A popular theory about the origin of gladiatorial combat is that it came from Etruria. But historical documents, such as frescoes, prove otherwise. Gladiator combat originally had a sacred ritual meaning, and originated in Campania. The custom is interpreted in different ways. Some historians believe that a rite of killing the enemy was performed over the coffin of a noble warrior in order to propitiate the gods. As a result of the withering away of the tradition, the ritual turned into battles between two captive rivals. The sword was called gladius, from which the name of the participants in the fight subsequently came.

Variety of gladiators

Gladiators were divided into several types, each of which originally corresponded to one people who were hostile to Rome. The greatest amount of information about retiarii. The retiarius is armed with a net tied to the wrist and a massive trident called a fuscina. In addition, the retiarius usually had a dagger.

Another type of gladiators - mirmillon - is almost the complete opposite of the retiarius. Armed with a heavy scutum shield and a gladius, the myrmillon was a formidable opponent. Myrmillon's weapon - the gladius sword was usually tied to the hand so as not to drop during the battle. A warrior with a medium shield that had a monstrous weight - goplomakh was armed with a short dagger. The shield acted not only as a defense, but could also be used for attack, so that there was no need for a large number of weapons.

The next type of gladiator is the provocateur. His armament was a sword with a straight blade, like a legionary. Most often, gladiators of this type fought against each other, and in exceptional cases their opponent was a fighter of a different type.

Equit weapons are interesting. Equit is a lightly armed rider. From the beginning of the battle, their weapons were spears with a tip in the form of a leaf. If the equite was knocked out of the saddle or his spear broke, the fight continued with the short sword.

Less well-known are such types of gladiators as the andabat (a warrior in a deaf helmet without slits for the eyes), velite, sagittarius and samnite. A few historical sources report that the sagittarius fought with a powerful bow, consisting of several parts. Lakverariy was similar to the retiarius, with the difference that instead of a net he had a lasso and a short spear.

Type of weapon

Despite the rather diverse weapons of gladiators, the gladius sword remained the most famous. Its blade reached a length of 70 cm and a width of about 5 cm. After the beginning of the reign of Augustus, this type of sword was forgotten. He was replaced by the Mainz gladius, which was actively used until the middle of the 1st century AD. The massive sword weighed about 1.5 kg, and its length reached 70-75 cm. Later weapons were the Pompeian-looking gladius. Lightweight 45cm long with 45 degree edges.

Daggers of gladiators had the form of a blade with a wide diamond-shaped blade. The handle was made of bone. The length of the dagger often reached 30 cm. Less information came about thin daggers with a curved blade. Long and thin, they had a uniform bend along the entire length.

As common as the gladius was the gladiatorial spear. The length of the weapon reached 2.3 m. Most often, equites and venators (warriors who fought with wild animals) used spears. Despite many finds of three-bladed finials, historians suggest that the pommel of the gladiatorial spear had a rounded leaf or lancet shape. The three-lobed tip was most likely part of a broken retiarius trident.

Speaking about the weapons of gladiators, one cannot ignore training swords, which are of great importance and symbols of victory - rudis. Rudis was a symbol of victory and the only chance to save a life. The bravest and strongest gladiators who deserved the recognition of the crowd could be released by receiving a wooden sword. The liberated warriors were called rudiarii.

Despite numerous excavations, only the most common types of gladiatorial weapons have come down to us.

Gladiators are Roman slave fighters who fought for the delight of the public in the Roman Empire for nearly 700 years.

Gladiators were slaves, prisoners of war, or criminals, and sometimes ordinary citizens. These comrades, young and well developed, ended up in gladiator schools, where they underwent military training under the guidance of the manager. Gladiators practiced every day with trainers and teachers who taught them how to use a variety of weapons. Also at the service of the gladiators were cooks, doctors and getters.

Gladiators lived much better than ordinary slaves, but this advantage was nothing more than an ordinary investment. How lived better the gladiator, the better he fought, won, therefore, brought more profit.

Some gladiators could achieve emancipation from slavery, but there were few of them. These fighters received a rudis - a wooden sword, a sign of liberation from slavery. Often they became paid trainers in their own luduses (gladiator schools).

Fights. (wikipedia.org)

Gladiator fights usually ended with the death of one of the opponents or the defeat of a group of gladiators if it was a group duel. If one of the losers remained alive, then the audience decided their fate. Famous gesture - thumb down or up - decided the fate of the defeated. However, it is believed that the gestures were different: fingers clenched into a fist - life, thumb set aside - death.

Roman gladiators were divided into types, and each of them was armed in its own way and was used in different battles. Often gladiators were armed as representatives of one of the peoples conquered by Rome or as some fictional characters. However, despite all this, the weapons of the gladiators did not differ in variety.

Gladiators of Rome: interesting facts

1) The life of a gladiator was highly valued. It took a lot of time, effort and money to bring up an excellent fighter, and such a fighter brought a huge income to its owner.

2) Gladiators were considered the lowest "caste" even among slaves, and becoming a gladiator is a huge shame for a Roman citizen. But there were not rare cases when a simple citizen of Rome went to the gladiators - sometimes out of complete hopelessness, sometimes out of his own whim.

3) In all the films, the gladiator looks like a bodybuilder, but he was not. Two or three months before the fights, the gladiators were fed plentifully and fatty foods, since a thick layer of fat protected the internal organs.

4) There is a myth that gladiators - best fighters Rome. Fighters, yes, but not soldiers. They did not know how to fight in an organized manner, like legionnaires, they did not know the tactics of formations, etc. This was the misfortune of Spartacus. Gladiators could be good bodyguards, which often was the case, but soldiers were not.

ancient rome gladiator was professional fighter, who specialized in specific weapons and fought in front of an audience in large, purpose-built arenas. Such arenas were built throughout the Roman Empire.

Gladiator fights originated in 105 BC. e. and had the status official competitions before 404 AD e. Fights continued, as a rule, until the death of one of the gladiators. That is why the life expectancy of such fighters was short. And although it was considered prestigious to be a gladiator, most of the fighters were slaves, freed slaves or condemned. Without a doubt, gladiatorial combat was one of the most popular forms of entertainment in ancient Rome.

The Romans believed in many ways in the signs and traditions of their Italian ancestors, the Etruscans. For example, animal sacrifices were used to predict the future, symbolic fascias were used, and gladiator fights were organized. The Etruscans associated competitions of this kind with death rites, so gladiator fights had a certain religious significance for them. Although, the first private gladiatorial competitions took place in 264 BC. e. and organized in memory of the death of his father, later to organize official fights given reason was not taken into account. However, traces of religious origin were left by the tradition of finishing off defeated gladiators. In this case, the assistant had to strike the injured gladiator in the forehead. The assistant on duty had to wear a costume representing the costume of the god Hermes, who accompanied the souls to the afterlife or "Charun". The presence of God's messenger and the emperor, accompanied by priests and vestals, showed a kind of pseudo-religious trend in the battles.

Roman gladiator fights provided an opportunity for emperors and wealthy aristocrats to demonstrate their wealth to the population. Fights were organized in honor of military victories, visits of important officials, in honor of birthday celebrations, or simply to distract people from economic and political problems. In the eyes of the public, it was something like entertainment, which literally became a matter of life and death. These hugely popular events took place in all the mass arenas of the Roman Empire. The Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheater) was the largest of them. From 30 to 50 thousand spectators from all walks of Roman society flocked here for entertainment with bloody spectacles, where wild and exotic animals were hunted, prisoners were executed, religious martyrs were thrown into cages with lions, star shows were arranged, which were symbols of Roman virtue, honor and courage.

They used all their fighting skills, fighting under the motto "kill or be killed." A popular misconception is that the gladiators greeted their emperor at the beginning of each battle with the lines: “Long live the emperor! We, going to death, salute you! However, in reality, these words were spoken in honor of prisoners and those killed in initiated naval battles (Naumachia), which also took place in closed arenas on special occasions.

Most often slaves were gladiators or criminals, also many prisoners of war were forced to perform in the arenas. There were cases when, due to bankruptcy, aristocrats had to earn a living with a sword, for example, Simpronius (Sempronius), a descendant of the powerful Gracchi clan. It should be noted that before the adoption of the law Septimius Severus (Septimius Severus) in 200 AD. BC, women were allowed to fight as gladiators.

Throughout the empire, special gladiatorial schools. There were three such barracks in Rome itself. Capua is one of the barracks, which was especially famous for its gladiators. Throughout the Empire of Peril, agents searched for potential gladiators to meet the ever-increasing demand and fill the schools that were supposed to have a huge turnover of fighters. The conditions in the schools were prison-like - small cages and shackles, however, the food was better (e.g. sprouted barley) and the students got the opportunity to receive better medical care, as it was an expensive investment for the school.

The winners of gladiatorial battles became the favorites of the crowd and were especially popular among women.

The term " Gladiator" comes from the Latin gladiators, after the name of their main weapon, the gladius or short sword. However, there was a wide range of other weapons used in gladiatorial combat. Also, gladiators wore armor and helmets, which, in particular, were examples of great craftsmanship, were richly decorated with decorative ornaments, and crests were decorated with ostrich and peacock feathers. The type of weapons and armor depended on which species the gladiator belonged to.

Types of gladiators

In ancient Rome, there were four main types of gladiators:

• view Samnite, was named after the great Samnite warriors who fought for Rome in the early years of the empire. Interestingly, the Romans used the words "gladiator" and "samnite" as synonyms. One of the best weapons of the Samnite was a sword or spear, a large square shield, and protective armor on the right arm and left leg;
• Thracian gladiator(Thracian) had a short curved sword (sika) and a very small square or round shield (parma), which was substituted to deflect the blows of the enemy;
• gladiator Murmillo, also known as "Fishman", was equipped in the form of a fish - a crest was installed on the helmet. Like the Samnite, he had a short sword and shield, but of the armor there were only linings on the arm and leg;
• at gladiator retiarius there was no helmet, no armor, except for padded shoulder pads. He had a net and a trident as weapons. He tried to confuse his opponent with a net, and then struck with his trident.

Gladiators fought in certain combinations. As a rule, pairs were selected for contrast, which consisted of a slow and well-protected gladiator (Murmillon) against a fast and less protected gladiator (Retiarius).

Other less common types of gladiators were also known with different combinations of weapons and armor, the names of which changed over time. For example, "Samnite" and "Gall" became politically incorrect when these countries became allies. Other types of gladiators included archers, boxers, and bestiaries (armed with a javelin or dagger) who fought wild animals.

Those who lacked the courage to fight were forced to fight using leather whips and red-hot metal rods. However, under the indignant roar of the crowd (from 40 thousand spectators) and the ruthless attack of their opponent, many fought to the end. There were cases of refusal to fight. One of the most known cases was a gladiator fight organized by Quintus Aurelius Symmachus in 401 AD. when the Germanic prisoners who were supposed to fight at the games hanged themselves in their cells instead, thus leaving the Roman population without a spectacle.

If the losing gladiator was not killed on the spot, then he applied for pardon by lowering his weapon and shield and raising his finger. The enemy could be lenient, although there was then a risk of a second meeting in the arena, but this was considered good professional practice. If the emperor was present at the battles, then he made the decision, although the crowd tried to influence his judgments, waving rags and hand gestures - they raised their fingers up and shouted “mitte!”, Which meant “let him go”; thumbs down and shouted "iugula!" which meant "execute him".

The winners of fights, especially multiple ones, became the favorites of the crowd and images were created in honor of them on Roman buildings, and they were also popular among the female half of the population of Ancient Rome.

Pompeii graffiti give unique opportunity learn about how gladiators were recognized by the public. They show gladiators and their number of victories, for example Severu 55. However, the average number of victories was much lower. Sometimes there were fights, when the winners of one fight fought the winners of others, until only one remained alive. The winners were awarded tangible prizes, which included the prestigious victory palm and a silver platter of money. After many years of victories, the gladiator was granted freedom.

Perhaps one of the most famous gladiators was Spartacus, who led the uprising of gladiators and slaves in 73 BC. e.

The picture below shows: Hoplomachus, 3rd c. AD.

Gladiator (from Latin gladius - "sword", "gladius") - the name of the fighters in ancient Rome, who fought among themselves or with animals for the amusement of the public in special arenas.

The first gladiators, strictly speaking, were not such, but were only ordinary slaves and convicted criminals. Later, schools were created for the training of gladiators, and in the hope of fame and fortune, their ranks were replenished with people from all classes. Huge amphitheaters were built especially for gladiatorial fights.

gladiators used different kinds weapons. They often fought one on one. If one of the opponents was wounded, then according to the rules, his fate was in the hands of the audience. If they wanted to keep him alive, they waved handkerchiefs in the air or held their thumbs up. If they thumbs looked down, the victim was to die.

There were cases when citizens, in pursuit of fame and money, gave up their own freedom and became gladiators. Among them there were even female gladiators, when in 63 AD. er. Emperor Nero issued a decree allowing free women to participate in gladiatorial tournaments. After him, Pozzuoli allows Ethiopian women to fight. And the emperor Domitiano in 89 brings dwarf gladiators to the arena.

In order to become a gladiator, it was necessary to take an oath and declare oneself "legally dead". From that moment on, the fighters entered another world, where cruel laws of honor reigned. The first of these was silence. Gladiators communicated in the arena with gestures. The second law is the complete observance of the rules of honor. So, for example, a gladiator who fell to the ground and was conscious of his complete defeat was obliged to remove protective helmet and put your throat under the opponent's sword, or plunge your knife into your own throat.

Over time, such fights began to bother the Romans and they began to invent new spectacles. Gladiators had to fight lions, tigers and other wild animals.

Much effort was made to put an end to these terrible performances, but this was not done until 500 AD. Emperor Theo-Doric.

Types of gladiators

1. Andabat. They were dressed in chain mail, like the eastern cavalry (cataphracts), and helmets with visors without slits for the eyes. Andabats fought each other in much the same way as knights in medieval times. jousting tournaments but without being able to see each other.
2. Bestiary. Armed with a dart or dagger, these fighters were originally not gladiators, but criminals (noxia), sentenced to fight with predatory animals, with a high probability of death of the condemned. Later, bestiaries became well-trained gladiators, specializing in combat with various exotic predators using darts. The battles were organized in such a way that the beasts had little chance of defeating the bestiary.
3. Bustuary. These gladiators fought in honor of the deceased at ritual games during the funeral rite.
4. Dimacher( from the Greek di - "two" and machaer - "sword") . Two swords were used, one in each hand. They fought without a helmet and shield, with two daggers. They were dressed in a short soft tunic, hands and feet were bandaged tight bandages sometimes wore leggings.
5. Equity( pl. equites, from lat. equus - "horse") . In the early descriptions, these lightly armed gladiators were dressed in scaly armor, wore a medium-sized round cavalry shield (parma equestris), a helmet with a brim, without a crest, but with two decorative tassels. In Imperial times, they wore a forearm armor (manica) on their right arm, a sleeveless tunic (which distinguished them from other bare-chested gladiators), and a belt. Equites started the fight on horseback, but after they threw their spear (hasta), they dismounted and continued to fight with a short sword (gladius). Equits usually only fought other Equits.
6. Gaul. They were equipped with a spear, a helmet and a small Gallic shield.
7. Essedarius ("chariot fighter", from the Latin name for the Celtic chariot - "esseda"). Perhaps they were first brought to Rome by Julius Caesar from Britain. Essedaria are mentioned in many descriptions from the 1st century AD. e. Since there are no images of the Essedarii, nothing is known about their weapons and fighting style.
8. Hoplomachus (from the Greek "οπλομ?χος" - "armed fighter"). They were dressed in quilted, trouser-like clothing for legs, possibly made of canvas, loincloth, belt, greaves, forearm armor (maniku) on the right arm, and a brimmed helmet with a stylized griffin on the crest, which could be decorated with a tassel of feathers on top and single feathers on each side. They were armed with a gladius and a very small round shield made from a single sheet of thick bronze (examples from Popmpeii have been preserved). They were put up for fights against the Mirmillons or the Thracians. It is possible that the Goplomakhs descended from the earlier Samnites after it became “politically incorrect” to use the name of a people who had become friendly to the Romans.
9. Lakveary ("fighter with a lasso"). Lakvearii could be a type of retiarii that tried to catch their rivals with a lasso (laqueus) instead of a net.
10. Murmillon( from the Greek mormylos - "sea fish") . They wore a helmet with a stylized fish on the crest (from the Latin "mormylos" - "sea fish"), as well as armor for the forearm (manica), a loincloth and belt, leggings on the right leg, thick windings covering the top of the foot, and very short armor with a notch for padding at the top of the foot. Murmillons were armed with a gladius (40-50 cm long) and a large rectangular shield, like legionnaires. They were put up for battle against the Thracians, Retiarii, sometimes also against the hoplomachi.
11. PEGNARY. They used a whip, a club and a shield, which was attached to the left hand with straps.
12. Provocateur ("applicant"). Their outfit could be different, depending on the nature of the games. They were depicted wearing a loincloth, a belt, a long greave on the left leg, a maniku on the right arm, and a helmet with a visor, without brim and crest, but with feathers on each side. They were the only gladiators protected by a cuirass (cardiophylax), which was at first rectangular, then often rounded. The provocateurs were armed with a gladius and a large rectangular shield. Exhibited for battles with the Samnites or other provocateurs.
13. Retiarius ("fighter with a net"). Appeared at the dawn of the Empire. They were armed with a trident, a dagger and a net. Except for a loincloth supported by a wide belt (balteus) and a large armor on the left shoulder joint, the retiarius did not have any clothes, including a helmet. Sometimes a metal shield (galerus) was used to protect the neck and lower face. There were retiarii who played female roles in the arena (“retiarius tunicatus”), which differed from ordinary retiarii in that they were dressed in a tunic. The retiarii usually fought with the secutors, but sometimes with the myrmillons.
14. Rudiarium. Gladiators who deserved to be released (rewarded with a wooden sword called a rudis) but chose to remain gladiators. Not all rudiarii continued to fight in the arena, there was a special hierarchy among them: they could be trainers, assistants, judges, fighters, etc. Rudiarii fighters were very popular among the public, as they had vast experience and one could expect real show.
15. Sagittarius( from lat. sagitta - "arrow") . Mounted archers armed with a flexible bow capable of launching an arrow over a long distance.
16. Samnite. Samnites, ancient type heavily armed fighters, which disappeared in the early imperial period, indicated by its name the origin of gladiator fights. The historical Samnites were an influential group of Italic tribes living in the Campania region south of Rome, against whom the Romans fought wars from 326 to 291 BC. e. The equipment of the Samnites was a large rectangular shield (scutum), a feathered helmet, a short sword, and possibly a greave on the left leg.
17. Secutor( about t lat. sequi - "to pursue") . This type of fighters was specially intended for fights with retiarii. The secutors were a variation of the myrmillons and were equipped with similar armor and weapons, including a large rectangular shield and a gladius. Their helmet, however, covered the entire face, except for two holes for the eyes, in order to protect the face from the sharp trident of their rival. The helmet was practically round and smooth, so that the net of the retiarius could not catch on it.
18. Skissor ("one who cuts"). Nothing is known about this type of gladiator other than the name.
19. Tertiary (also called "Suppositicius" - "replacing"). Some competitions involved three gladiators. First, the first two fought each other, then the winner of this fight fought with the third, who was called the tertiary. Tertiarii also came to replace if the gladiator declared for the fight, for one reason or another, could not enter the arena.
20. Thracian( lat. thraex - a representative of the people of Thrace) . The Thracians were equipped with the same armor as the goplomakhs. They had a large helmet covering the entire head and decorated with a stylized griffin on the forehead or on the front of the crest (the griffin was the symbol of the goddess of retribution Nemesis), a small round or flattened shield (parmula), and two large greaves. Their weapon was a Thracian curved sword (sicca, about 34 cm long). They usually fought the Myrmillons or the Hoplomaches.
21. Velit( pl. velites, from lat. velum - "canvas", because dressed in a linen tunic) . Foot gladiators armed with a dart with a throwing cord tied to it. Named after units of the early Republican army.
22. Venator. They specialized in demonstrative hunting for animals, not fighting them in close combat, like bestiaries. Venators also performed tricks with animals: they put their hand in the mouth of a lion; rode on a camel, keeping a lion on a leash nearby; made an elephant walk on a tightrope). Strictly speaking, the venators were not gladiators, but their performances were part of the gladiator fights.
23. Pregenary. They performed at the beginning of the competition to "warm up" the crowd. They used wooden swords (rudis) and wrapped cloth around the body. Their fights took place to the accompaniment of cymbals, pipes and water organs (hydraulis).

G ladiator games originated from the Etruscan funerary rite, which once included human sacrifice.

Over time, the rite changed: they stopped killing those doomed to death immediately, but forced them to fight near the grave with swords in their hands, and thus the weak died, and the strong remained alive, causing the delight of those present. The Romans first saw this cruel spectacle in 264 BC e. at the Bull Market, where three pairs of gladiators fought at a wake for Brutus Pere hosted by his sons. The spectacle seemed so unusual and remarkable to the Romans that the event was entered into the annals of Rome.

The connection between gladiatorial games and commemorations was never forgotten, they were called "funeral games". Their official name is mumus ("duty"), the debt of the living towards the dead.

In 105 BC. e. gladiatorial games are introduced into the number of public spectacles. From now on the state

entrusts to his magistrates the care of their dispensation. gladiatorial games become in Rome and throughout Italy a favorite sight, and this is quickly taken into account by those who want to advance. Caesar in 65 BC e. gave games in which 320 pairs of gladiators took part. His enemies were frightened: not only these armed fellows were terrible; what was terrible was that luxury games became a sure way to win the favor of the people and secure votes in the elections. In 63 BC. e. At the suggestion of Cicero, a law was passed that forbade a candidate for magistrates to “give gladiators” for two years before the election. No one, however, could forbid a private person to "give" them under the pretext of a commemoration for his relative, especially if the latter bequeathed to his heir to arrange games.

In the event that the wounded gladiator remained alive, his fate was decided by the public. Depending on the opinion of the crowd, the winner had to finish off the lying one or leave him alive if he deserved life by valiant resistance. In the games held in Rome itself, the opinion of the emperor was decisive. The crowd "voted" with gestures that changed over time. Although it is traditionally accepted that the “raised finger” meant “Life”, and the lowered finger meant “Death” (in this form, gestures are now used for approval and condemnation), on most ancient games regardless of direction, a protruding finger meant "death", symbolizing the movement of a finishing sword, and "Life" simply meant a clenched fist. Not the last role was played by cries with wishes.

In 63 a.d. er. Emperor Nero issued a decree allowing free women to participate in
gladiatorial tournaments. After him, Pozzuoli allows Ethiopian women to fight.
And the emperor Domitiano in 89 brings dwarf gladiators to the arena.

Gladiator fights were banned in 400 AD when Christianity took over in the Roman Empire.

Depending on the weapons and the specifics of their participation in fights, the following types of gladiators were distinguished:

Andabat (from the Greek word "άναβαται" - "raised, elevated") They were dressed in chain mail, like the eastern cavalry (cataphracts), and helmets with visors without slits for the eyes. Andabats fought each other in much the same way as knights in medieval jousting tournaments, but without the ability to see each other.

Bestiary: Armed with a javelin or dagger, these fighters were originally not gladiators, but outlaws (noxia) sentenced to battle with predatory animals, with a high probability of death for the condemned. Later, bestiaries became well-trained gladiators, specializing in combat with various exotic predators using darts. The battles were organized in such a way that the beasts had little chance of defeating the bestiary.

Bustuary: These gladiators fought in honor of the deceased at ritual games during the funeral rite.

Dimacher (from the Greek "διμάχαιρος" - "carrying two daggers"). Two swords were used, one in each hand. They fought without a helmet and shield with two daggers. They were dressed in a short soft tunic, their arms and legs were bandaged with tight bandages, sometimes they wore leggings.

Equit ("horseman"): In early descriptions, these lightly armed gladiators were dressed in scaly armor, wearing a medium-sized round cavalry shield (parma equestris), a helmet with a brim, without a crest, but with two decorative tassels. In Imperial times, they wore a forearm armor (manica) on their right arm, a sleeveless tunic (which distinguished them from other bare-chested gladiators), and a belt. Equites started the fight on horseback, but after they threw their spear (hasta), they dismounted and continued to fight with a short sword (gladius). Equits usually only fought other Equits.

Gallus: Were equipped with a spear, a helmet and a small Gallic shield.

Essedarius ("chariot fighter", from the Latin name for the Celtic chariot - "esseda"). Perhaps they were first brought to Rome by Julius Caesar from Britain. Essedaria are mentioned in many descriptions from the 1st century AD. e. Since there are no images of the Essedarii, nothing is known about their weapons and fighting style.

Hoplomachus (from the Greek "οπλομάχος" - "armed fighter"): They were dressed in a padded, trouser-like leg garment, possibly made of canvas, a loincloth, belt, greaves, forearm armor (maniku) on the right arm, and a helmet with a brim and with a stylized griffin on the crest, which could be decorated with a tassel of feathers at the top and single feathers on each side. They were armed with a gladius and a very small round shield made from a single sheet of thick bronze (examples from Popmpeii have been preserved). They were put up for fights against the Mirmillons or the Thracians. It is possible that the Goplomakhs descended from the earlier Samnites after it became “politically incorrect” to use the name of a people who had become friendly to the Romans.

Laquearius ("lasso fighter"): Laquearii may have been a type of retiarii that tried to catch their rivals with a lasso (laqueus) instead of a net.

Mirmillon: They wore a helmet with a stylized fish on a crest (from the Latin "mormylos" - "sea fish"), as well as armor for the forearm (manica), a loincloth and belt, leggings on the right leg, thick windings covering the top of the foot, and very short armor with a notch for stuffing at the top of the foot. Myrmillons were armed with a gladius (40-50 cm long) and a large rectangular shield, like legionnaires. They were put up for battle against the Thracians, Retiarii, sometimes also against the hoplomachi.

Pegniarius: They used a whip, a club and a shield that was attached to the left arm with straps.

Provocateur ("applicant"): Their outfit could be different, depending on the nature of the games. They were depicted wearing a loincloth, a belt, a long greave on the left leg, a maniku on the right arm, and a helmet with a visor, without brim and crest, but with feathers on each side. They were the only gladiators protected by a cuirass (cardiophylax), which was at first rectangular, then often rounded. The provocateurs were armed with a gladius and a large rectangular shield. Exhibited for battles with the Samnites or other provocateurs.

Retiarius ("net fighter"): Appeared at the dawn of the Empire. They were armed with a trident, a dagger and a net. In addition to a loincloth supported by a wide belt (balteus) and a large armor on the left shoulder joint, the retiarius had no clothing, including a helmet. Sometimes a metal shield (galerus) was used to protect the neck and lower face. There were retiarii who played female roles in the arena (“retiarius tunicatus”), which differed from ordinary retiarii in that they were dressed in a tunic. The retiarii usually fought with the secutors, but sometimes with the myrmillons. .

Rudiarium: Gladiators who deserved to be freed (rewarded with a wooden sword called rudis) but chose to remain gladiators. Not all rudiarii continued to fight in the arena, there was a special hierarchy among them: they could be trainers, assistants, judges, fighters, etc. Rudiarii fighters were very popular among the public, as they had vast experience and one could expect real show.

Sagittarius: Mounted archers armed with a flexible bow capable of firing an arrow over a long distance.

Samnites: An ancient type of heavily armed fighter that disappeared during the early imperial period, the Samnites pointed to the origin of gladiatorial combat by their name. The historical Samnites were an influential group of Italic tribes living in the Campania region south of Rome, against whom the Romans fought wars from 326 to 291 BC. e. The equipment of the Samnites was a large rectangular shield (scutum), a feathered helmet, a short sword, and possibly a greave on the left leg.

Secutor: This type of fighter was specifically designed for fights with retiarii. The secutors were a variation of the myrmillons and were equipped with similar armor and weapons, including a large rectangular shield and a gladius. Their helmet, however, covered the entire face, except for two holes for the eyes, in order to protect the face from the sharp trident of their rival. The helmet was practically round and smooth, so that the net of the retiarius could not catch on it.

Scissor (scissor, “one who cuts”, “cutting”) - a gladiator who was armed with a short sword (gladius) and instead of a shield had a cutting weapon that resembled scissors (essentially two small swords that had one handle) or, with another layout, dressed on left hand iron hollow rod with a sharp horizontal tip. With this cutting weapon, the skissor delivered blows that led to minor wounds of the opponent, but the wounds bled very much (several arteries were cut, which naturally caused fountains of blood). Otherwise, the skissor was similar to a secutor, except for the additional protection of the right arm (from the shoulder to the elbow), which consisted of many iron plates fastened together with strong leather cords. The helmet and protective ammunition for secutors and skissors were the same

Tertiary (also called "Suppositicius" - "substitutes"): Three gladiators participated in some competitions. First, the first two fought each other, then the winner of this fight fought with the third, who was called the tertiary. Tertiarii also came to replace if the gladiator declared for the fight, for one reason or another, could not enter the arena.

Thracian: The Thracians were equipped with the same armor as the hoplomakhs. They had a large helmet covering the entire head and decorated with a stylized griffin on the forehead or on the front of the crest (the griffin was the symbol of the goddess of retribution Nemesis), a small round or flattened shield (parmula), and two large greaves. Their weapon was a Thracian curved sword (sicca, about 34 cm long). They usually fought the Myrmillons or the Hoplomaches.

Velit: Gladiators on foot, armed with a dart with a throwing cord tied to it. Named after units of the early Republican army.

Venator: Specialized in show-hunting animals, not fighting them in close combat like bestiaries. Venators also performed tricks with animals: they put their hand in the mouth of a lion; rode on a camel, keeping a lion on a leash nearby; made an elephant walk on a tightrope (Seneca Ep. 85.41). Strictly speaking, the venators were not gladiators, but their performances were part of the gladiator fights.

Pregenary: Performed at the beginning of the competition to "warm up" the crowd. They used wooden swords (rudis) and wrapped cloth around the body. Their fights took place to the accompaniment of cymbals, pipes and water organs (hydraulis).