25 Surprising Facts About Roman Gladiators You Never Knew
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VOICE OVER: Peter DeGiglio
These gladiator facts will have you screaming at your local Emperor for more! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most fascinating bits of information regarding Roman gladiators. Our countdown of things you didn't know about Roman gladiators includes The Name Means “Swordsman.”, Some Gladiators Fought to Restore Their Honor, Most Fights Did Not End in Death, They Were Bodyguards for Marc Antony, and more!
Top 25 Things You Didn’t Know About Roman Gladiators
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most fascinating bits of information regarding Roman gladiators.
The word “gladiator” stems from the Latin word “gladius,” meaning “sword.” As the fighters were typically armed with a sword or similar bladed weapons, “gladius” became “gladiator,” meaning “swordsman,” or more generally “one who fights with a sword.”
Like modern MMA fighters, each gladiator had their own distinct style. Some examples include the “Murmillo,” which were heavily armored, “Retiarius”, who fought with nets and tridents, and the “Hoplomachus,” who battled with long spears.
The Roman Emperor Commodus was obsessed with gladiatorial combat and often performed in the Colosseum himself, fighting humans and animals alike. But, as is depicted in Ridley Scott’s movie, most of his fights were rigged, and all of his opponents surrendered.
The gladiator fights weren’t just for entertainment and spectacle. Many historians believe that they have roots in funerary rites and blood offerings, and over time, gladiatorial combat became incorporated into major Roman religious festivals.
Don’t let the packed Coliseum fool you - public opinion about gladiator fights was highly divisive. Some saw these spectacles as thrilling entertainment, while others condemned the fights as immoral and barbaric. Opposition grew particularly strong as Christianity gained prominence, and later emperors like Constantine and Honorius would take great steps to stop the games.
It’s a common misconception that all gladiators were forced into the arena. There was also the auctorati - free men who willingly chose to become gladiators, and who, by the late Republic, comprised about half of all fighters.
A significant portion of the gladiatorial population was made up of individuals captured during Rome’s many military campaigns. These prisoners of war were widely traded within the Roman Empire and often trained as fighters - or sometimes just thrown into the arena unprepared, as was the case with the noxii.
The concept of restoring honor was significant in Roman society, particularly among military prisoners who had surrendered in battle. To Romans, surrendering was undignified, and captured prisoners of war were allowed to fight as gladiators in order to restore their honor - and die a dignified death.
When you think about it, gladiator matches are really just the ancient form of MMA. Like modern fights, they only lasted between ten and twenty minutes, and roughly ten matches would be fought in one afternoon, making up an ancient form of a fight card.
For many gladiators, receiving a wooden sword or staff was the highest form of honor. This was called a “rudis,” and it was the retirement watch of the gladiator community, signifying their freedom. Retired fighters were called rudiarii, and many chose to remain in the sport in the form of referees and trainers.
Gladiator fights were spectacles, and naturally, that included fun stage names. Many gladiators adopted stage names to add to their mystique and popular appeal, including Amazon, Achillia, and Flamma, meaning The Flame.
A gladiator fight wasn’t just sticking two people on the stage and watching them kill each other. Nope, stagecraft was actually highly valued amongst gladiators, and a show of bravado was necessary to endear audiences to a specific fighter.
As you can imagine, many gladiators were reluctant to fight - especially those who had been forced into it without any training, like the noxii. However, these gladiators were often forced into the ring under extreme duress, often being painfully whipped or branded with hot irons until they started the fight.
In direct defiance of traditional pop culture, most gladiator fights did not end in death. In fact, only about one in nine fights ended with someone losing their life. In reality, a losing gladiator could admit defeat by raising his finger, and most of these fighters were spared, provided they fought nobly.
Gladiator fights were widely advertised in ancient Rome, especially the anticipated battles between famous foes. Billboards would line the streets informing citizens of the date, venue, fighters, and even things like door prizes and concessions.
Like all sports, gladiator fights were governed by rules and were overseen by a referee. Like boxing or MMA referees, they had the power to separate fighting opponents, judge various infractions, and even stop fights should the situation call for it.
All gladiators were bound by a sacred oath called a sacramentum, and as you can imagine, it wasn’t exactly a fun one. According to the Roman courtier Petronius, “He vows to endure to be burned, to be bound, to be beaten, and to be killed by the sword.”
Despite the often poor conditions that gladiators were forced to live in, they did receive substantial - and free - medical care. Gladiators were meant to stay in peak fighting condition, so they were seen to by trained doctors, given herbal remedies and physical therapy, and even surgery should a nasty injury occur.
While they were often seen as exotic and novel, there were indeed female gladiators. They are called “gladiatrices,” and they were used under Emperors like Domitian and Titus. However, they were eventually banned in the year 200 following vocal criticism of female athletics.
The gladiators, being warriors and often viewed as embodiments of courage and resilience, were thought to carry a certain “spirit” in their blood. As such, their blood was considered magical, and many people actually tried to collect it after a fight believing it could cure various ailments, like epilepsy.
Some gladiators even had jobs outside of the arena. The famous Roman politician Marc Antony valued the fighters very highly and hired them as his personal bodyguards - a tactic that defied convention and greatly confused his rivals.
In a practice very similar to last meals in prison, condemned gladiators were provided with a special banquet the night before a fight. These meals served both as a final gesture of compassion and a practical necessity, as gladiators needed energy for combat.
While some skipped it entirely and went straight to the arena, most gladiators were trained in special schools called “ludi”. But this was not a cushy affair. Training was brutal and exhaustive, gladiators lived in cramped conditions, were subjected to psychological conditioning, and often faced strict discipline.
While some gladiators were rewarded the wooden sword and lived comfortably in retirement, that was certainly not the norm. Modern scholars have done extensive research into the subject and found that the average age of death for a gladiator was between 18 and 27.
While you’d think buff gladiators would be full of steak and chicken, that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, gladiators were largely vegetarian, subsisting mainly on beans, fruit, and barley. In fact, gladiators were known to consume so much of the latter that they were given the nickname “hordearii,” meaning “eaters of barley.”
Do you have any other interesting factoids? Let us know in the comments below!
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most fascinating bits of information regarding Roman gladiators.
#25: The Name Means “Swordsman.”
The word “gladiator” stems from the Latin word “gladius,” meaning “sword.” As the fighters were typically armed with a sword or similar bladed weapons, “gladius” became “gladiator,” meaning “swordsman,” or more generally “one who fights with a sword.”
#24: There Were Different Types of Gladiators
Like modern MMA fighters, each gladiator had their own distinct style. Some examples include the “Murmillo,” which were heavily armored, “Retiarius”, who fought with nets and tridents, and the “Hoplomachus,” who battled with long spears.
#23: Commodus Loved the Gladiators
The Roman Emperor Commodus was obsessed with gladiatorial combat and often performed in the Colosseum himself, fighting humans and animals alike. But, as is depicted in Ridley Scott’s movie, most of his fights were rigged, and all of his opponents surrendered.
#22: The Fights Are Rooted in Religion
The gladiator fights weren’t just for entertainment and spectacle. Many historians believe that they have roots in funerary rites and blood offerings, and over time, gladiatorial combat became incorporated into major Roman religious festivals.
#21: Public Opinion Was Mixed
Don’t let the packed Coliseum fool you - public opinion about gladiator fights was highly divisive. Some saw these spectacles as thrilling entertainment, while others condemned the fights as immoral and barbaric. Opposition grew particularly strong as Christianity gained prominence, and later emperors like Constantine and Honorius would take great steps to stop the games.
#20: Many Gladiators Fought Voluntarily
It’s a common misconception that all gladiators were forced into the arena. There was also the auctorati - free men who willingly chose to become gladiators, and who, by the late Republic, comprised about half of all fighters.
#19: The Fights Expanded with Rome’s Military Campaigns
A significant portion of the gladiatorial population was made up of individuals captured during Rome’s many military campaigns. These prisoners of war were widely traded within the Roman Empire and often trained as fighters - or sometimes just thrown into the arena unprepared, as was the case with the noxii.
#18: Some Gladiators Fought to Restore Their Honor
The concept of restoring honor was significant in Roman society, particularly among military prisoners who had surrendered in battle. To Romans, surrendering was undignified, and captured prisoners of war were allowed to fight as gladiators in order to restore their honor - and die a dignified death.
#17: Fights Lasted About Ten Minutes
When you think about it, gladiator matches are really just the ancient form of MMA. Like modern fights, they only lasted between ten and twenty minutes, and roughly ten matches would be fought in one afternoon, making up an ancient form of a fight card.
#16: Successful Gladiators Were Given Wooden Swords
For many gladiators, receiving a wooden sword or staff was the highest form of honor. This was called a “rudis,” and it was the retirement watch of the gladiator community, signifying their freedom. Retired fighters were called rudiarii, and many chose to remain in the sport in the form of referees and trainers.
#15: Many Gladiators Had Stage Names
Gladiator fights were spectacles, and naturally, that included fun stage names. Many gladiators adopted stage names to add to their mystique and popular appeal, including Amazon, Achillia, and Flamma, meaning The Flame.
#14: Bravado Was Highly Valued
A gladiator fight wasn’t just sticking two people on the stage and watching them kill each other. Nope, stagecraft was actually highly valued amongst gladiators, and a show of bravado was necessary to endear audiences to a specific fighter.
#13: Many Were Physically Coerced Into Fighting
As you can imagine, many gladiators were reluctant to fight - especially those who had been forced into it without any training, like the noxii. However, these gladiators were often forced into the ring under extreme duress, often being painfully whipped or branded with hot irons until they started the fight.
#12: Most Fights Did Not End in Death
In direct defiance of traditional pop culture, most gladiator fights did not end in death. In fact, only about one in nine fights ended with someone losing their life. In reality, a losing gladiator could admit defeat by raising his finger, and most of these fighters were spared, provided they fought nobly.
#11: An Early Form of Advertising
Gladiator fights were widely advertised in ancient Rome, especially the anticipated battles between famous foes. Billboards would line the streets informing citizens of the date, venue, fighters, and even things like door prizes and concessions.
#10: There Were Rules
Like all sports, gladiator fights were governed by rules and were overseen by a referee. Like boxing or MMA referees, they had the power to separate fighting opponents, judge various infractions, and even stop fights should the situation call for it.
#9: Gladiators Swore Oaths
All gladiators were bound by a sacred oath called a sacramentum, and as you can imagine, it wasn’t exactly a fun one. According to the Roman courtier Petronius, “He vows to endure to be burned, to be bound, to be beaten, and to be killed by the sword.”
#8: They Were Given Good Medical Care
Despite the often poor conditions that gladiators were forced to live in, they did receive substantial - and free - medical care. Gladiators were meant to stay in peak fighting condition, so they were seen to by trained doctors, given herbal remedies and physical therapy, and even surgery should a nasty injury occur.
#7: There Were Female Gladiators
While they were often seen as exotic and novel, there were indeed female gladiators. They are called “gladiatrices,” and they were used under Emperors like Domitian and Titus. However, they were eventually banned in the year 200 following vocal criticism of female athletics.
#6: Their Blood Was Considered Magic
The gladiators, being warriors and often viewed as embodiments of courage and resilience, were thought to carry a certain “spirit” in their blood. As such, their blood was considered magical, and many people actually tried to collect it after a fight believing it could cure various ailments, like epilepsy.
#5: They Were Bodyguards for Marc Antony
Some gladiators even had jobs outside of the arena. The famous Roman politician Marc Antony valued the fighters very highly and hired them as his personal bodyguards - a tactic that defied convention and greatly confused his rivals.
#4: They Were Given Last Meals
In a practice very similar to last meals in prison, condemned gladiators were provided with a special banquet the night before a fight. These meals served both as a final gesture of compassion and a practical necessity, as gladiators needed energy for combat.
#3: They Were Trained in Special Schools
While some skipped it entirely and went straight to the arena, most gladiators were trained in special schools called “ludi”. But this was not a cushy affair. Training was brutal and exhaustive, gladiators lived in cramped conditions, were subjected to psychological conditioning, and often faced strict discipline.
#2: They Had a Short Life Expectancy
While some gladiators were rewarded the wooden sword and lived comfortably in retirement, that was certainly not the norm. Modern scholars have done extensive research into the subject and found that the average age of death for a gladiator was between 18 and 27.
#1: They Were Mostly Vegetarian
While you’d think buff gladiators would be full of steak and chicken, that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, gladiators were largely vegetarian, subsisting mainly on beans, fruit, and barley. In fact, gladiators were known to consume so much of the latter that they were given the nickname “hordearii,” meaning “eaters of barley.”
Do you have any other interesting factoids? Let us know in the comments below!
