Perhaps, there were not so many myths created about any fighters as about gladiators. And these myths have already appeared at the present time, when, due to works of fiction and films dedicated to gladiator fights, the brave fighters of the Roman amphitheaters became popular again. In this article, we will look at the most common misconceptions about gladiators.

It should be noted that the abundance of myths about gladiators gave rise to a banal lack of reliable information about these brave fighters. ancient rome. The fact is that for a long time gladiatorial games and everything connected with them were not the subject of a separate study of historians. The armament, life and life of these fighters were considered only as an addendum to other studies - for example, domestic historians dealt with gladiators only in the context of Roman slave uprisings, in particular, the uprising of Spartacus. Or have they received little attention common element ancient Roman culture of mass spectacles.

However, several works have recently appeared, for example, "Games with Death" by the German historian M. Junckelmann or "Gladiators" by the domestic specialist in the history of weapons K. Nosov, in which the phenomenon of gladiatorial games is considered in itself. And it immediately became clear that the general ideas about these fighters in most cases are completely wrong. It is these myths, generated by misinterpretation or orientation not to historical sources, but to works of fiction, that I want to consider. So,

Myth one: the Romans adopted the tradition of gladiator competitions from the Etruscans

It should be noted that such a misconception is often found not only in popular science articles, but also in scientific papers. Moreover, strange as it may seem, it is not based on anything at all - there is no evidence that the Etruscans arranged something like that. There are no bas-reliefs, no mosaics, no written evidence that gladiator fights took place in the territory controlled by the Etruscans. True, there is a fresco from the Etruscan "Tomb of the Augurs", depicting a fight between a man and a dog, but this is more likely not a gladiator fight ("munus", as the Romans called it), but animal baiting ("venatio").

The roots of venatio and munera (plural of "munus") are very different - the first originate from the training and training of hunters. But the munera comes from the burial ritual - the first gladiatorial games were always held over the grave of the deceased. Thus, they were a kind of sacrifice to the spirit of the deceased Roman (and besides, it was believed that the dead gladiators would be his bodyguards in the next world). Thus, it is logical to assume that if the Romans borrowed something from the Etruscans, it was venatio - fights between people and animals (or animals with each other), but not gladiatorial games.

As for the place of origin of the munera, according to many scholars, these games most likely appeared in Campania. The most ancient monuments were found there, pointing to gladiator fights dating back to the 4th century BC - in Rome itself, the first gladiator fights were arranged a hundred years later. In addition, it was in the area where the Campanians lived that the most ancient gladiatorial schools were found. So, apparently, the munera appeared in this area.

Myth two: mostly gladiators were slaves

Most likely, such a misconception is based on the fact that it was the gladiator Spartacus who was the leader of the largest slave uprising in ancient Rome. This overlooks the fact that Spartacus himself was not a slave before he became a gladiator. He was assigned to fight in the arena after this brave Thracian deserted from the Roman army (and he got there as a prisoner of war - the Romans during the Republic often replenished their troops with captured enemy soldiers). That is, Spartacus was sentenced to fighting in the arena for a crime.

In general, gladiators could be divided into four categories, and the first would include prisoners of war. This is without a doubt the most ancient type gladiators, which existed both in the days of the Republic and in the era of the Empire. The second category would be criminals sentenced to fighting in the arena, a tradition that began in the late Republic era and continued through the Empire. The third category is the slaves, who also began to be given to the gladiators since the end of the Republic. However, during the Empire, those in the ranks of the fighters in the arena were significantly reduced - the public did not like the fact that slave gladiators often fought sluggishly and without enthusiasm.

It should be noted that for none of the fighters of the above three categories, theoretically, gladiatorship was not a lifelong occupation. So, each fighter - and a slave, and a criminal, and a prisoner of war - received money for his performance (if he remained alive), and a lot of it. The fee of such a fighter was equal to a fifth of his market value. That is, after five successful battles, a slave and a prisoner of war could well be redeemed at will. As for convicted criminals, their term of performance in the arena was usually limited to five years, after which such a fighter could safely leave the gladiatorial barracks.

Moreover, quite often a gladiator belonging to one of these three categories could be released at the request of the audience after a successful performance in the arena. Or the release was given to him by an editor (organizer of games) for his courage or first-class possession of weapons. As a sign of such a release, the gladiator was given a wooden sword called a rudis - hence the term "rudiarium", that is, a gladiator released from his duties.

However, not everyone took advantage of this chance - there is a lot of evidence from the period of the Empire, when the rudiarii returned to the arena again. Most likely, they were driven to this by a thirst for easy and very large earnings - after all, the rudiarium received at least 12 thousand sesterces for each battle (for comparison, a Roman peasant or artisan spent about 500 sesterces to feed his family during the year). But sometimes the rudiaria again found themselves in the arena for new crimes - such was the Syrian gladiator Flamma, who received the rudis as many as four times - and lived to be 30 years old, after which he got a job as a trainer (the Romans called them "doctors") in a gladiatorial school.

But in addition to the three above categories, there was also a fourth - free people who voluntarily went to the gladiators (authorates). Such appeared under the Republic, but during the Empire their number increased dramatically. On some muners, the number of auctorates exceeded the number of slave gladiators - for example, an inscription in one of the cities of Asia Minor testifies that at the games arranged there at the end of the 1st century AD, there were 5 auctorates for 3 slave gladiators.

Interestingly, according to the testimonies of Roman historians, during the Empire, not only the poor, but also the children of senators, horsemen and wealthy merchants went to the gladiators. There were times when emperors also performed in the arena, such as the well-known Commodus. By the way, this emperor received a million sesterces for each performance - you see, a good way to replenish the eternally empty Roman treasury. However, the “golden youth” went to the gladiators not only for the sake of money - many did it in order to be successful with beautiful ladies (women always liked gladiators, there were even cases when the wives of senators and horsemen ran away from their husbands with these fighters) or or because of the lack thrill in Everyday life(this begs the analogy with the modern hobby of rich young people extreme views sports).

Myth three: gladiators in the arena were forced to fight

Indeed, contemporaries testify that the fighters in the arena were forced to fight with the help of whips and red-hot iron rods. However, this was only applied to criminal gladiators (noxia). Professional gladiators did not need to be prodded - they themselves gladly entered the battle, promising them money and glory. Moreover, it is known that professionals often complained that they rarely had to perform - the fact is that the fee and cost of a professional were expensive for editors, and therefore they were more willing to rent from lanists (suppliers of fighters) for newcomers to introduce.

By the way, one more myth should be debunked here - the bodies of dead gladiators were dragged from the arena with hooks only in those cases when they were Noxia who did not survive their first battle. All the rest were taken away on special carts and then given to schoolmates, who buried them with honor. At present, many cemeteries of gladiators at schools are known, and the type of tombstones indicates that these funerals were, as they say, of the first category.

Myth four: the life of a gladiator was not long

In fact, the analysis of gravestone inscriptions indicates that there were gladiators who fought more than a hundred fights in their lives (the record is 158 fights, and at the same time, after the last one, the gladiator remained alive, but soon died of wounds). An analysis of the famous gladiator skeletons shows that the average life expectancy of an arena fighter was 25-30 years. This coincides with the average life expectancy of all the inhabitants of the Empire of that time - alas, in Rome, in general, rarely did anyone live to be 50 years old.

Interestingly, in the days of the Republic and in the initial period of the Empire, it was quite common to save the life of a defeated gladiator. On average, out of 10 cases, in eight cases the loser was granted "missio" (that is, mercy). But starting from the middle of the 2nd century BC, every second case of a loss ended in the death of a gladiator at the request of the crowd and the authorities. However, already during the reign of Diocletian (end of the 3rd - beginning of the 4th century AD) and until the very last muner (404 AD), the death sentences for the losers were rarely handed down again - in three cases out of ten.

Gladiators (lat. gladiatores, from gladius, “sword”) - among the ancient Romans, the name of the fighters who fought each other in competitions in the arena of the amphitheater. Of all the games that satisfied the passion for spectacles of the Roman people, gladiator fights (munera gladiatoria) enjoyed the greatest favor of all classes. Gladiator competitions have their origins in the Etruscan funeral games, which replaced human sacrifices that were once performed in memory of the dead. As a result, gladiator fights were held among the ancient Romans initially only at funeral feasts (ad rogum); the first mention of them refers to 264 BC Chr. In the course of time, however, these games lost their significance as sacrifices to the dead and turned into mere entertainment for the cruel and proud of their freedom of the 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 such a character in the last days of the republic. In this era, the aediles, as well as other officials, especially when they took office, began to organize gladiatorial games on occasion of the most diverse events, and special amphitheaters with an open arena were even built for this purpose. The number of pairs of fighting gladiators gradually increased. Julius Caesar, in office aedile(65 BC) exhibited 320 pairs of gladiators.

gladiators. Blood sport of the Colosseum. video film

The ancient Roman emperors alternately restricted gladiatorial games or encouraged them to the point of madness. Augustus allowed the praetors to give gladiator fights no more than twice a year, and, moreover, with the condition that no more than 60 couples participate in each of them. At the games arranged by him, according to his own testimony, in general, no less than 10 thousand people fought. Augustus' prohibition was soon forgotten. Trajan is said to have given for 123 days various games, on which 10 thousand gladiators fought, and the emperor Commodus was not so proud of anything as 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 Flavius, Herod Agrippa I, at the opening of the amphitheater in Caesarea, put up 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 significant city in Italy or in the provinces that did not have its own amphitheater for gladiatorial games.

Duel of gladiators retiarius and myrmillo. Modern reconstruction

Gladiators were recruited for the most part from prisoners of war, who were brought in masses in ancient Rome by numerous wars. Many slaves were awarded to compete in the arena as a form of punishment. There were also many among the gladiators and free citizens, desperate and impoverished people who had no other means to support themselves. Gladiators who managed to emerge victorious from the competition not only gained great fame and were immortalized in works of poetry and art, but also received a significant payment (auctoramentum) for each performance, so that they could hope to spend the rest of their lives wealthy people. These free gladiators were called auctorati and had to take an oath that they would allow themselves to be "cut with rods, burn with fire and kill with iron."

Fight of gladiators 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 in the strictest discipline and severely punished for the slightest misconduct, but they were treated with great care for their bodily well-being. Gladiators practiced their art under the guidance of a fencing teacher (lanists). Beginners used a special rapier (rudis), which was also given to a well-deserved gladiator (rudiarius) after a successful fight, as a sign of complete liberation from the gladiatorial service.

By armament, the gladiators of Ancient Rome were divided into several genera. The so-called Samnites(samnites), who wore an oblong shield, a strong sleeve on right hand, a gaiter on the left leg, a strong belt, a helmet with a visor and a crest, and a short sword. Retiarii(retiarii - "fighters with a net"), whose main weapon was the net (rete), went out almost without clothes; they were protected only by a wide belt and a leather or metal armlet 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 head of the enemy, 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 secutors, they often also fought with retiarii. myrmillons(myrmillones), armed according to the Gallic model with a helmet, shield and sword. A special kind of gladiators were the Thracians (thraces), armed in Thracian, with a small, usually round shield (parma) and a short curved sword (sica). Also often mentioned essedaria(essedarii), who fought on a war chariot (esseda) drawn by a pair of horses, while the gladiators andabata(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 in advance the day of the games and published their program (libellus). These libelli, which gave the number of gladiators and listed by name the most prominent of them, were diligently distributed; often bets were also made on the expected victory of one fighter or the other. At the beginning of the performance, the gladiators passed in a solemn procession through the arena, greeting the Roman emperor of the mentioned Suetonius the phrase: “Ave, Imperator (Caesar), morituri te salutant” (“Glory to you, emperor, those who are going to death greet you!” Suetonius, “Vita Claudii”, 21).

Arranged then in pairs, the gladiators began an exemplary battle (prolusio) with blunt weapons, often to music. But now the trumpet gave a signal for a serious fight, 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 red-hot irons. If the gladiator received a wound, then they shouted: "Habet". But usually they did not pay attention to the wounds, and the battle continued until one of the fighters was left with 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 demanded a fatal blow. The ancient Roman people showed participation in the brave fighters, but cowardice aroused rage in him. Fallen gladiators were dragged with special hooks through the Porta Libitinensis ("gate of death") to the so-called spolarium(spolarium) and here they finished off those who still had signs of life.

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

In Italy, Campania was the birthplace of the gladiatorial schools mentioned above, 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 Spartacus Revolt) . In the internecine wars of Otho with Vitellius, gladiators served in the troops and rendered great services in hand-to-hand combat. Although Christianity rebelled against gladiatorial games, for a long time it was unable to eradicate the addiction to these spectacles in Ancient Rome. They finally stopped, apparently, only in the reign Honoria (404).

Artistic depictions of gladiator fights are not uncommon. Of great importance is a large bas-relief found in Pompeii, representing various scenes from ancient Roman gladiatorial battles. Images of similar battle scenes have been 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 hungry for wealth and blood? Who were the gladiators of ancient Rome? Disputes on this issue continue among historians to this day. Research over the past decades has shed much light on the history of this bloody sport.

During its existence, gladiator fights have been fun, punishment, and even part of political game. Gladiators caused delight and horror, they were loved and feared. Many stereotypes about gladiators and arena fights 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. It happened in 106 BC. This is also known from legal documents. So, in many resolutions of the Roman Senate it was said 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 the costs in relation to gladiator fights. It follows from this that the custom of gladiatorial games existed long before that.

The Latin word "gladiator" itself comes from the word "gladius" (sword) and is translated as a swordsman. The study of ancient Roman traditions led historians to the idea that the original gladiatorial games were some kind of punishment or execution of a court decision. Most likely, the first games of gladiators were held among the captives of military campaigns and criminals who were doomed to death. Two people were armed with swords and forced to fight. The one who survived the battle was left with his life. Apparently, this custom originated among the Roman soldiers, since the Roman army, like most ancient armies, had a "tradition" of eradicating the entire male population in the captured settlement. In the same unsophisticated way, the soldiers not only decided who to kill, but also had fun. Over time, the tradition could become widespread and become very popular among all the Romans. Of course, such games required a living resource, and here their “talking tools” came in handy for Rome. However, it is one thing to force two doomed to fight among themselves, 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 had to fight. Moreover, Roman written sources tell that in the Colosseum alone, performances of legendary battles and battles were staged, in which dozens, and sometimes hundreds of gladiators participated. 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 gladiatorial games from 106 BC. distinguished not only by colossal capital investments, but also by good organization. Obviously, the gladiators were not meant to be just a bunch of slaughtered slaves.

It should be understood that when comparing the fight of armed slaves in the arena, driven there from some quarry, and the fight of professional gladiators, you can find as many differences as between the fight of drunkards at the local grocery store and the fight of professional boxers in the ring. This means that the gladiators had to be not just slaves, and written sources testify to this.

Of course, the vast majority of gladiators were just slaves, but only the strongest, hardiest and most prepared were suitable for an effective performance. In addition, some physical data for such an event is not enough, you need training, the ability to fight, to handle certain types of weapons. After all, it was not in vain that the type of weapon was one of the determining factors in the type and name of the gladiator. Besides, making a man fight, even a bonded one, is not so easy. Yes, the fear of death is a great stimulant, but after all, death was also waiting for the gladiators in the arena, which means there must be other incentives.

Successful gladiators, although they remained slaves, received many privileges, the number of which grew depending on the number of successful fights. So, after the first two fights, the gladiator was supposed to have a private room with a bed, a table and a figurine for prayers. After three fights, each victory or at least the 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 ammunition and weapons were fully provided by the state or master, then the place of spending money went beyond the arena.

There is a lot of written evidence that gladiators were released into the city according to special documents. Apart from this, professional gladiators did not know the need for anything. The fighters were well fed, their clothes and cleanliness were taken care of, 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 treatment of stab, laceration and cut wounds. Opium was used as an anesthetic. Over time, the most successful gladiators could even win their freedom, it is noteworthy that many even after that remained gladiators and continued to earn their living in this way.

With the flourishing of blood sports in ancient Rome, gladiatorial schools also appeared. The selected slaves began to be prepared, making real "death machines" out of them. The training of gladiators was already carried out according to the army model, with the addition of training in the use of exotic weapons, such as fighting with a net. After the decree of Emperor Nero in 63 AD, women began to be allowed to participate in the games. Prior to this, according to written sources, it becomes known that the inhabitants of the empire, in addition to slaves, are beginning to be accepted into gladiator schools. According to the Roman chronicle, the mortality in these schools was relatively low, given the occupation - 1 per 10 gladiators during training. Thus, we can conclude that gladiator fights at some point became something akin to sports. It is also interesting that the fight 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 to survive.

From the foregoing, we can conclude that the gladiators were more likely professional athletes of their time, rather than just a crowd of people limply driven to slaughter. Romans treated gladiators with adoration. They were known to the common people. In those dark times, they were comparable in popularity to modern pop stars. In this regard, gladiators often became a political tool, 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 movies, and enthusiasts are made from wine corks and Lego.

Last update date: 02/29/2020

Perhaps nothing excites the imagination of tourists coming to the Eternal City as much as the walls of the ancient Roman Colosseum - silent witnesses of gladiatorial games. The question of their origin is still open. However, regardless of the opinion of historians, the gladiator fights in the arena of the Colosseum were an example of military ethics and were essential part political and social life in the Roman world.

The bloody games continued for almost a thousand years, reaching their peak even before the appearance of the Flavian Amphitheater - in the period from the 2nd century BC. until the 1st century AD Where and why did such non-trivial entertainment for the public appear in Ancient Rome.

Gladiator fights - the history of occurrence

The early chronicle sources that have come down to us differ in estimates of the dates and causes of the appearance of gladiator fights. So, at the end of the 1st century BC. the Greek historian and philosopher Nicholas of Damascus (born about 64 BC), believed that their origin originates from Etruria - the ancient region of Central Italy, which included: part of Lazio north of Rome, Tuscany, part of Umbria and the Ligurian coast. This version, which became dominant, was subsequently confirmed by ancient artifacts found during archaeological excavations in the Italian city of Tarquinia, located about 45 km from Rome in the province of Viterbo. This city is one of the oldest settlements of the Etruscans. It was he who gave a whole dynasty of ancient Roman kings -.
The hypothesis that gladiator fights were borrowed by the Romans from the Etruscans is based on graphic images of ritual funerals accompanied by games found in their funerary burials.

Fresco "Wrestlers" in an Etruscan funerary burial, c. 460g. BC.

The funeral games of the Etruscans also provided for the sacrifices of prisoners, in which their blood was poured as a sacrificial offering on the grave of a fallen warrior to rest his soul. This expiatory bloody rite, apparently, anticipated the early Roman gladiator fights.

Fresco "Sacrifice of captured Trojans", ca. IV BC

Gladiator games in the early Roman era and scenery changes

Like many ancient customs, gladiator fights in the arena of the Colosseum, which began as a religious ceremony, became a public spectacle. According to the Roman historian Titus Livy (59 BC - 17 AD), they were first held in Rome in 264. BC. In his work "Ab Urbe Condita Libri", he noted that they were organized by the brothers Marco Junio ​​Pera (Roman consul in 230 BC) and Decimus Junio ​​Pera (Roman consul in 266 BC) on the occasion of the funeral his father, the no less famous politician and aristocrat of Etruscan origin, Decimus Junius Brut Pera, one of the direct descendants of the founder of Rome. Then, in order to honor his memory, three pairs of gladiators fought to the death at the Forum Boarium (Bull Forum) and this bloody action, according to Titus Livius, fully corresponded to the Etruscan funeral rite.

gladiators. OK. 2nd century AD Part of a mosaic found in the city of Zliten, Misurata province in Libya.

In 216 BC. the Roman consul Marcus Aemilius Lepidus was also honored with such a solemn ancient rite - "munera funerari", that is, funeral games. His sons Lucius, Quintus and Marcus, using twenty-two pairs of rivals, organized gladiator fights in the Forum Romanum, which lasted three days.

The next large-scale gladiator fights held as part of the munera funerari took place at the funeral of the Roman consul Publius Licinius Crassus in 183. BC. But they were already more extravagant. The funeral games lasted three days and were attended by about 120 gladiators.

The fascination with gladiatorial games and their adoption as a necessary ritual at burial was enthusiastically received by many allies of Rome, and the cult of gladiators penetrated far beyond its borders. By the beginning of 174. BC. "small" Roman munera funerari - private or public, already had a rather low significance and were so ordinary and unremarkable that they did not even bother to be mentioned in the writings of the chroniclers. In 105g. BC. the ruling consuls suggested that Rome sponsor a "barbarian battle" from the public treasury as part of a training program for the military. Gladiator fights, first held by specially trained fighters from Capua, proved to be so popular that after that they became public. They were often included in the state games that accompanied the main religious holidays.

Colosseum - the main arena of gladiators

Initially, public gladiator fights were held in the open crowded areas of city markets, such as the Forum Boarium, around which temporary seats were erected on high ground for high-status spectators. However, as the gladiatorial games became more and more popular, the construction of fundamental structures was required.

Fresco depicting the Roman arena in Pompeii, built c. 79g. BC.

The earliest known Roman amphitheater was built for this purpose around 70 BC. BC. in Pompeii. In Rome, according to the chroniclers, there was a wooden amphitheater of the public orator Gaius Scribonius Curio, built in 53. BC, and the discovery of the first stone took place only in 29g. BC. and was timed to coincide with the celebration of the triple triumph of Octavian Augustus. According to Pliny, the three floors of this amphitheater were finished with marble, contained over 3,000 bronze statues, and seated 80,000 spectators. However, in 64g. AD it burned to the ground, as the building, in all likelihood, had a wooden frame. To replace him, Emperor Titus Flavius ​​Vespasian built in Rome the largest and most famous arena of gladiators in the world - the Flavian Amphitheater, known today as the Colosseum. It was opened in 80 AD. as a personal gift of the Emperor to the Roman people.

The Colosseum, built by the Flavian dynasty, donated to the Roman people by Emperor Vespasian

gladiatorial games

During the Empire, the number of gladiator fights held reached its peak, becoming the favorite pastime of an enthusiastic public. The performances turned into real gladiator shows - the games were announced in advance on billboards, which indicated their reason, place and date, the number and names of the couples performing, and the order in which they appeared. Additionally, the audience was informed about the availability of places under an awning that protects from the sun, provided drinks, sweets and food, and prizes for the winners were indicated.
On the night before the games, the gladiators were given the opportunity to give instructions to complete their personal affairs, a banquet was arranged for them, which had an obvious similarity with the ritual and sacramental "last meal".

Gladiators after the fight. 1882 Painting by José Morino Carbonero, Prado Museum

The next day, solemnly marching through the whole city, luxuriously dressed gladiators were heading to the Flavian amphitheater. At the front were the lictors, Roman civil servants; behind were a small group of trumpeters playing fanfare, and a retinue carrying images of the gods to witness the trials in the arena. The procession was closed by a clerk and a special person who carried a palm branch to honor the winners.

It is interesting!

According to the established opinion, before the battle in the arena of the Colosseum, the gladiators fell under the podium of the emperor, if he was present at the speeches, and shouted - "Ave Caesar, morituri te salutant", i.e. "Hello Caesar, those who are about to die greet you". However, recent historiography denies such speculation.

Gladiator games in the arena of the Colosseum usually began with an entertaining spectacle - either wild animals fighting each other, or with animal hunting (venationes), when a weakly armed gladiator (venator) fought with hungry predators - lions, tigers or bears. The venator, that is, the hunter, was protected only by fascia - strips of dry-cured leather wrapped around the torso and legs. For his defense, he used only a spear.

Animal hunting in the arena. Byzantine fresco ca. 5th century AD Mosaic Museum in Istanbul, Turkey

The next act was the public condemnation of criminals or Christians who violated the law - Ludi Meridiani, which gained considerable popularity during the period of the Roman Empire. The most barbaric form of the death penalty was applied to the guilty, sentenced to death - Domnatio ad Bestia (Condemnation to the beasts). The unfortunate were simply thrown to the wild beast to be torn to pieces.

Often, the unfortunate were completely or partially naked, and fetters prevented them from resisting in order to protect their lives. Those who controlled this form of execution were called bestiarii (from the Latin Bestia, "beast"). Public death by wild animals in the arena was considered the most humiliating in Rome. The last act of humiliation was the removal of the corpses - they were pulled out of the arena of the Colosseum with hooks, and the torn bodies were subsequently deprived of the proper pagan burial rites.

Fragment of the mosaic "Domnatio ad Bestia", 1st century AD, Zliten, Libya

Before the start of the fights, in the arena of the Colosseum, their simulation was held with wooden weapons as a warm-up, in which pairs of fighters declared for participation in the gladiatorial show participated. Then the lanists (gladiator entrepreneurs, in the modern sense) presented the participants in the upcoming fights to the public and marked the battle space, limiting it with marks.

The fight of gladiators in the arena of the Colosseum, which usually lasted 10-15 minutes, began at the signal of a calling lingering sound from the horn. During the day, 10-13 fights were held, and trained fighters had to follow the professional rules for its conduct. For this, summa rudis was appointed, i.e. the chief referee and his assistant, in order to warn or separate opponents from each other at some most critical moment. Most often, the judges themselves were retired gladiators - their decisions and judgments were unconditionally respected. They could completely stop the fight or suspend it to give the opponents a rest.

Mosaic fragment "Fight of the Gladiators", ca. 320g. AD, Borghese Gallery, Rome, Italy

The downtrodden gladiator could admit defeat himself by addressing the referee with a thumbs up to stop the fight and turn to the editor, whose decision usually depended on the response of the crowd. The earliest gladiator fights provided for the vanquished unconditional death, which was considered a righteous punishment for defeat. Somewhat later, during the Roman Empire, those who showed their skills and fought well could get at the whim of the crowd or, more often, from the editor - missione, i.e. forgiveness and save your life from a death sentence. Obviously, this was due to the fact that public fights in the arena of the amphitheaters became a good business for school holders - gladiators were expensive, they were rented for battle, sold and bought as a commodity, and the contract concluded between the lanist and the editor could include the payment of quite a large monetary compensation. for unforeseen deaths. Sometimes the amount could be fifty times higher than the rent of the gladiator.

Painting Pollice Verso (lat. Fingers down), art. Jean-Leon Gerome, 1872

The defeated, who was denied pardon, had to die with dignity, without resisting and without crying out for mercy. Some mosaics that have survived to our time show exactly how the defeated gladiators accepted death. The winner dealt the last fatal blow to the kneeling opponent, lowering his sword from top to bottom - between the collarbone and shoulder blade, in order to reach the heart and, thus, gave him a quick death.

It is interesting!

The blood of a gladiator killed in the arena was considered an effective aphrodisiac, which had a tonic and invigorating effect. The ancient Roman writer and author of "Natural History" Gaius Pliny Secundus (23-79 AD) noted in his writings that "the Romans drank blood from dying gladiators, as from living bowls, as a remedy for anemia." The blood of wounded fighters was considered an effective remedy for epilepsy, it was collected with sponges right in the arena and even sold.

The manager of the fights in the arena of the Colosseum publicly confirmed the death of the gladiator, touching him with a red-hot iron, and invited the libitinari, special attendants of the amphitheater, to carry out the body. Dressed in the clothes of the gods Charon or Mercury, they carried the lifeless remains out of the arena through a special door intended for this - libitina, so named after the ancient Roman goddess of funerals and burials. This door led to the spoliarium, a chamber reserved for corpses, where the dead gladiator was stripped of his armor and weapons.

The winner who won the gladiator fights received a laurel crown from the editor, and money from the grateful crowd of spectators. For the originally condemned gladiator or slave, the greatest reward was to give him a rudis - a training wooden sword. From that moment on, the slave received freedom, being considered a freedman.

Prohibition of gladiatorial games

Alien invasions, plague, civil war and economic depression predetermined the so-called Crisis of the Third Century. Also known as the Imperial Crisis of 235-284. AD, which began with the assassination of Emperor Alexander Severus in 235, it led to profound changes in all institutions of power and in economic life throughout the Empire and predetermined the widespread spread of the Christian religion. And although the emperors continued to subsidize gladiator fights in the arena of the Colosseum as an integral public interest, the bloody spectacle became increasingly despised by Christians.

Death of Ignatius of Antioch in the arena in Rome

In 315g. Constantine I banned the barbaric death sentences Domnatio ad Bestia carried out in the arenas, and ten years later he even tried to completely ban the games of gladiators. However, imperial legislation was unable to completely curb the holding of the Games, despite the fact that:

• in 365 AD Valentinian I (reigned 364-375) threatened to fine judges who sentenced Christians to death in the arena;
• in 393 AD Theodosius I (ruled 379-395) banned pagan festivals;
• in 399 and 404 the Emperor Honorius (reigned 393-423) twice legally banned and closed gladiator schools in Rome;
• in 438 Valentinian III (reigned 425-455) repeated the previous ban on gladiatorial games;
• in 439 took place last Stand gladiators in Rome.

The policy consistently pursued by a number of emperors, aimed at eradicating the pagan heritage, gave its results. In addition, the spread of Christianity caused more and more rejection and disgust among the followers of the new religion, which significantly reduced interest in gladiator fights.

It is interesting!

It is believed that in the prohibition of games played an important role tragic case, which occurred in 404 during the battle of gladiators in the arena of the Colosseum. According to the testimony of the Syrian Bishop of Antioch Theodoret (393-458), during the final stage of the duel, when the winner of the fight was preparing to deliver the final fatal blow to the defeated opponent, a monk ran out into the arena of the amphitheater, trying to stop the massacre. The crowd, thirsting for blood, threw stones at the noble Christian. History has preserved the name of the monk who was martyred - Almachus (Almaquio), better known as Saint Telemachus. Impressed by what had happened, Emperor Flavius ​​Honorius Augustus banned gladiator fights in Rome, and Almachus was elevated to the rank of saints.

However, the games of gladiators in the arenas continued until the beginning of the 6th century. The last spectacular battles, according to historians, took place in Venice in 536.

Gladiator fights in modern reconstruction

Today, some Roman reenactors are trying to recreate gladiator schools, forming whole groups of like-minded people. Their goal is to reproduce as accurately as possible gladiator fight in the arena and demonstration of the Roman historical heritage.

Reconstruction of a gladiatorial fight

Various festivals regularly held, not only in Rome, give contemporaries the opportunity to see the armor and weapons of the fighters with their own eyes, and by attending such events, they can feel the spirit of the times and feel the former greatness of the Roman Empire. Numerous feature films shot in the peplum genre by Italian and foreign filmmakers also contribute to this. And although some of them are costume dramas, interest in them does not dry out for many generations of viewers. But you can read about it in our next article.