Who were the gladiators in ancient Rome?

Answer 1

The slaves where the gladiators for the most part. However there were free men who "signed up" to be gladiatorial fighters usually due to financial difficulties. Many enslaved gladiators who had won their freedom remained in the business, due to the adulation of the crowd and the prize money.

Answer 2

The types of gladiators were:

· Andabata-they fought blind, had helmets with no eye holes, thus with no vision it would usually be 2 of these gladiators combating.

· The arbelas fought with a crescent shaped knife that shoemakers used to cut leather. They are only fighting against Retiarii or against each other. This type of gladiator is mentioned in only one source,

· The bestiarius was a beast-fighter.

· The bustuarius (from bustum, "tomb) was a "tomb fighter. They were gladiators who fought at funeral games (munera),

· The cestus was a fist-fighter who wore the cestus, a glove made with leather strips and sometimes filled with iron plates or fitted with blades or spikes, and used as weapons.

· The dimachaerus fought with two swords, one in each hand.

· The Eques (plural equites) was horseman. They opened the games. They started on horses, but after throwing their spears they dismounted fought with a short sword (gladius). They wore manica (arm protection) on their right arm and sleeveless, belted tunics, in contrast to other gladiators who usually fought bare-chested,

· The essedarius fought on chariots. It is likely that they were first brought to Rome from Britain by Julius Caesar.

· Hoplomachus-armed like a Thracian with metal greaves over quilted leg guards and a brimmed helmet, but fought with a round shield and a short straight sword. They were paired against the Murmillo or the Thraex.

· The laquearius tried to catch his opponents with a lasso (laqueus) and had a dagger he when he snared the adversary.

· Murmillo-fought with hoplomachus or Thracian, these gladiators had protected right arms and left legs and fought with a large rectangular shield, a brimmed helmet and short sword. They were paired with Thraex, and occasionally with the hoplomachus.

· The scissor (plural scissores) used a short sword with two blades that looked like a pair of open scissors.

· Thraex or (Thracian) was armed like a hoplomachus, but fought with a small square shield and a curved sword.

· Retiarius-fought secutor and wore manica and galerus on left arm and used a net a trident and dagger and tried to catch secutores with the net.Secutor-type of gladiator who went against retarius, they were armed the same as a murmillo, but the smooth helmet enclosed the head entirely, apart from small eye-holes as protection against the prongs of the trident

Answer 3

The gladiators were slaves that were forced to fight to the death in the Colluseum for entertainment.

Answer 4

The Colosseum was a place of entertainment for practically anyone (Emperors, Senators, Soldiers, Citizens, Slaves, Women, Vestal Virgins , and Children).

Answer 5

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