Entertainment in ancient Rome gladiators. Gladiators of Ancient Rome: great fights for life. Gladiator fight between retiarius and secutor

Gladiators (Latin gladiatores, from gladius, “sword”) - among the ancient Romans the name of fighters who fought each other in competitions in the amphitheater arena. Of all the games that satisfied the passion for spectacle of the Roman people, gladiator fights (munera gladiatoria) enjoyed the greatest favor of all classes. Gladiator competitions originate from funeral games among the Etruscans, which replaced human sacrifices that were once performed in memory of the dead. As a result, gladiator fights were initially held among the ancient Romans only at funeral feasts (ad rogum); the first mention of them dates back to 264 BC. Over time, however, these games lost their meaning as sacrifices to the dead and turned into simple entertainment for the cruel and proud Roman people, who enjoyed the sight of gladiators fighting to the death. At the same time, they began to be seen as an excellent means of maintaining a warlike spirit among the people.

This custom took on this character in the last times of the republic. During this era, aediles, as well as other officials, especially when taking office, began to organize gladiatorial games on the occasion of a wide variety of events, and for this purpose special amphitheaters with an open arena were even built. The number of pairs of fighting gladiators gradually increased. Julius Caesar, holding office aedile(65 BC) exhibited 320 pairs of gladiators.

Gladiators. Blood sport of the Colosseum. Video

The ancient Roman emperors either limited gladiatorial games or encouraged them to the point of madness. Augustus allowed the praetors to hold gladiator fights no more than twice a year, and, moreover, with the condition that no more than 60 couples would participate in each of them. At the games organized by him, according to his own testimony, in total, no less than 10 thousand people fought. Augustus's ban was soon forgotten. They say about Trajan that for 123 days he gave various games in which 10 thousand gladiators fought, and Emperor Commodus was proud of nothing more than the glory of a skilled gladiator who performed hundreds of times in the arena. Soon, however, gladiatorial games found access to other major cities of the Roman Empire. Yes, according to the story Josephus, Herod Agrippa I, at the opening of the amphitheater in Caesarea, fielded 700 gladiators in one day. Even in Athens and Corinth, these games met with a sympathetic reception, and in later times there was hardly a single significant city in Italy or in the provinces that did not have its own amphitheater for gladiatorial games.

Gladiator fight between Retiarius and Myrmillon. Modern reconstruction

Gladiators were recruited mostly from prisoners of war, who were brought in masses in numerous wars in Ancient Rome. Many slaves were assigned to compete in the arena as punishment. There were also many among the gladiators and free citizens, desperate and impoverished people who had no other means of supporting themselves. The gladiators who managed to emerge victorious from the competition not only acquired great fame and were immortalized in works of poetry and art, but also received a significant fee (auctoramentum) for each performance, so that they could hope to spend the rest of their lives as wealthy people. These free gladiators were called auctorati and had to take an oath that they would allow themselves to be “flogged with rods, burned with fire and killed with iron.”

Gladiator fight between retiarius and secutor

During the Roman Empire, imperial schools for gladiators (ludi gladiatorii) were established, one of which was found in Pompeii. Here the gladiators were kept under the strictest discipline and severely punished for the slightest offenses, but their physical well-being was treated with great care. Gladiators practiced their art under the guidance of a fencing teacher (lanista). Beginners used a special rapier (rudis), which was also given to an honored gladiator (rudiarius) after a successful battle, as a sign of complete release from gladiatorial service.

Gladiators by armament Ancient Rome were divided into several genera. The so-called Samnites(samnites), who wore an oblong shield, a strong sleeve on the right arm, a legguard on the left leg, a strong belt, a helmet with a visor and crest, and a short sword. Retiarii(retiarii - “fighters with a net”), whose main weapon was a net (rete), went out almost without clothes; They were protected only by a wide belt and a leather or metal sleeve on their left arm. In addition, they were armed with a trident (fuscina) and a dagger. Their art was to throw a net over the enemy's head and then stab him with a trident. Their opponents were usually gladiators - secutors(secutores - “pursuers”), armed with a helmet, shield and sword. In addition to the secutors, they often also entered into battle with the retiarii. myrmillons(myrmillones), armed in the Gallic manner with a helmet, shield and sword. A special kind of gladiators were the Thracians (thraces), armed in the Thracian style with a small, usually round shield (parma) and a short curved sword (sica). Also often mentioned essedarii(essedarii), who fought on a war chariot (esseda), drawn by a pair of horses, while gladiators andabats(andabatae) fought on horseback, wearing helmets, with a visor without holes for the eyes and, armed with a round shield and a spear (spiculum), rushed at each other, seeing nothing.

Armament of a Thracian gladiator. Modern reconstruction

The one who organized gladiatorial games was called editor muneris or munerarius. He appointed the day of the games in advance and published their program (libellus). These libelli, in which the number of gladiators was given and the most prominent of them were listed by name, were diligently distributed; often they also bet on the expected victory of one or another fighter. At the beginning of the performance, the gladiators walked in a solemn procession through the arena, greeting the Roman emperor with the mentioned Suetonius with the phrase: “Ave, Imperator (Caesar), morituri te salutant” (“Glory to you, Emperor, those going to death salute you!” Suetonius, “Vita Claudii”, 21).

Then positioned in pairs, the gladiators began an exemplary battle (prolusio) with blunt weapons, often to the accompaniment of music. But then the trumpet gave the signal for a serious battle, and the gladiators rushed at each other with sharp weapons. Pipes and flutes drowned out the groans of the wounded and dying. Those who retreated were driven into battle with whips and hot irons. If a gladiator received a wound, they shouted: “Habet.” But usually no attention was paid to the wounds, and the battle continued until one of the fighters lost his strength. Then he lowered his weapon and, raising his index finger, begged the people for compassion and mercy. The fulfillment of a request (missio), which in later times was usually granted to the emperor, was announced by waving handkerchiefs, and also, probably, by raising a finger, while turning thumb required a fatal blow. The ancient Roman people showed sympathy for brave fighters, but cowardice aroused rage in them. The fallen gladiators were dragged with special hooks through the Porta Libitinensis (“death gate”) into the so-called spolarium(spolarium) and here they finished off those who still had signs of life.

"Thumbs down." Painting by J. L. Gerome on the theme of gladiator fights

In Italy, the birthplace of the above-mentioned gladiator schools was Campania, and the huge mass of slaves who gathered to study in these schools repeatedly created a serious danger for Ancient Rome with their uprisings (see Revolt of Spartacus) . In the internecine wars of Otho with Vitellius, gladiators served in the troops and provided great services in hand-to-hand combat. Christianity, although it rebelled against gladiatorial games, for a long time was unable to eradicate the addiction to these spectacles in Ancient Rome. They finally ceased, apparently, only during the reign of Honoria (404).

Artistic depictions of gladiator fights are not uncommon. Of great importance is the large bas-relief found in Pompeii, representing various scenes from ancient Roman gladiatorial battles. Images of similar battle scenes were preserved on a mosaic floor found in Nennig (in the district of Trier, Germany).

Weak-willed slaves who were driven into the arena, or adventurers thirsty for wealth and blood? Who were the gladiators of Ancient Rome? Disputes on this issue continue among historians to this day. Research conducted over the past decades has shed considerable light on the history of this blood sport.

During its existence, gladiator fights were fun, punishment, and even part of political game. Gladiators aroused delight and horror, they were loved and feared. Many stereotypes about gladiators and arena fighting stem from the fact that they were slaves. But, however, as the results of archaeological excavations, as well as the study of ancient documents, show, things were somewhat different.

The exact date of the appearance of gladiatorial games as a form of entertainment in Ancient Rome is not known. At the same time, the Roman chronicles accurately indicate the date of the formation of gladiatorial games as a public event. This happened in 106 BC. This is also known from legal documents. Thus, many decrees of the Roman Senate stated that from that moment on, all cities with arenas had to take care of their improvement and maintenance. Also from about 106 BC. There is evidence that the state assumed all costs in relation to gladiatorial fights. It follows from this that the custom of gladiatorial games existed long before this.

The Latin word “gladiator” itself comes from the word “gladius” (sword) and is translated as swordsman. The study of ancient Roman traditions has led historians to believe that gladiatorial games were originally something like punishment or execution of a court decision. Most likely, the first gladiator games were held among prisoners of military campaigns and criminals who were doomed to death. Two people were armed with swords and forced to fight. Those who survived the battle were allowed to live. Apparently, this custom originated among Roman soldiers, since the Roman army, like most ancient armies, had a “tradition” of exterminating the entire male population of a captured settlement. In the same ingenuous way, the soldiers not only decided who to kill, but also had fun. Over time, the tradition could acquire a mass character and become very popular among all Romans. Of course, such games required a living resource, and here Rome came in handy with their “talking instruments.” However, it is one thing to force two people doomed to the death to fight each other, and quite another to organize an unforgettable bloody way to entertain the crowd.

There were many types of gladiators. As a rule, they were differentiated according to the principle of weapons and ammunition, as well as the type of enemy they must fight. Moreover, Roman written sources say that in the Colosseum alone, legendary battles and battles were staged, in which dozens and sometimes hundreds of gladiators took part. Naval battles were even held in the Colosseum; for this purpose, several decorative ships were placed in the arena, and the arena itself was flooded with water. All this shows that gladiator games from 106 BC. distinguished not only by colossal capital investments, but also by good organization. Obviously, the gladiators were supposed to be more than just a bunch of downtrodden slaves.

It is worth understanding that when comparing the fight of armed slaves in the arena, driven there from some quarry, and the fight of professional gladiators, one can find as many differences as between a fight of drunkards at a local grocery store and a fight professional boxers in the ring. This means that gladiators had to be more than just slaves, and written sources testify to this.

Of course, the vast majority of gladiators were slaves, but only the strongest, hardiest and most prepared were suitable for an effective performance. In addition, physical data alone is not enough for such an event; one needs training, the ability to fight, and handle certain types of weapons. It was not for nothing that the type of weapon was one of the determining factors in the type and name of a gladiator. Besides, forcing a person to fight, even a forced one, is not so easy. Yes, the fear of death is a wonderful stimulant, but death also awaited gladiators in the arena, which means there must be other incentives.

Successful gladiators, although still slaves, received many privileges, the number of which increased depending on the number of successful battles. So, after the first two fights, the gladiator was entitled to a personal room with a bed, a table and a statuette for prayers. After three fights, each victory or at least survival of the gladiator was paid. Approximately one successful battle cost the gladiator the annual salary of a Roman legionnaire, which at that time was a very, very decent amount. And since the gladiators received money for their work, they should have been able to spend it somewhere. Since the ammunition and weapons were completely provided by the state or the master, it means that the place where the money was spent went beyond the arena.

There is a lot of written evidence that gladiators were released into the city using special documents. Apart from this, professional gladiators did not need anything. The fighters were well fed, their clothing and cleanliness were taken care of, and they were provided with women and men. After each battle, the surviving wounded gladiators were treated by Roman doctors, who were famous for their excellent ability to deal with puncture, lacerations and incised wounds. Opium was used as an anesthetic. Over time, the most successful gladiators could even win their freedom; it is noteworthy that even after this many remained gladiators and continued to earn their living in this way.

With the rise of blood sports in Ancient Rome, gladiator schools also appeared. They began to train the selected slaves, making them real “death machines.” The training of gladiators was carried out according to the army model, with the addition of training in the use of exotic types of weapons, for example, fighting with a net. After the decree of Emperor Nero in 63 AD, women began to be allowed to participate in the games. Before this, according to written sources, it became known that residents of the empire, in addition to slaves, were beginning to be accepted into gladiator schools. If you believe the Roman chronicle, then the mortality rate in these schools was relatively low, given the type of occupation - 1 in 10 gladiators during training. Thus, we can conclude that gladiator fights at a certain point became something akin to a sport. Another interesting fact is that the battle was judged not only by the emperor and the crowd, but also by a specially appointed judge, who could often influence the emperor’s decision, helping the most effective but defeated gladiators survive.

From all of the above, we can come to the conclusion that the gladiators were more likely professional athletes of his time, rather than simply a weak-willed crowd of people driven to slaughter. The Romans treated gladiators with adoration. They were known among the common people. In those dark times, their popularity was comparable to modern pop stars. In this regard, gladiators often became a political instrument, the purpose of which was to win the love of the people in relation to the future emperor, because Rome was always ruled by the one whom the crowd loved. Gladiator games were banned only in 404 AD, due to the spread of Christianity in the empire. Today, the times of gladiators have become a very popular theme for films, and enthusiasts make wine corks and lego.

Did you know that the idea of ​​gladiator fights did not originate with the Romans? And the fact that, along with men, competitions of beautiful “Amazons” enjoyed success in the Roman Empire. Who and why exhibited their death for the amusement of the audience. And why during battles sometimes many more spectators died than soldiers.

“A person - a sacred object for another person - is killed for fun and amusement; the one whom it would be criminal to teach to inflict wounds enters the arena naked and unarmed in order to entertain the spectators; All he has to do is die.”
(Seneca the Younger)

Etruscan heritage

The bloody sport of the Romans - gladiator fights - has no analogues in the history of mankind. However, these events are not originally Italian; the Romans, like many other things, drew the idea of ​​public battles from the treasury of Etruscan culture. The mysterious, deeply religious Etruscans believed that death was not the end of human existence, but only a transition to another form of existence. So that the deceased could continue his life carefree under the supervision of the gods, relatives built a separate crypt for him and equipped the deceased with everything necessary. Funeral events were accompanied by human sacrifices. But it was not the priests who pawned the defenseless creature, but the victims themselves who entered into mortal combat with each other with a sword in their hands. The Romans called these ritual fighters gladiators, because... In Latin "gladius" means "sword".

A special spectacle was the Naumachia - gladiatorial battles on the water. One of the first major naumachias was the battle of 46 BC. For this action, by order of Julius Caesar, an entire lake was dug on the Campus Martius in Rome. 16 galleys and 2 thousand gladiators took part in the naumachia. Subsequently, a number of large naumachias took place, for example, an imitation of the Battle of Salamis between the fleets of the Greeks and Persians (24 warships and 3 thousand gladiators took part). The largest naumachia was a show organized by order of Emperor Claudius. 50 warships were launched onto Lake Fucino near Rome, the number of gladiators amounted to 20 thousand people. Due to fears of rebellion, troops were drawn to the site of the naumachia. The number of spectators was about half a million people (the surrounding hills cutting off the “natural amphitheater” made it possible to accommodate such a number of people). After the battle, the surviving gladiators and criminals (who were also used) were released, with the exception of the crews of a few galleys who evaded the battle.

In Rome itself, such deathbed battles appeared only five centuries after the founding of the city. First mention of Roman gladiator fights dates back to 264 BC, they were arranged by the sons of the deceased Brutus Pera at the Bull Market according to all the rules of Etruscan funeral ceremonies. Only three couples took part in these fights, but 48 years later 22 couples took part in the mortal battle. The bloody ritual quickly gained popularity, in 183 BC. the descendants of Publius Licinius Crassus broke all records, sending at least two hundred gladiators to their deaths. In a word, human sacrifice in honor of the deceased in the Roman state gradually turned into popular entertainment.

Meal'n'Real!

In 105 BC. An event occurred that once and for all changed the ideological meaning of gladiatorial fights. In that distant year, the Roman legions suffered crushing defeats in the war with the German tribes of the Cimbri and Teutons. Rumors reached Rome that the barbarians had crossed the Alps and moved towards the capital, and the city was gripped by panic. To raise the morale of the troops and calm the townsfolk, the ruling consuls Publius Rutilius Rufus and Gnaeus Mallius Maximus decided to organize exhibition battles. Fearless wars from the gladiator school of Gaius Aurelius Square were supposed to clearly demonstrate to frightened townspeople how true sons of Rome should behave in the face of terrible danger. It is not known whether it was possible to restore the courage of the panicking townspeople in this way, since the tribes of barbarians scattered across Europe, never reaching the walls of the Eternal City.

From now on, the further history of gladiatorial games was predetermined. At first they were held only in honor of major holidays or significant events, but soon it got to the point that rarely was a week not marked by bloody competitions.

By the end of the Republican period in the Roman state, thanks to successful military campaigns, the number of captive slaves increased significantly. Free labor gradually displaced free plebeians from their usual jobs. Crowds of idle people wandered aimlessly through the streets of cities in search of “bread and circuses.” The supreme authorities were forced to arrange free distribution of food to low-income members of society and organize various types of entertainment for the crowd in order to avoid unnecessary outbursts of popular anger.

Stone bowls

Initially, city squares served as arenas for gladiator fights, but as their popularity grew, small platforms had to be erected for spectators in the distant rows. At the turn of the millennium, many Roman cities had already acquired their own wooden amphitheaters (“amphi” - “around” in Greek). Such temporary structures sometimes could not withstand the huge crowds of fans of free entertainment. In 27 AD A terrible disaster occurred in the city of Fiden: the crowded stands collapsed, burying at least 50 thousand people under the rubble. After this tragic event, the authorities tried in every possible way to ensure safety during mass spectacles, for example, the organizer of the games had to provide guarantees that he had the sum of 400 thousand sesterces (about $ 300,000) in case he had to pay compensation to the victims, but the tragedies did not stop.

The first known stone amphitheater was built in Pompeii around 80 BC; it could accommodate 20 thousand spectators. Then, throughout Italy, huge stone bowls began to appear one after another, surrounding sandy arenas, and only Rome until the end of the 1st century AD. was content with outdated wooden structures. Only by 80 AD. Emperors from the Flavian dynasty gave the city a huge amphitheater, better known as the Colosseum. Its dimensions at that time were enormous: length - 189 m, width - 156 m, height - 57 m, the gigantic structure could simultaneously accommodate up to 50 thousand people.

Ancient Roman gladiators were not slender and muscular, as they are portrayed in modern films, but were overweight. To gain fat mass, which served as additional protection from wounds in battle, the gladiator's diet consisted almost entirely of barley and vegetables, that is, it was essentially vegetarian. Archaeologists made such conclusions based on studying the remains at the only known gladiator cemetery, located in Turkey near the ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus.

Advertising campaign

Long before the opening of the next series of games, special draftsmen wrote announcements on the walls of houses about where, when and for what reason the next event would take place. During the excavations of Pompeii, more than 80 similar inscriptions were discovered, one of which reads: “On May 31, the gladiators of the aedile Aulus Svettius Certa will perform in Pompeii. Hunting of wild animals will take place under the canopy of the amphitheater. Good luck to all the fighters from the school of Emperor Nero!” But the majority of the inhabitants of the Roman state did not know how to read and write, so especially for their sake, heralds were sent through the streets of cities.

The final event of the advertising campaign was the death meal, arranged by the organizers of the games especially for the gladiators selected for the upcoming competitions, and everyone could be present there as spectators. It was an eerie sight. People going to death were offered the most exquisite dishes and drinks, their ears were pleased by the best musicians, and their bodies were pleased by the most expensive priestesses of love, but the spirit of death was already hovering over all this cheerful revelry.

The participants in the feast knew well that the next day most of them would be in the power of the Etruscan god Harun. Here it is necessary to give a little historical information: during gladiatorial fights, the death of a defeated fighter had to be confirmed by a servant dressed in the clothes of this god of the dead. His duties included either confirming the death, or ending the agony of the unfortunate person with a “strike of mercy.” This custom was strictly observed as a distant reminder of the Etruscan origins of the blood games.

Choice of profession

Who were these people for whom facing death was just a job? Initially, most of them ended up in the gladiator army against their own will: slaves or criminals condemned to death (since the reign of Emperor Nero, Christians began to be included in the category of criminals), but prisoners of war who were good at wielding weapons were especially highly valued, because their training was much cheaper.

Along with those who did not have the right to decide their own fate, volunteers were often found in the ranks of the fighters. Their number constantly increased, and by the 1st century AD. they already made up the bulk of professional fighters. Many were attracted by the significant rewards paid from the treasury for a series of successfully conducted battles, others tried in this way to hide from persecution for debts or crime, sometimes young men from well-to-do families appeared in the gladiator army, drawn to the arena by a thirst for adventure. Unlike slaves and prisoners, for volunteers it was work under a contract, which they could terminate at any time by paying a ransom. Free gladiators lived at home, had families and raised children, but otherwise their lives followed the strict laws of the gladiatorial genre.

The ancient Roman public loved bloody spectacles not only at gladiatorial fights, but also at ordinary theatrical performances. If during the course of the action the actor had to die, he could be replaced at the last moment with a criminal sentenced to execution and killed right on stage.

Over time, women began to appear more and more often in amphitheater arenas. The performances of the warlike Amazons invariably attracted a huge number of spectators; legends were formed about their dexterity, strength and cruelty. A big fan of mortal fights between representatives of the fairer sex was the Emperor Domitian (81-96 AD), who, more than other amusements, preferred to admire the fights of the Amazons by torchlight in the night. Only Emperor Septimius Severus at the beginning of the 3rd century AD. forever banned women from appearing in the arena.

Officially, gladiators were considered people of the lowest class, and their craft was despicable, as evidenced by the fact that after death the fighters were buried outside the city cemeteries. But at the same time, gladiators, who glorified their name with resounding victories, enjoyed great popularity in various strata of society. The highest praise for a Roman was the words “died like a gladiator.”

Gladiator's Fate

As a rule, life in the arena was not long, but in each fight there were usually both losers and winners. According to the rules of the games, the survivor received from the hands of the organizer a palm branch (in the western provinces of the empire) or an oak wreath (in the eastern). In addition, the victor was entitled to a monetary reward, which for a slave could not be more than one-fifth of his own price, and for a volunteer - more than a quarter of the amount of the concluded contract. In fact, the money was considerable, and every successful battle brought the day of liberation closer.

In the history of Rome there is a lot of evidence that gladiators won ten, twenty or more victories, after which the honored fighters were released into retirement. On this occasion, a magnificent farewell was organized, during which the successful warrior was presented with a symbolic wooden sword. Retired gladiators were called "rudiarii" from the Latin name "rudis" - wooden sword.

This may seem paradoxical, but, despite all the hardships of gladiatorial life, not all the lucky ones agreed to leave their bloody craft. Thus, the gladiator Philamma received the symbol of freedom four times, but each time after that he again signed another contract. He remained a gladiator until the end of his days; death overtook him during the 39th battle.

The life of the gladiators was hard, their fates turned out differently, but most of the players were defeated with death, they were carried out from the battlefield through the gates of Libitina (the Roman goddess of funerals) accompanied by a servant in the vestments of the god Mercury, and their blood did not even have time to freeze on yellow sand of the arena. The cover was quickly renewed, and new pairs of suicide bombers appeared in front of the roaring crowd.

One day in ancient Rome. Everyday life, secrets and curiosities Angela Alberto

15:30. The gladiators are coming!

15:30. The gladiators are coming!