Gladiator - Death and Glory in Ancient Rome

The Might of Rome

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uring the first century CE, the Roman empire was growing ever richer and more powerful. Roman governors, backed up by Roman armies, ruled over conquered territories, and administered

Roman laws. Roman tax collectors sent money levied from conquered peoples back to the emperors’ treasury in Rome. Roman merchants went all over the

SCANDINAVIA

Slavs

Saxons

North Sea

BRITAIN Britons

GERMANY

London

ITALY

FRANCE

Rome

Marseille

Naples

SICILY SPAIN

Carthage

Cordoba

NORTH AFRICA 6

empire, buying valuable goods to sell to rich citizens in Rome.

In Roman times, the countries of present-day Europe did not exist. Instead, the land was occupied by many

warring tribes. By 100 CE, the Romans had conquered most of these tribes. Only the Northern Germans, the Scandinavians and the Slavs remained free.

The Roman empire reached its greatest size during the reign of Emperor Trajan (98-117 CE).

ASIA

Caspian Sea

Black Sea

MIDDLE EAST

GREECE

Athens Corinth

Mediterranean Sea

EGYPT Alexandria

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In Chains to Rome

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he Roman Army has invaded Gallia because the Romans want to make it part of their growing empire, but first they must defeat the Gauls. The Roman soldiers wear armour and follow a carefully worked-out battle plan. The Gauls are not so well organised. The fighting is soon over, and unfortunately for Celtic warrior Ansgar, his tribe loses the battle. Captured Gauls have their weapons taken away and the fittest become prisoners of war. Ansgar is one of the prisoners and he is about to begin a new life.

Gauls

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Prisoners are chained at the neck and marched hundreds of miles from Gallia to Rome to start their new lives as slaves.

Upon arrival, Ansgar is passed onto a slave dealer who makes people bid for each slave.

Roman soldiers

Ansgar is bought by a man who intends to turn him into a Roman Gladiator, renaming him Verus – a strong Roman name. Many of Ansgar’s friends are sold to ruthless men who will have them working down the mines, on farms, quarrying or even rowing as galley slaves for Roman fighting ships.

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Major Gladiator Types

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t is not commonly known that there were actually different types of gladiator who competed against one another. In the

early days of the games, these gladiators were outfitted to resemble the various enemies of the Roman empire. The gladiators would then be pitched against one another to reenact some of the famous and decisive battles in Rome’s history and remind audiences of their civilisation’s victories. The gladiatorial games were not just entertainment – they were propaganda!

murmillo

Carries a dagger and shield. Wears a wide leather belt and leg bands.

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Protective metal plate worn on a gladiator’s left shoulder.

rettiarius

Tries to snare an opponent in his net. Left arm and shoulder are protected by armour.

thracian

Uses a small shield and a curved dagger.

Wears greaves on both legs.

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Major Gladiator Types

H

aving the gladiators represent Rome’s most formidable opponents certainly helped to draw in the crowds. However, it could also sometimes create diplomatic problems.

If an enemy became a friend, the identity of the gladiators dressed like them would have to be changed to avoid causing offence.

provocator

Wears a loincloth, belt, a long greave on the left leg, armour on the lower right arm and a visored helmet with a feather on each side. Also protected by a breastplate and a tall rectangular shield.

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bestiarius

Armed with only a spear and a small shield. Owing to their vulnerability at close quarters, these fighters would use their long-range weapon to attack from a distance.

For instance, the Gallus gladiators clothed and armed themselves like the Gauls. When the Gauls were conquered and became part of the Roman empire, these gladiators were renamed the Myrmillo – although their look often stayed quite similar to what it was before.

secutor

A lightly armed fighter who chases his opponent.

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Minor Gladiator Types

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early all gladiators would have worn protective clothing such as helmets and padding. It was expected that the gladiatiors would put on an exciting show, and the protection afforded by these items allowed the

combatants to adopt an aggressive approach, slashing at one another with their weapons.

Typically, a gladiator would aim at the limbs of his or her opponent, since these were the most exposed and vulnerable parts of the body during combat.

paegniarius

eques

Entertainers, like circus clowns, who carried a whip and a stick to imitate real gladiatorial combat.

Fought on horseback with a lance, a short sword and a circular cavalry shield.

andabata

Lightly armed with only a short sword and no armour. Fought blind in a helmet with no eye holes!

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laquerius

Tries to snare an opponent in his lasso. Left arm and shoulder are protected by armour.

postulatus

Wears a full-face helmet with grillcovered eyeholes.

Armed with a sword and a mace or flail.

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Charon: Bringer of Death

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haron was a mythical ferryman who had the job of ferrying the dead across the river Styx to the entrance of the underworld. This persona was mimicked at ceremonies involving the dead – particularly gladiatorial games. Dead gladiators were escorted by this figure, or if badly wounded gladiators were dying, this figure would give them a fatal blow to the head with a double headed hammer.

Slaves working for the Colosseum management had to remove the dead bodies.

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end of the games

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t the end of the games, officials write up the record books, putting letters against the names of the competitors: ‘P’ means the person perished, ‘V’ stands for victor and ‘M’ indicates that the gladiator has lived to fight another day. Prizes included palm branches, silver dishes and gold for those who survived. As an especially skilled and tenacious fighter, Verus won many of these rewards.

After many victories, Verus is presented with a wooden sword. The gift signalled that a gladiator had been granted his freedom and would no longer have to compete in the arena.

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