10 Little Known Features About Gladiators

Many legends have been told about gladiators until today. So what were the “truths” about the fierce warriors of Ancient Rome?

What do you know about gladiators? We bring together for you little-known, interesting facts about the formidable heroes of Ancient Rome.
Gladiators, who made the audience tremble when they entered the fighting arenas with all their majesty, were a great threat in Rome. They represented the power of the emperor with their magnificent physical appearance and displays of power and strength. But beyond that, each had a private space behind his own bars. Have you ever wondered about the different aspects of the gladiator figures that come to mind when most of us think of Ancient Rome? Let's go on a stunning journey together in the gladiator arena!

Interesting Facts About Gladiator

1. Gladiators Were Not Always Slaves

Not all gladiators were brought to the arena in chains. Most of the ancient warriors were captured people and slaves who had committed crimes. However, the tomb inscriptions date back to A.D. This shows that the demographic structure began to change after the 1st century. Accordingly, the civilian population, attracted by the fight and the crowd cheering, also became interested in gladiatorship. They volunteered for gladiator schools in the hope of victory and money. These free fighters were mostly desperate men or veterans with fighting ability. Others were higher-class knights or even senators eager to show off their martial prowess.

2. Gladiator Fights Were Originally Part of Funeral Ceremonies

Many ancient historians say that Roman games were taken from the Etruscans. However, most researchers now believe that gladiator fights were a family ritual performed at the funerals of wealthy nobles.
When distinguished aristocrats died, their families would organize games among slaves or prisoners sentenced to death next to their graves in their memory. The virtues that the deceased showed while he was alive were commemorated in this way. According to Roman writers Tertullian and Festus, Romans believed that human blood had soul-purifying properties. Therefore, these competitions were another way of expressing human sacrifice in another language. Funeral games later moved to a wider range during the time of Julius Caesar. Caesar organized a competition between hundreds of gladiators in the name of his deceased father and daughter. These events have proven popular with audiences. B.C. At the end of the 1st century, the governing authorities organized state-sponsored competitions to win the love of the masses.

3. Gladiators Didn't Always Fight to the Death

Hollywood movies and television productions have often depicted gladiators in arenas where fights to the death took place. But most fights were actually organized within strict rules and practices. The bouts were a single fight between two men, chosen from warriors of similar size and experience. Referees would immediately stop the match if they detected someone with serious injuries. Moreover, if the audience got bored, the fights would be decided to end in a draw. In rare cases, both warriors were allowed to leave the arena if they had put on an admirable fight.


Since hosting, feeding, and training gladiators was costly, breeders did not want these people to die for nothing. Educators would teach their students to injure, not to kill. Therefore, warriors would avoid seriously injuring those they fought alongside. However, the life of a gladiator was often brutal and short. Most warriors would only survive until their mid-twenties. Historians record that only one fifth or tenth of fights resulted in death.

4. The Famous Thumb Gesture Probably Didn't Mean Death

If the gladiator was seriously injured or laid down his weapon to show that he was giving up, his fate was left in the hands of the spectator. In the competitions held in the Colosseum, the emperor was the last person to decide whether the fallen warrior would be killed or not. Portraits or movies often show the audience making a “thumbs down” gesture. It is thought that they wanted the gladiator whose honor was damaged to die. However, this was probably not accurate information.


Some historians think that when the thumb is pointing up, there is a request for death. A closed fist with two fingers extended, a thumb pointing down, or even a waving handkerchief were signs of mercy. Whatever sign is used, it is always accompanied by ear-piercing screams of "Release him!" or, “Kill him!” words were heard. If the crowd desired this, the winning gladiator would strike the opponent with a blow from the middle of his shoulder blades, along his neck, to his heart.

5. Gladiator Fights Were Divided into Different Classes and Types

M.S. After the Colosseum opened in 80 BC, gladiator games evolved from free fighting games to skillfully organized bloody battles. Fighters; They were divided into classes according to their scores, skill levels and experience. Many specialized in a particular form of combat and weaponry. The most skilled were known as “thraeces” and “murmillones”. These warriors fought with swords and shields. However, there were also "equites" who came to the arena on horseback. The “Essedarii” appeared on their two-wheeled chariots, and the “dimachaerus” appeared with two swords that they used at the same time. Perhaps the most unusual of the popular gladiator types were the "retierius". These warriors used only a net and a trident. He would try to catch his rivals with a net before killing them. However, if they failed, they would be left almost completely defenseless.

6. Contrary to popular belief, gladiators rarely fought against animals

The Colosseum and other Roman arenas were often associated with relentless animal hunts. However, it was very rare for gladiators to be involved in these hunts. Competing with wild animals was the practice of a special warrior class called "venator" or "bestiarii". These people would fight against many animals, from deer to ostrich, from lion to crocodile, bear and even elephant.


Animal hunts were often held as the opening event of the games. It was not uncommon for dozens of poor animals to be dismembered in a single exhibition. It is thought that a total of 9 thousand animals were slaughtered during the 100-day celebration held for the opening of the Colosseum. 11 thousand animals were later collected by Emperor Trajan in A.D. He was killed during the 123-day festival he organized in the 2nd century. Many animals are killed just for pleasure, while others are trained to perform various tricks. They even faced each other in fights.

Wild animals were also used to illustrate a common form of execution. Convicted criminals and Christians were often thrown to hungry dogs, lions and bears as the entertainment of the day.

7. Women Also Fought as Gladiators

Female slaves regularly appeared in the arena alongside their male partners. But few citizens would do this voluntarily. Historians are unsure when the first female gladiator appeared. But women, M.S. They began to appear commonly in games in the 1st century. These female warriors may not have been taken seriously in patriarchal Roman culture. For example, Emperor Domirian liked to pit women against dwarves. But some women have managed to prove themselves in single combat. M.S. A marble relief from around the 2nd century BC depicts a battle between two female warriors named Amazon and Achillia. According to the inscriptions, these two warriors ended the match with an honorable draw. Women also participated in animal hunts, but their duties in the arenas were limited to 1000 B.C. It may have ended around 200. Emperor Septimius Severus banned women from taking part in the plays.

8. There were also gladiators who organized themselves like a kind of union

Even though they regularly drifted between life and death, they saw it as a kind of network of brotherhood. Some even formed unions or communities called "collegia". These are governed by their own elected leaders or guardian gods. When a fighter falls in combat, these groups ensure that the warrior is given a proper burial. He prepares a tombstone that commemorates his achievements in the arena. If the deceased has a spouse and children, it helps them get the necessary financial support for their losses.

9. Some Roman Emperors Participated in Gladiator Fights

Organizing gladiatorial games was a method used by Roman emperors to easily win the love of the people. However, some took the incident further and took part in the fights themselves. Many rulers appeared in various arenas, including Caligua, Titus, and Hadrian. Of course, most of these wars took place under strict supervision and control, with blunted war equipment. Sniping with a spear, Emperor Commodus mostly stood on a high platform. From this safe place he was killing bears and panthers. Commodus also participated in several gladiatorial battles. Though these were usually chosen from inexperienced warriors or frightened, under-armed members of the audience. When the emperor won the war, Commodus did not forget to reward himself with a huge sum of money, one million Roman sesterces.

10. Gladiators Had Great Fame Among the Lower Classes

Although they were generally described as wild barbarians by Roman historians, gladiators were declared heroes by the lower class. His portraits were hung on many outdoor walls. Children played with gladiator figures they made from clay. The most popular gladiators, like today's athletes, would promote most products. Gladiators were also known for knocking Roman women unconscious. Graffiti depictions from Pompeii depict a gladiator catching girls in his net at night. Another one is the only lover of young girls. Many women wear hairpins or jewelry soaked in gladiator blood. Some people mix gladiator sweat into their cosmetics or creams to have an aphrodisiac effect.

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