amazonia, who fought like a tigress, but was wounded and lost the battle to a more experienced and stronger opponent. Achille's gladiator career ended as suddenly as it began,

The emperor's wife, Faustina, famous for her waywardness and cruelty, loved gladiator fights and tried not to miss a single one. After the Roman victory over the Parthians in Armenia, Faustina toured the province and attended gladiatorial games in the cities of Asia Minor. In Halicarnassus, south of Pergamon, she saw the duel between Achille and Anahita. The formidable and invincible Anahita struck Achille with a deft blow, and she asked for ‘missio’ (mercy). The public was in good spirits, and the defeated girl was given life. Faustina was amazed at how fiercely and skillfully the warlike female gladiators fought and ordered a sculpture to be carved in stone in memory of the brave warriors. A talented local sculptor completed the order, and the bas-relief depicting Achille and Amazonia has survived to this day, reminiscent of these two warrior women.

The bas-relief of fighting female gladiators preserved this fight for centuries “as an example for posterity.”

Gladiatorial combat was banned in 400 AD when Christianity was adopted in the Roman Empire.

Were characteristic feature ancient Roman way of life. Their main participants were professional fighters trained to fight each other with various types of weapons. The equipment of gladiators was varied and initially corresponded to the characteristics of the weapons of various opponents of the Romans.

Over time, several main types of gladiator weapons were formed. We invite you to get to know them better in the new interactive special project Warspot.

To obtain detailed information about the equipment of a particular warrior, Hover over the gladiator's name and click on it. In addition, below the illustration is Additional Information about those parts of equipment that were used by gladiators of all types.

Hoplomachus

Hoplomachus is a Greek name meaning a heavily armed fighter. Perhaps this type of gladiator weapons appeared in the 1st–2nd centuries AD. e. instead of the earlier Samnite. Hoplomachus fought in heavy weapons, which included a closed helmet with a wide brim and a high crest, a bracer made of bronze plates or quilted fabric on his right hand, high bronze leggings and legguards made of soft fabric on both legs. In battle, the hoplomakh covered himself with a small round bronze shield and tried to hit his opponent with a spear. He may also have had a sword or dagger as an additional weapon.

Bronze figurine of a hoplomachus. Antique collection, Berlin

The main opponents of the Hoplomachus were the similarly armed Murmillons or Thracians. The spear allowed the hoplomachus to hit his opponent at a distance exceeding the length of the enemy weapon. On the other hand, the small size of the shield did not provide him with reliable protection in defense and in close combat. He also could not press back his opponent with a large shield, as the Murmillo could. In a fight, the hoplomakh had to adhere to aggressive, offensive tactics, imposing the pace and distance of the battle on his opponent.

Hoplomachus Shield

In depictions of gladiators, the hoplomachus is usually armed with a round bronze shield, reminiscent of the shields of Greek hoplites or Macedonian phalangites of the Hellenistic era. Several such shields were found during excavations, and today they are kept in museums and a number of private collections.

The example of the shield shown in this photograph from the gladiator school in Pompeii has a diameter of 37 cm and weighs 1.6 kg. It consists of a bronze cladding attached to a non-preserved wooden base. The front surface of the shield and the rim are decorated with chased patterns in the form of several garlands of silver leaves. In the center is a round silver plate depicting the face of the Gorgon Medusa. The luxury of jewelry does not necessarily indicate that this is a piece intended only for display.

The small size of the shield does not hamper the warrior’s movements at all, but at the same time limits the protective function it provides. A gladiator armed with such a shield inevitably lost in close combat and therefore had to keep his opponent at a distance.

Hoplomachus and Thracian Leggings

Secutors, murmillos and provocateurs who used a large rectangular shield, as a rule, wore only one short greave on the left leg, which was put forward in a fighting stance. The Hoplomachus and Thracians, armed with small shields, had to compensate for its insufficient protective properties with the help of additional elements of equipment, primarily legguards and leggings. In reliefs and depictions, they usually wear a pair of greaves on both legs, with their length reaching approximately mid-thigh.

These images correspond to 10 bronze greaves found during excavations of a gladiator school in Pompeii. Their length varied from 48 to 58 cm. Top part The leggings were made in the form of a wide bell, slightly curved outward. The diameter indicates that the greaves were worn over a thick harness made of quilted fabric. They were secured to the leg with a belt passed through three pairs of rings. All leggings were luxuriously decorated with chased relief, symbolic images and engraved ornaments.

Secutor

The secutor, or "pursuer", is a heavily armed fighter who is first mentioned in sources around 50 AD. e. His protective equipment included a full-face helmet with no visor or brim, a padded bracer on his right arm, and a short greave on his left leg. The large rectangular shield of the secutor was shaped like the shield worn by Roman legionaries. He was armed with a short straight sword. The total weight of the secutor's equipment was 15–18 kg.

In its equipment, the secutor resembled a gall or a murmillo, from which it must have originated. The main difference between them was the opponent that these fighters had to face in the arena. For the secutor, such a constant enemy was the lightly armed retiarii, while the murmillo usually fought with other heavily armed gladiators - the hoplomachus and the Thracians. Even the helmet of a special design, which distinguishes the secutor from the murmillo, as well as the provocateur, which is similar in armament, was specially designed to fight the retiarius. Being practically devoid of protruding parts, this helmet allowed the secutor to more easily throw off the enemy’s net.

Secutor and retiary

A large shield and other equipment allowed the secutor not to be afraid of attacks, but at the same time they limited the fighter with their weight and constrained his movements. To hit his opponent with a short sword, the secutor had to get close to him. Retiarius, much lighter and more agile in comparison with his opponent, in turn, sought to wear him down with false attacks. Thus, the outcome of the battle between them was decided by the composure and endurance of the fighter.

Emperor Commodus, who reigned from 180 to 192, fought as a secutor in the arena.

Secutor's Helm

The helmets that belonged to the secutors include closed combat headpieces without brims, with a high crest on the top of the dome. Structurally, they resemble the helmets that provocateurs wore at the same time, but they differ from them more simple design, as well as a minimum number of protruding parts on which the net of the retiarius, the traditional enemy of the secutor, could be caught.

The helmet's dome is forged from a single piece of bronze or iron and is equipped with a wide backplate that provides protection to the neck and upper shoulders. The helmet's visor consists of two large cheekpieces, suspended on side hinges to the bottom of the rim. In front, the junction of both cheekpieces was protected by a vertical plate-pin. The eye slits are two unprotected narrow round holes that greatly limit the viewing angle. The disadvantages of the helmet include the lack of holes for the ears, which doomed its owner to almost complete deafness. In addition, poor air exchange and significant weight made it possible to wear the helmet only for a very limited time.

Secutor, Murmillo and Taunter Shield

scutum), similar to those worn by Roman legionaries in the 1st century. Judging by the relationship with the figures of warriors on mosaics and frescoes, the dimensions of the shield were approximately 1 m in length and 0.5 m in width. The base of the shield was made of three layers of thin wooden planks, glued at right angles to each other. The thickness of the wood in the center of the shield was about 6 mm and decreased towards the edges to lighten its weight. The outside of the shield was covered with leather and richly painted with geometric patterns and figures. The edges at the top and bottom were lined with bronze clips so that the wood would not be chipped from blows. The shield was held with the hand by a transverse handle passing through the center. The weight of a modern reconstruction of such a shield is approximately 7.5 kg.

The shield provided the fighter with reliable body protection, but at the same time significantly limited his mobility. In a fight with a more lightly armed gladiator, this circumstance definitely gave the initiative to the enemy.

Leggings of the Secutor, Murmillo and Taunter

Leggings ( ocrea) were part of the protective armor that covered the leg from the knee to the instep of the foot, i.e. that part of it that was not usually covered by a shield. They were made of bronze, beating a metal sheet onto a convex matrix so that it took the shape of a shin. Leggings were put on over soft padded fabric harnesses. The diameter of archaeological finds indicates a significant thickness of the soft pad. In order for the greaves to sit tightly on the leg, they were fixed with the help of belts, which were passed through two or three pairs of rings, attached to the edges of the greaves on each side.

The number of leggings and their type were strictly regulated in each type of gladiator equipment. Secutors, myrmillons and provocateurs are usually depicted with only one short greave, which they wear on their left leg. During excavations in Pompeii, 9 such greaves were found, the length of which varied from 28 to 35 cm. All the greaves, with the exception of one, were luxuriously decorated with figured chased images and engraved ornaments.

Sword of the Secutor, Murmillo and Provocateur

Sword ( gladius) was the main weapon of gladiators, from which they got their name. Judging by the reliefs and mosaics of the 1st century BC. e. - 1st century AD e. this was the same weapon carried by Roman legionaries. It was a straight, double-edged blade 60–65 cm long and about 4 cm wide, with parallel blades turning into a long and thin point, equally well suited for slashing and thrusting. The heavy handle, which was carved from wood and ivory, shifted the balance of the weapon to its lower part, which allowed the fighter to deliver well-targeted piercing blows, quickly change the direction of attack, make feints, etc.

Judging by the images of the 1st–3rd centuries, at this time the length of the sword is greatly reduced, which complicates its practical use, but at the same time prolongs the duel and increases its spectacular component. During excavations of a gladiator school in Pompeii, three swords with a laurel-shaped blade and an ivory hilt were found. The blade length of all three specimens varies from 20 to 30 cm.

Retiarius

Retiarii first appeared on the scene in the early 1st century AD. They were a type of lightly armed fighter whose appearance resembled a fisherman. The retiarius performed while dressed in a tunic or loincloth, his left shoulder was covered with a bronze shoulder pad, left hand- a bracer made of printed fabric. The retiarii did not wear any other protective equipment and fought with their heads uncovered. The retiarius' weapon consisted of a trident and a net. In battle, they tried to throw a net over the enemy and then hit him with a trident or a dagger, which they held in their left hand.

Mosaic of the 4th century. from the National Museum in Madrid, depicting the duel between the retiarius Calendion and the secutor Astyanax. The bottom panel depicts the beginning of the battle, when the retiarius managed to throw his net over the enemy. The top panel depicts the end of the battle. Calendion is wounded and, holding out his hand with a dagger, begs for mercy. His opponent won

The usual enemy of the retiarius was the secutor, and occasionally they could also fight against the murmillons. Surpassing any of their heavily armed opponents in mobility, the retiarii could choose tactics and control the tempo of the battle. They usually circled around their opponent for a long time, trying to unbalance him and wear him down with false attacks, after which they themselves could easily escape. When the enemy was exhausted, the retiarius could go on the attack. He used his net to hook his opponent, throw him off balance, knock him down and immobilize him.

The huge number of references in sources and inscriptions testifies to the entertainment of this kind of fights and their wide popularity among the public.

Retiarius' Trident

Retiarius Trident ( fuscina or tridens) originated from a fisherman's weapon. It was a short spear with three points. In images, retiarii usually hold it with two hands: the left one is brought forward, the right one is behind. With this grip, most of the blows should be delivered in an upward direction. Unfortunately, there is still not a single archaeological find of a trident, so it is difficult to say what its size is. Judging by the available images, the tips of the trident were small.

On one of the skulls found in the gladiator cemetery in Ephesus, traces were found left by the trident of a retiarius. The distance between the holes is 5 cm. The inlet holes are located at a large angle. This means that the fatal blow was struck from above while the defeated opponent was lying on the ground or kneeling.

Retiary network

Retiary Network ( rete) has the shape of a circle with a diameter of about 3 m. Lead weights were strengthened along its edges so that when cast the net would straighten out. The retiarius could use the net to hook and pull the enemy's sword out of his hands, or to throw the net over himself. Large meshes of the net easily clung to weapons and items of equipment, and it was difficult to immediately throw it off. By grabbing its edge, the retiarius could confuse his opponent, immobilize him, or knock him down. If the throw was unsuccessful, he could pull the fallen net towards him by the rope that was connected to his wrist, after which he would make a new attempt. To prevent the enemy from grabbing the rope and pulling him towards himself, the retiarius had a dagger with him with which he could cut it.

Retiarius Dagger

Retiarius carried a dagger in his belt, which he could use as an additional weapon if he lost his trident. This dagger may have looked like one of the short-bladed swords, 20–30 cm long, found during excavations of the gladiator school in Pompeii.

On one of the reliefs depicting a retiarius, his dagger looks like four points on one handle. Until recently, weapons of this form were considered the artist's invention. However, on one of the bones found during excavations of the gladiator cemetery in Ephesus, a trace of a wound inflicted by four points was discovered, which proves the reality of the existence of such weapons.

Retiarius Shoulderguard

Shoulder ( galerus) is one of the characteristic elements of the military equipment of the retiarii. They wore it on the left shoulder along with a bracer made of printed fabric on the left hand. Other gladiators usually wore bracers on their right hands. This feature allowed the retiarius to use his right hand more freely to cast his net. Accordingly, having his left side more protected than his right, the retiarius in battle had to stand with his left side turned to the enemy.

During excavations of a gladiator school in Pompeii, 3 chased bronze shoulder guards were discovered. One of them, shown in the picture above, is decorated with images of a crab, an anchor, a trident, and the other is decorated with cupids and the head of Hercules. The third depicts war trophies. The height of the shoulder pad is 30–35 cm, width is about 30 cm, weight is 1.2 kg. The wide brim makes the shoulder pad more like a small shield, which provided some protection to the head, face, neck and upper chest when struck from top to bottom and from right to left.

Thracian

The Thracians began to compete in gladiator competitions at least from the 1st century BC. e., when the Romans first encountered them during the wars on the Balkan Peninsula. Over time, a complex of weapons characteristic of the Thracians developed, which included a closed helmet with wide brims, a bracer for the right hand and a pair of high leggings. In their left hand the Thracians held a small rectangular, less often round, shield, and in their right hand a sword with a curved blade.

In the arena, Thracian gladiators usually fought with murmillos or hoplomachus, who had heavy weapons similar to their own. Armed with a less cumbersome shield, the Thracian had higher mobility compared to the Murmillo and could impose the tempo and tactics of the battle on him. Unlike the hoplomachus, who held his opponent on long distance, the Thracian sought to meet him chest to chest. In a close fight, the curved blade allowed him to deceive the enemy, very quickly change the direction of the attack, and also cut off the weakly protected back parts of the arms and legs.

The cunning and deceit of the Thracians were repeatedly noted in literary monuments. Their famous supporter was Emperor Caligula, who reigned from 37–41.

Thracian helmet

The Thracian gladiator helmet is easily identified based on the large number of available images. Structurally, it is similar to the Murmillo helmet and is a headband with wide brims and large cheek pads that completely cover the owner’s face. For viewing and breathing, there were large openings in the upper part of the cheekpieces, closed from the outside by an openwork lattice suspended on hinges or pins. The surface of the helmets was covered with chased images and engravings of mythological subjects.

Fragment of decoration of the crest of a Thracian gladiator's helmet, made in the form of a griffin

A distinctive feature of Thracian helmets was a high flat crest decorated with a griffin's head. The helmet was also decorated with feathers, which visually increased the warrior’s height and gave him an elegant look.

Thracian Shield

Thracian gladiators armed themselves with a rectangular, less often round, shield ( parma), which were smaller in size than their opponents. Structurally, it was constructed in the same way as the large shield of secutors, provocateurs and murmillos, and consisted of several layers of wooden planks, glued perpendicular to each other. The outside of the shield was covered with canvas, then leather, and finally richly painted. Variants of decoration can be observed in the example of numerous mosaics from Roman times. Such a shield provided good protection the upper part of the fighter's body.

Insufficient protection of the lower abdomen and hips had to be compensated for by a wide belt and leg guards. Thanks to the light weight of his shield, the Thracian invariably surpassed his heavily armed opponent in mobility and was able to impose on him the time and distance of the battle.

Thracian sword (sika)

Thracian gladiators armed themselves with a curved sword ( sica), which originated from single-edged curved blades, common during the 3rd–2nd centuries BC. e. in the north of the Balkan Peninsula. The length of the original finds of this weapon ranges from 40–50 cm, width - 4 cm. The straight handle of the shiki was pulled out from the blade and lined with wooden cheeks on both sides. The concave blade of the shiki had excellent cutting properties.

During excavations at the Roman camp of Oberaden in Germany, a wooden sword with a curved blade was discovered. The length of the blade is 30 cm, the hilt and handle have a characteristic Roman shape. It is most likely that the wooden sword was a training weapon and was lost during the evacuation of the camp in 8 BC. e.

Thracian Leggings

Hoplomachus and Thracians used the same greaves, which are described in more detail in the section on the hoplomachus.

Murmillo

Murmillo is a type of heavily armed gladiator who, in the 1st century AD. e. replaced the earlier Gaul. The Murmillo's defensive armament included a large rectangular shield, a closed helmet with a tall plume of feathers and a stylized image of a fish on the crest, bracers on the right arm, and greaves on the left leg. In battle, the Murmillo fought with a short straight sword. The same equipment was worn by the secutors, who differed from the murmillons only in a different type of helmet.

The main opponent of the Murmillons were the equally heavily armed Thracians and Hoplomachus. According to Quintilian, they also had to fight with lightly armed retiarii, but pictorial sources do not confirm this information.

Part of the relief from the burial crypt of Gaius Lusius Storax (25 - 50 AD) depicting a gladiator fight. In the center there are two Murmillons, on the sides - two Thracians

Heavy equipment, the total weight of which was 15–18 kg, required the fighter to developed muscles arms and shoulders, simply necessary to fight with a heavy shield and sword. Victory in battle and the very life of the Murmillo depended on his endurance, since he had to fight against enemies whose equipment was better suited for attack than his own. On the other hand, the large shield gave him significant defensive advantages.

A famous supporter of the Murmillons was the Emperor Domitian (81–96).

Murmillo Helmet

Gladiator helmets ( galea) are known from a large number of images and archaeological finds. Most of the latter was done during excavations of the gladiator school in Pompeii. They are divided into two large types - with and without fields. Each of them, in turn, is divided into two more subtypes.

The helmets that belonged to the Murmillons are easily identified based on a large number of relief and mosaic images. These helmets have wide brims, horizontal and almost flat all around in early models and rising in the front in an arch in later models. On top, the dome of the helmet is decorated with a massive box-shaped comb, into which a lush plume of feathers or horse mane was inserted. A pair of large cheek pads were suspended from the sides of the lower rim of the helmet on hinges, covering not only the cheekbones, but also the face of its owner. At the front, the cheekpieces closed with each other, forming a closed visor. Their Bottom part was bent forward to protect the throat. For viewing, the cheekpieces had large openings that were closed from the outside with grid plates.

All gladiator helmets are made of bronze with a thickness of 1–1.5 mm. The surface of the helmets was richly decorated with chased images and engravings. Part of the surface of the helmet could be covered with gold or silver or tinned with tin to imitate it. The weight of the helmet varies from 3.8 to 5 kg, which is approximately twice the weight of a soldier's helmet. True, the legionnaires had to wear their helmet throughout the day, and the gladiator put it on only before the fight, which lasted 10–15 minutes.

Murmillo Shield

The secutor, murmillo and provocateur were armed with a large rectangular shield of a convex shape ( scutum

Murmillo Leggings

Murmillo sword

Provocateur

Provocateurs (“challengers”) are mentioned already in the late republican period. They were a heavily armed type of gladiator whose equipment resembled a secutor. The provocateur wore a large rectangular shield, a helmet without a crest, first open, then completely closed, a metal or soft bracer on his right arm and a short bronze greave on his left leg. A special feature of his equipment was a small rectangular or rounded breastplate. The provocateur's weapon was a short straight sword. In the arena, provocateurs usually fought against each other. Only one inscription that has survived to our time testifies to the fight between a provocateur and a murmillo.

Provocateur's Helm

From reliefs of the 1st century BC. - beginning of the 1st century AD we can conclude that at first the provocateurs fought in open-type helmets with cheek pads attached on hinges to the lower part of the helmet rim to protect the face, and a wide backplate to protect the neck and upper back. This uniform was reminiscent of the army helmet worn by Roman legionnaires at that time. Then in the first half of the 1st century AD. e. In imitation of helmets of other gladiatorial types, the cheekpieces of the provocateurs were enlarged so that they began to completely cover the face. At the front, they closed with each other and were secured with a special clip, forming a closed visor. So that the fighter could see anything, a pair of round holes with a diameter of 8 cm were made in such a helmet, which were closed from the outside with round plate-lattices.

The provocateur's helmet is distinguished from the helmets worn by the Murmillons and Thracians by the absence of wide brims. Only the visor was riveted to the front of the helmet. On the other hand, it differs from secutor helmets that are structurally similar to it big number decorations and protruding parts, such as side tubes for attaching feathers.

Provocateur's Chestplate

As a rule, gladiators performed in the arena with a naked torso, which gave them the opportunity to demonstrate their figure to the public and play with the prominent muscles of the chest and shoulders. Only on some reliefs are heavily armed provocateurs depicted wearing a small plate on their chest rectangular shape to protect the heart area. This piece of equipment is known only from images; not a single example of the breastplate has yet been discovered.

Provocateur's Shield

Secutors, Murmillons and provocateurs were armed with a large rectangular shield of a convex shape ( scutum), the structure of which is described in more detail in the section on the secutor.

Provocateur's Leggings

Secutors, Murmillons and Provocateurs used similar greaves, which are discussed in more detail in the section on secutors.

Provocateur's Sword

Secutors, Murmillons and Provocateurs used the same swords, which are discussed in more detail in the section on the secutor.

Bracers

Bracers ( manica), which were worn by gladiators, as well as the legguards and greaves they used, could be made either from sheet bronze or from printed and quilted fabric in several layers. Due to the lack of material remains of these pieces of equipment, their design and cut are still a matter of debate.

Apparently, the padded fabric used to make this type of armor was quite thick. In any case, the poet Juvenal, describing the arms and legs of gladiators, enclosed in soft armor, likens them to the appearance of a thick wooden block. This is how they look on mosaics and frescoes depicting gladiators. In order for the armor to sit tightly in place, it had to be tightened with lacing and additionally secured with straps.

As a means of combat protection against enemy weapons, soft armor was quite effective. They protected their owners both from chopping blows and from thrusts from the edge of a sword. In addition, they gave the fighters an exotic appearance, which corresponded to the aesthetics of spectacle.

Strictly speaking, there is no clear evidence pointing to the material of gladiator bracers. The debate about whether they were made from soft printed fabric or metal plates continues to this day. One of the arguments of supporters of the first version is that during excavations of the gladiator barracks in Pompeii, many pieces of equipment were found, but no bracers were found. Their opponents point out that the small plates from which this armor was assembled could simply not be recognized. One of the arguments in favor of metal bracers is a number of finds of the latter during excavations of military warehouses of the 1st–2nd centuries, primarily in Newstead and Carlisle. If the bracers found there could be worn by soldiers, gladiators could theoretically also use them.

Structurally, Roman bracers were laminar armor, in which metal strips, assembled vertically, were connected to each other by riveting or stringing them on leather belts. The stripes had to be precisely calculated funnel-shaped. Running over each other, they formed an extremely flexible, elastic coating that did not hinder movement.

Loincloth

Loincloth ( subligaculum) was a common Roman undergarment. It was a triangular piece of fabric with each side about one and a half meters long. The two ends, corresponding to the corners at the base of the triangle, were tied with a knot on the stomach. The third end was passed between the legs and pulled under the knot formed by the other two ends, so that it hung like an apron. The loincloth was secured on top with a wide leather belt, which, in turn, was fastened with hooks or simple lacing. Judging by the frescoes and mosaics, the loincloth was of bright colors, perhaps also decorated with embroidery.

Although in most existing images gladiators are shown wearing only a loincloth, leaving the torso and thighs open, in some cases gladiators entered the arena in tunics.

The picture below shows: Hoplomachus, III century. AD.

The first gladiators, strictly speaking, were not such, but were only ordinary slaves and convicted criminals. Later, schools were established to train gladiators, and in the hope of fame and fortune, their ranks were filled with people from all classes. Huge amphitheaters were built especially for gladiator fights.

Gladiators used different kinds weapons. They fought most often one on one. If one of the opponents was wounded, then, according to the rules, his fate was in the hands of the spectators. If they wanted to keep him alive, they waved handkerchiefs in the air or held their thumbs up. If they thumbs looked down, the victim was destined to die.

There were cases when citizens, in pursuit of fame and money, abandoned their own freedom and became gladiators. Among them there were even female gladiators, when in 63 AD. er. Emperor Nero issued a decree allowing free women to participate in gladiatorial tournaments. After him, Pozzuoli allows Ethiopian women to fight. And Emperor Domiziano in 89 brings dwarf gladiators into the arena.

In order to become a gladiator, it was necessary to take an oath and declare oneself “legally dead.” From that moment on, the fighters entered another world, where cruel laws of honor reigned. The first of them was silence. The gladiators explained themselves in the arena with gestures. The second law is full compliance with the rules of honor. So, for example, a gladiator who fell to the ground and realized his complete defeat was obliged to remove his protective helmet and expose his throat to the enemy’s sword or plunge his knife into his own throat.

Over time, the Romans began to get tired of such fights and they began to invent new spectacles. Gladiators had to fight lions, tigers and other wild animals.

Many efforts were made to put an end to these terrible performances, but this was only achieved in 500 AD. Emperor Theodoric.

Types of gladiators

1. Andabat. They were dressed in chain mail, like the eastern cavalry (cataphracts), and helmets with visors without slits for the eyes. The Andabats fought each other in much the same way as knights did in medieval jousting tournaments, but without being able to see each other.
2. Bestiary. Armed with a javelin or dagger, these fighters were originally not gladiators, but criminals (noxii), sentenced to fight with predatory animals, with a high probability of death for the condemned. Bestiaries later became highly trained gladiators, specializing in combat with a variety of exotic predators using javelins. The battles were organized in such a way that the animals had little chance of defeating the bestiary.
3. Bustuary. These gladiators fought in honor of the deceased in ritual games during the funeral rite.
4. Dimacher( from Greek di - "two" and machaer - "sword") . Two swords were used, one in each hand. They fought without a helmet and shield, with two daggers. They were dressed in a short soft tunic, their arms and legs were bandaged with tight bandages, and sometimes they wore greaves.
5. Equit( pl. equites, from Lat. equus - “horse”) . In early descriptions, these lightly armed gladiators were dressed in scale armor, carried a medium-sized round cavalry shield (parma equestris), a brimmed helmet, without a crest, but with two decorative tassels. During the Empire, they wore forearm armor (manika) on their right arm, a sleeveless tunic (which distinguished them from other gladiators who fought bare-chested), and a belt. The Equites began the battle on horseback, but after they threw their spear (hasta), they dismounted and continued the fight with a short sword (gladius). Typically, equites only fought other equites.
6. Gaul. They were equipped with a spear, a helmet and a small Gallic shield.
7. Essedarius ("chariot fighter", from the Latin name for the Celtic chariot - "esseda"). They may have been first brought to Rome by Julius Caesar from Britain. Essedarii are mentioned in many descriptions starting from the 1st century AD. e. Since there are no depictions of the Essedarii, nothing is known about their weapons or fighting style.
8. Hoplomachus (from the Greek “οπλομ?χος” - “armed fighter”). They wore a quilted, trouser-like leg garment, possibly made of canvas, a loincloth, a belt, greaves, forearm armor (maniku) on the right arm, and a brimmed helmet with a stylized griffin on the crest, which may have been decorated with a tassel of feathers at the top and single feathers on each side. They were armed with a gladius and a very small round shield made from a single sheet of thick bronze (examples from Popmpaea have survived). They were fielded in battles against the Mirmillons or Thracians. It is possible that the Hoplomachus descended from the earlier Samnites after it became "politically incorrect" to use the name of a people who had become friendly to the Romans.
9. Laquearius (“lasso fighter”). Laquearii may have been a type of retiarii that tried to catch their opponents using a lasso (laqueus) instead of a net.
10. Murmillo( from Greek mormylos - "sea fish") . They wore a helmet with a stylized fish on the crest (from the Latin "mormylos" - "sea fish"), as well as forearm armor (manica), a loincloth and belt, a greave on the right leg, thick windings covering the top of the foot, and very short armor with a recess for padding on the top of the foot. The Murmillons were armed with a gladius (40-50 cm in length) and a large rectangular shield, like legionnaires. They were fielded in battles against the Thracians, Retiarii, and sometimes also against the Hoplomachus.
11. Pegnary. They used a whip, a club and a shield, which was attached to the left hand with straps.
12. Provocateur (“applicant”). Their uniforms could be different, depending on the nature of the games. They were depicted wearing a loincloth, a belt, a long greave on the left leg, a manika on the right hand, and a helmet with a visor, without brim or crest, but with feathers on each side. They were the only gladiators protected by a cuirass (cardiophylax), which was at first rectangular, then often rounded. The provocateurs were armed with a gladius and a large rectangular shield. They were exhibited in battles with the Samnites or other provocateurs.
13. Retiarius (“fighter with a net”). Appeared at the dawn of the Empire. They were armed with a trident, a dagger and a net. Apart from a loincloth supported by a wide belt (balteus) and large armor on the left shoulder joint, the retiarius had no clothing, including a helmet. Sometimes a metal shield (galerus) was used to protect the neck and lower part of the face. There were retiarii who played female roles in the arena (“retiarius tunicatus”), who differed from ordinary retiarii in that they were dressed in a tunic. The Retiarius usually fought the Secutors, but sometimes also the Myrmillons.
14. Rudiary. Gladiators who have earned their release (rewarded with a wooden sword called a rudis) but choose to remain gladiators. Not all rudiarii continued to fight in the arena; there was a special hierarchy among them: they could be trainers, assistants, judges, fighters, etc. Rudiarii fighters were very popular among the public, since they had vast experience and could be expected from them real show.
15. Sagittarium( from lat. sagitta - "arrow") . Horse archers armed with a flexible bow that can fire an arrow over a long distance.
16. Samnite. The Samnites, an ancient type of heavily armed fighters that disappeared during the early imperial period, referred to the origins of gladiatorial combat by their name. The historical Samnites were a powerful alliance of Italic tribes living in the Campania region south of Rome, against whom the Romans waged war from 326 to 291 BC. e. The Samnites' equipment included a large rectangular shield (scutum), a feathered helmet, a short sword, and possibly a greave on the left leg.
17. Secutor( O t lat. sequi - "to pursue") . This type of fighter was specifically designed for fights with retiarii. The secutors were a type of myrmillon and were equipped with similar armor and weapons, including a large rectangular shield and gladius. Their helmet, however, covered the entire face except for two eye holes, in order to protect the face from the sharp trident of their opponent. The helmet was almost round and smooth so that the retiarius' net could not catch on it.
18. Scissor (“one who cuts”). Nothing is known about this type of gladiator other than its name.
19. Tertiary (also called "Suppositicius" - "substituting"). Some competitions involved three gladiators. First, the first two fought with each other, then the winner of this fight fought with the third, who was called the tertiary. Tertiaries also came in as replacements if the gladiator announced for the fight for one reason or another could not enter the arena.
20. Thracian( lat. thraex - representative of the people of Thrace) . The Thracians were equipped with the same armor as the hoplomachus. They had a large helmet that covered the entire head and was decorated with a stylized griffin on the forehead or on the front of the crest (the griffin was a symbol of the goddess of retribution Nemesis), a small round or flattened shield (parmula), and two large greaves. Their weapon was a Thracian curved sword (sicca, about 34 cm long). They usually fought the Myrmillons or Hoplomachus.
21. Velit( pl. velites, from Lat. velum - “canvas”, because dressed in a linen tunic) . Foot gladiators armed with a javelin with a cord attached to it for throwing. Named after units of the early Republican army.
22. Venator. They specialized in demonstration hunts for animals, without fighting them in close combat, like bestiaries. The Venators also performed tricks with animals: they put their hand in the mouth of a lion; rode a camel, holding lions on a leash nearby; forced an elephant to walk on a tightrope). Strictly speaking, the Venators were not gladiators, but their performances were part of gladiator battles.
23. Pregenarius. They performed at the beginning of the competition to “warm up” the crowd. They used wooden swords (rudis) and wrapped cloth around the body. Their fights took place to the accompaniment of cymbals, trumpets and water organs (hydraulis).

Stories of gladiatorial combat have captivated people for thousands of years. These warriors with swords and shields were forced to fight for their lives; their images tirelessly inspire the creators of books, paintings, films and television shows. However, as fights became more popular, the crowds craved more spectacle. From now on, the sword and shield were not enough. Below are ten types of gladiators who used a wide variety of weapons in battle.

1. Bestiaries

Unlike other gladiators, bestiaries fought for their lives against animals, and not against their own kind. Especially for these battles, Roman emperors and senators brought exotic and strong animals (for example, lions, tigers, elephants and bears) from Africa and Asia. They served as a symbol of wealth, and also took part in the spectacles that were staged for the crowds in the Colosseum and amphitheaters. Some animal species (elephants, for example) were intended to shock and entertain audiences who had never seen them before. Other animals had to hunt people, and also acted as prey themselves.

There were two types of bestiaries: “damnatio ad bestias” (literally from Latin “devotion to the beasts”; given over to be torn to pieces by wild animals) and “venatio” (“hunters”). The first type included those who were sentenced to death. They were not considered gladiators and were generally members of the lower class in Ancient Rome. Their deaths were entertainment for the crowd. Sometimes one wild animal could kill several hundred people at a time.

The "hunters" trained and hunted animals. It was an integral part of their performances. We know very little about the "venatio", since historians and chroniclers did not like to describe them. Unlike other gladiators, "hunters" were despised in ancient Rome. The most famous "venatio" was Karpophorus, who, according to history, killed over twenty animals in the arena of the Circus Maximus with his bare hands. Karpophorus also trained animals to kill, hunt, and even rape humans.

Some emperors also demonstrated their skill in killing animals, but instead of recognition, they received only the contempt of the crowd. Nero fought the animals in the arena, while Commodus "heroically" killed injured and inactive animals from the safety of an elevated platform. The latter caused extreme disapproval of the Senate.

2. Noxia

The Noxii were members of the lowest class in Roman society. They weren't even considered people. These included Christians, Jews, deserters, murderers and traitors. Noxii were not accepted into the gladiator school, and their appearance in the arenas, where they died in the most terrible ways, was, in a way, a punishment for the crimes they had committed. Noxia could be killed in several ways: first, they were torn apart by wild animals; second, they were tortured to death by gladiators who were blindfolded and received instructions from the crowd; third, they acted as targets for real gladiators to hunt. Noxii typically wore a loincloth and had no armor. Their weapons were a simple gladius (short sword) or a stick. The Romans took pleasure in killing the Noxii. This served as a reminder that everyone should know their place in the social hierarchy.

3. Retiarii

Which is better: speed or strength? Death by a thousand cuts or one blow? In ancient Roman times, the answer was clear: the more strength and armor, the better. That is why retiarii were initially treated as a lower type of gladiator. They had very little armor, so they had to fight using agility, speed and cunning, as well as a net, a trident and - in extreme cases - a small blade. Retiarii trained separately from gladiators, who carried swords and shields. They were considered effeminate and were often ridiculed. The satirist and poet Decimus Junius Juvenal told the story of a minor aristocrat, Gracchus, who not only incurred widespread disfavor by becoming a gladiator, but also disgraced society by fighting as a retiarius. However, after a few centuries, the retiarii gained favor and became one of the main ones in the arena.

4. Secutors

The gladiators, who belonged to the type of secutors, had to pursue and defeat the retiarii. Secutor had powerful armor: a huge shield, a sword and a round helmet that covered his entire face and had two tiny holes for his eyes. A typical fight between a secutor and a retiarius began with the latter retreating to a safe distance or - in some cases - climbing onto an elevated platform above the water, where a previously prepared supply of stones lay. The secutor (lat. secutor - pursuer) pursued the retiarius and tried not to fall into his net or under a hail of stones. He was also afraid of the retiarius' trident, which was used to keep the secutor from getting too close. Secutor was well armed, but he quickly tired under the weight of his armor.

Emperor Commodus fought as a secutor during the games; he had excellent armor and weapons, which guaranteed him victory. Another famous secutor was called Flammus, he was from Syria and fought in the arena in clothes typical of the inhabitants of the territory of Gaul. He took part in 34 fights and won 21 of them. Surprisingly, he was offered freedom four times, but he refused each time.

5. Equities

The Aequites were similar to Roman cavalry, but should not be confused with them. The Roman cavalry was mainly represented by minor aristocrats who held good positions in the Senate and could even become emperors. In turn, the equites were renowned organizers of public spectacles. Performances at the Colosseum typically began with battles of equites to enliven the crowd with the agility and speed displayed by these gladiators. Sitting on horseback, they attacked each other with spears, and then jumped to the ground and fought with swords. They wore light armor, which contributed to greater agility and athleticism.

6. Provocateurs

As we now know, in ancient Rome they could fight each other in the arena Various types gladiators. Provocateurs, however, only engaged in battle with provocateurs. The reason was that they did not choose an opponent - they themselves challenged him to a fight. They fought to settle feuds between rival gladiatorial schools, or to improve their status by defeating a prominent rival. Each provocateur was armed like a Roman legionary: he had a rectangular shield, breastplate and helmet.

7. Female gladiators

Female gladiators typically wore very little armor and were almost always bare-chested. Most of the time, they didn't even wear a helmet to let everyone know it was a woman fighting in the arena. Fights between female gladiators, who, by the way, were armed with a short sword and shield, were rare and were perceived as an innovation. Women could fight not only among themselves, but also with dwarfs to cause indignation and shock among the crowd. In some cases, women who had a high status in society could take part in gladiatorial fights. Their appearance in the arena was accompanied by loud scandals. Ultimately, female gladiator matches were banned in 200 AD.

8. Gall/Murmillo

The Gauls were among the first gladiators who descended from the Gallic tribe that lived in Central and Western Europe. Most of them were prisoners who were forced into the arena to fight. The Gauls were well armed and looked like typical gladiators: they had a long sword, shield and helmet, but wore traditional Gallic clothing. The Gauls were less agile than other gladiators, so they relied on their strength to attack their opponents. They often fought with prisoners from enemy tribes.

After the Gauls made peace and became part of the Roman Empire, they began to be classified as another type of gladiator, who were called murmillos. Murmillons still used a heavy sword and shield, but dressed like Roman soldiers and fought with other Murmillons, gladiators from enemy regions, and retiarii.

One of the most famous Murmillons was named Marcus Attilius, who, during his first fight, defeated the gladiator from Nero's personal army, Hilarus, and Lucius Felix. Both had more than a dozen victories to their credit.

9. Samnites

The Samnites are also among the first gladiators, and they have much in common with the Gauls. They were also prisoners of war, but their homeland was considered the region of Samnium (southern Italy). After the Romans defeated the Samnites, they forced them to participate in mocking ceremonial battles, which later turned into gladiatorial competitions. The Samnites wore traditional military clothing and fought with a sword and a rectangular shield. Their opponents, as a rule, were captured soldiers from tribes hostile to Rome.

When Samnium became a province of the Roman Empire, the Samnites ceased to be classified as a separate category. They joined the Hoplomachus or Murmillons, who wore similar clothing and had similar weapons.

10. Thracians

The most popular and well-known gladiator is Spartacus. He was a prisoner of war from a Thracian tribe living in South-Eastern Europe. He rebelled against his enslavers, who forced him to fight in the gladiatorial arena. Ultimately, Spartacus was defeated, but his legend lives on to this day.

The Thracians, who had a round shield, a curved blade and a wide helmet with a griffin emblem, were perhaps the most popular of the early gladiators. They often fought with the Gauls and Samnites.

Just like today we root for different sports teams, emperors and senators had their favorites among the gladiators. Caligula in particular supported the Thracians and even killed the gladiator who defeated his favorite Thracian warrior. Another emperor, Domitian, had such contempt for the Thracians that he once threw one of the spectators to be torn to pieces by dogs. What did this poor guy do? He suggested that a Thracian would most likely win a gladiator fight.

Gladiator of Ancient Rome was a professional fighter who specialized in a particular weapon and fought in front of audiences in large, specially built arenas. Such arenas were built throughout the Roman Empire.

Gladiatorial fights began in 105 BC. e. and had the status official competitions before 404 AD e. The battles continued, as a rule, until the death of one of the gladiators. This is why the life expectancy of such fighters was short. And although it was considered prestigious to be a gladiator, most fighters were slaves, freed slaves, or convicts. Without a doubt, gladiatorial combat was one of the most popular forms of entertainment in ancient Rome.

The Romans in many respects believed in the signs and traditions of their Italian ancestors, the Etruscans. For example, animal sacrifices were used to predict the future, symbolic fasces were used, and gladiator fights were organized. The Etruscans associated competitions of this kind with the performance of death rites, so gladiatorial fights had a certain religious significance for them. Although, the first private gladiatorial competitions took place in 264 BC. e. and were organized in memory of the death of their father; later, for the organization of official battles, this reason was not taken into account. However, traces of religious origin were left by the tradition of finishing off defeated gladiators. In this case, the assistant had to strike the injured gladiator in the forehead. The assistant on duty was required to wear a costume representing the costume of the god Hermes, who escorted souls to the afterlife or "Charun". The presence of God's messenger and the emperor, accompanied by priests and vestals, showed a certain pseudo-religious spirit at the battles.

Roman gladiatorial fights provided an opportunity for emperors and wealthy aristocrats to demonstrate their wealth to the population. Fights were organized in honor of military victories, visits of important officials, in honor of birthday celebrations, or simply to distract people from economic and political problems. In the eyes of the public, it was something of an entertainment that literally became a matter of life and death. These extremely popular events took place in all the public arenas of the Roman Empire. The Colosseum (Flavian amphitheater) was the largest of them. From 30 to 50 thousand spectators from all levels of Roman society flocked here to be entertained by bloody spectacles, where wild and exotic animals were hunted, prisoners were executed, religious martyrs were thrown into cages with lions, star shows were staged, which were symbols of Roman virtue, honor and courage.

They used all their fighting skills, fighting under the motto “kill or be killed.” A popular misconception is that gladiators greeted their emperor at the beginning of each battle with the lines: “Long live the emperor!” We, who are going to death, greet you!” However, in reality these words were spoken in honor of prisoners and those killed in initiated naval battles (Naumachia), which also took place in closed arenas on special occasions.

Most often gladiators were slaves or criminals, also many prisoners of war were forced to perform in arenas. There were cases when, due to bankruptcy, aristocrats had to make a living with the sword, for example, Sempronius, a descendant of the powerful Gracchi clan. It should be noted that before the adoption of the law Septimius Severus (Septimius North) in 200 AD. BC, women were allowed to fight as gladiators.

Throughout the empire, special gladiator schools. There were three such barracks in Rome itself. Capua is one of the barracks that was especially famous for its gladiators. Throughout the Risque Empire, agents searched for potential gladiators to meet the ever-increasing demand and fill the schools that were expected to have a huge turnover of fighters. The conditions in the schools were similar to a prison - small cages and shackles, however, the food was better (for example, sprouted barley), and the students also received better medical care, since they were an expensive investment for the school.

The winners of gladiatorial battles became crowd favorites and were especially popular among women.

The term " Gladiator" comes from Latin gladiators, after the name of their main weapon gladius or short sword. However, there was a wide range of other weapons used in gladiatorial combat. Also, gladiators wore armor and helmets, which, in particular, were examples of great craftsmanship, were richly decorated with decorative patterns, and their crests were decorated with ostrich and peacock feathers. The type of weapon and armor depended on what species the gladiator belonged to.

Types of gladiators

In ancient Rome there were four main types of gladiators:

• Samnite species, was named after the great Samnite warriors who fought for Rome in the early years of the empire. Interestingly, the Romans used the words “gladiator” and “samnite” interchangeably. One of the Samnite's best weapons was a sword or spear, a large square shield and protective armor on the right hand and left leg;
• Thracian gladiator(Thracian) had a short curved sword (sika) and a very small square or round shield (parma), which was used to deflect enemy blows;
• gladiator Murmillo, also known as "Fishman", was equipped in the image of a fish - a crest was installed on the helmet. Like the Samnite, he had a short sword and shield, but only armor on the arm and leg;
• at gladiator Retiarius there was no helmet or armor, except for soft shoulder pads. He had a net and a trident as weapons. He tried to entangle his opponent with a net, and then struck with his trident.

Gladiators fought in certain combinations. As a rule, pairings were chosen for contrast that consisted of a slow and heavily armored gladiator (Murmillo) against a fast and less protected gladiator (Retiarius).

There were also other less common types of gladiators with different combinations of weapons and armor, the names of which changed over time. For example, "Samnite" and "Gal" became politically incorrect when these countries became allies. Other types of gladiators included archers, boxers, and bestiaries (armed with a javelin or dagger), who fought wild animals.

Those who lacked the courage to fight were forced to fight using leather whips and hot metal rods. However, under the indignant roar of the crowd (from 40 thousand spectators) and the ruthless attack of their opponent, many fought to the end. There were cases of refusal to fight. One of the most famous cases was a gladiatorial match organized by Quintus Aurelius Symmachus in 401 AD. BC, when German prisoners who were supposed to fight at the games instead hanged themselves in their cells, thereby leaving the Roman population without a spectacle.

If the losing gladiator was not killed on the spot, he would apply for mercy by lowering his weapon and shield and raising his finger. The enemy could show leniency, although there was then a risk of meeting again in the arena, but this was considered good professional practice. If the emperor was present at the battles, then he made the decision, although the crowd tried to influence his judgment by waving rags and hand gestures - raising a finger up and shouting “mitte!”, which meant “let him go”; thumbs down and shouted “iugula!”, which meant “execute him.”

The winners of fights, especially multiple winners, became crowd favorites and images were created in their honor on Roman buildings, and they were also popular among the female half of the population of Ancient Rome.

The Pompeii graffiti provides a unique insight into the extent to which gladiators were accepted by the public. They depict gladiators and the number of their victories, for example Severus is 55. However, the average number of victories was significantly lower. Sometimes there were fights where the winners of one fight fought the winners of others until only one remained alive. The winners were awarded material prizes that included the prestigious palm of victory and a silver platter containing money. After many years of victories, the gladiator was granted freedom.

Perhaps one of the most famous gladiators there was Spartacus, who led a revolt of gladiators and slaves in 73 BC. e.