Why did gladiators fight each other?

Answer 1

It was their job. Gladiators were often prisoners of war, so they were forced to fight with other gladiators for the entertainment of Roman society. They didn't have to kill each other though, if the crowd felt mercy on the poor man who was about to be killed, they would put their thumbs down.

Answer 2

The Roman Gladiators stemmed from the tradition of the Munera, human sacrifices by combat in honor of a deceased person. The word Munus, (of which Munera is pural) translates as "Duty to the dead." The deceased would write a will which states exactly how he wanted his Munus to go. These were private affairs, typically restricted to relatives. The first recorded Roman Munus happened in 246 BC, when the sons of Junius Brutus gave him a Munus in the Forum Boarium, a cattle market. The Original gladiators of the Munus were called Bustiarii, named after the Bustum, the place of cremation near where the Bustiarii fought.

The first games in which Gladiatorial "types" were introduced took place in 310 BC, when the Campanians, in celebration of defeating the Samnites, forced some of the slaves to fight using their traditional weapons. These spawned the first type, known as the "Samnite" or "Samnes." Over the years, hundreds of types evolved, famously the Thraex- named after the Thracian, ( most types were ethnically inspired) who fought with the Sica (curved shortsword) a parma (small shield) and wore a helmet, Ocrea (Roman greaves, or shin armour) which extended well above the knees.

Eventually, it became illegal for the Munera to be private, because the government recognized their ability to function as a political tool, pleasing crowds and inspiring them to vote for whoever arranged the games.

As the games reached a fever pitch, approximately 50% were volunteers, known as Auctoratii, drawn by the massive wealth that went along with the career; A gladiator could, per match, amass winnings amounting to a sum equal to, or higher than a Legionairre's annual salary, a salary which inspired thousands of volunteers to flock to the Legions. The Gladiators earnings could be prodigious, and the glory was enough to make people ignore the awful stigma attached, as Romans saw Gladiators as the lowest of slaves, completely lacking of morality, due ironically, to the depraved behavior which the Romans subjected them to.

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Answer 3

Though risky, the life of a gladiator could be very good. So long as you didn't die you could make a lot of money. Additionally life as a slave was often preferential for some poverty ridden families. Selling oneself into slavery to get money for a family was common during the Roman Empire.

Answer 4

Some people in Rome have broken laws, so for punishment, they are held in the Colosseum as prisoner and are taught to fight against their opponents such as wild animals and other gladiators.

Answer 5

gladiators fought because it distracted the poor from their suffering because admission was free

Answer 6

They were usually prisoners of war or criminals that fought for their freedom.

Answer 7

ancient Rome had gladiators as a form of entertainment for the people and also as a means of punishment for criminals and prisoners of war.

Answer 8

For others' entertainment.