You know that:
- The name of the wrestler originated from the short Roman sword gladius and therefore gladiator.
- Most gladiators were slaves, prisoners of war, but also highly paid professionals.
- There was a strict hierarchy among the wrestlers. After the first match, the gladiator could use the title Veteranus, the good fighters the title Secendus palus, and only the best could be addressed as Primus palus.
- The first written mention of matches dates from 264 BC, when a match was held during the funeral ceremony of the Roman Decimus Perus as a demonstration of Roman virtue.
- Over the years, wrestling became a means of public entertainment and a tool for the emperor to demonstrate power, but also to divert public attention from economic or military problems.
- Two types of public gladiatorial performances are interesting. Ludi - organized by the state and Munera - organized with private money.
- It was very expensive to hold such matches. In the Roman Empire, there were 176 days set aside for entertainment, but only 10 days a year were set aside for gladiator matches.
- Even the emperor himself took part in some games, but it was mainly a staged show for the audience.
- The longest games were held on the occasion of the opening of the Coliseum. The celebrations lasted continuously for 100 days.
- Animals were also brought into the arena to diversify the spectator experience. This strange pastime later turned into the bullfights of Thessaly and, in Spain, the corrida.
- The most interesting gladiatorial games were reconstructions of ancient naval battles, when it was necessary to flood the city arena with water and transport ships.
- The last gladiatorial games were held in 404, when Emperor Honorius banned the games.
Types of gladiators and their equipment:
- Velit - throwing spear, shield
- Andabates - helmet without holes, gladius and dagger
- Scissor - double dagger, arm guard
- Arbelas - cobbler's knife, armor
- Paegniarus - whip, baton, hook and helmet
- Crupellarius - heavy armor, helmet, gladius
- Laquerius - lasso, dagger
- Dimachaerus - two daggers, short sword, shin guard
Roman law Lex Ludi gladiatorii:
"Whoever organizes games secretly and without the permission of the head of the Roman Empire will be punished according to the law of the Digest and burdened with shame."
Assembly instructions
