Gladiators (Lat. Gladiator, from Gladius - Sword) - In ancient Rome, prisoners of war, convicted criminals and slaves, specially trained for the armed struggle among themselves on amphitheators. Gladiators of ancient Rome usually fought in public to death. Fights of the Roman gladiators were arranged first in the days of the most significant religious holidays, and then turned into the most popular envelope of ordinary citizens. The tradition of the battles of gladiators remained for more than 700 years.
The life of the gladiator for the most part was a short and full permanent fear for his life and risk, without which life itself would probably be no possible. The fate of each gladiator knocked the fate, after several battles it was clear whether the fighter expects the fighter and remuneration, or an inglorious end in the heyday. For a modern person, it is absolutely not clear how with this lifestyle (see the lifestyle of the gladiator) and work on wear, some fighters won the battle battle and could win in Yati, ten battles in a row.
Gladiatorial battles were adopted by the Romans from the Greeks, Etruscski and Egyptians and adopted the religious nature of the sacrifice to the God of Marsa. At the beginning of the gladiators were prisoners of war and sentenced to death. The laws of ancient Rome allowed them to participate in gladiator battles. In case of victory (for the money received), it was possible to buy their lives. There were cases when citizens, abandoning their existing freedom, joined gladiators in pursuit of glory and money.
In order to become gladiators, it was necessary to take the oath and declare himself "legally dead." From this point on, the fighters entered into another world, where the cruel laws of honor reigned. The first of them was silence. Gladiators were explained in the arena with gestures. The Second Law is complete compliance with the rules of honor. So, for example, the gladiator, who fell to the ground and the conscious of his complete defeat, was obliged to remove the protective helmet and substitute the throat under the sword of the enemy or to lean his own knife into his own throat. Of course, the audience could always provide mercy of those gladiators who bravely fought and liked the public, but such a pardon was extremely rare.
"We sacrifice living to feed the dead" - so the emperor of Karakalla in the third century of our era formulated the ideological basis of gladiator fights, together with the animal injuries of the most bloody and cruel spectacle in the history of mankind. According to the Roman beliefs that they, in turn, borrowed from the Etruscans, the atrocities were to pacify the souls of the dead. In antiquity, it was a higher honor that grateful heirs could give a knowledgeable ancestor.
However, at first this Etruscan custom was slowly rooted in the life of the Romans of the early republic, it may be because they had to work a lot and a lot of fighting, and as an entertainment, they preferred athletic competitions, horse racing, as well as theatrical performances playing directly in the crowd vacationers. Then the Romans could not be called fans of the contemplation of the death convulsions and groans of the wounded, since this was more than enough in their everyday half-life.
But enthusiasts are in any case, and in 264 BC On the cow's market of Rome during the commemoration on the Bruut of the reigned by his sons Mark and Dezim, a fight was held a fight three pairs of gladiators (from the Latin word "Gladius" - sword). But only after almost 50 years, this spectacle received a certain scope: already 22 pairs of gladiators for 3 days settled the views of the inhabitants at the funeral games arranged in memory of the twice Consul Mark Emilia Lepid's three sons. And only in 105 BC. Thanks to the tireless conversations of the People's Tribunes on the fun of Roman mobile, which has already begun to form as a social class, the gladiatorial battles were introduced to the number of official public spectacles. So Ginn was released from the bottle ...
To the outcome of the II century BC. Fights, who launched a few days in a row, with the participation of not one hundred gladiators, did not surprise anyone. People appeared for whom the content and training of gladiators became a profession. They were called Lanista. The essence of their activities was that they found physically strong slaves in the unfinished markets, and preferably prisoners of war and even criminals, they redeemed them, taught them all the wisdom necessary for performances in the arena, and then leased everyone to arrange gladiator fights.
Nevertheless, the bulk of the professional soldiers of the Arena was the immigrants from gladiator schools. At the time of the board of Octavian Augustus (about 10 years BC) in Rome there were 4 imperial schools: a large, morning, where Bestiaries were preparing - gladiators who fought wild beasts, Galov School and School of Ducks. During training at the school of all gladiators, they fed and treated qualified. An example of this can be the fact that the famous Ancient Roman doctor Galen has worked for a long time in a large imperial school.
Gladiatators slept in pairs in small camorks with an area of \u200b\u200b4-6 sq.m. Training that lasted in the morning and evening were very intense. Under the guidance of the teacher, the former gladiator, the beginners studied fencing. Each of them was given a wooden sword and a shield woven from willow. The strikes were worked out on the ground in the ground with a wooden cola with a height of about 180 cm. At the initial stage of training, the cadet was to master the ability to apply strong and accurate blows into the imaginary chest and the enemy's head, and also not disclose during defense. To strengthen the muscles, the following after the wooden iron educational weapon was scheduled for 2 times heavier than combat.
When the newcomer fastened the basic arts to properly, it, depending on the abilities and physical fitness, was distributed to specialized groups of one or another type of gladiators. The oldest, classic type that existed to the end of the republic was the Samnites, named so by the name of the people, albeit conquered by the Romans, but the last of several military defeats, which were practically exterminated in the first century BC. And, nevertheless, it is their armament of the Romans and provided their first gladiators. It consisted of a large rectangular shield, a helmet with a high ridge and a sultan of feathers, a short straight sword and leaked on his left leg. At the beginning of our era, the name "Samutit" was replaced by a sector (pursuer), although weapons remained the same. They were very like goplomah, with the difference that their shields were big and round.
Rivals of goplomas and sectors were, as a rule, retiores are representatives of one of the most technically complex species of this "sport". Retionaria received this name from their main tool - network (from Lat. - "Rete") with heavy loads at the edges. The task of retiode was to reject the network so as to empty the enemy from head to the legs, and then finish off with a trident or dagger. Neither the helmet nor the shield of retiory was not - he had to count on his own dexterity. This group took the fastest and coordinated beginners.
Frankies were armed with a small round shield, a small curved sword, lay down on both legs, an iron handwriter on his right hand, a helmet with a poslement with a lot of holes that closed the entire face.
On the helmets of Galov, or Murmillon (from Lat. "Murma" - fish) a fish was depicted, and their weapons corresponded to Gallic. Often, the opponents of Murmillon were retiores, saven at the time of a fight, invented in ancient times: "I can't catch you, I catch fish. Why do you run away from me, Gall? ". Several mansion stood an essay - gladiators who fought on battle chariots. They were armed with arkans, prasters, onions and doubles. The first esshynes were prisoner britts, which Julius Caesar brought from its not too successful British campaign.
The least capable disciples fell into Andbay. They were armed with only two daggers, without any additional protection, they tried this equipment with a helmet with two holes, absolutely not coinciding with the eyes. Therefore, the Andanimbers were forced to fight with each other almost blindly, at random swinging with weapons. Circus servants "helped them", pushing out behind hot iron rods. The public has always been very fun, looking at the unfortunate, and this part of the gladiator fights was considered the most funny roman.
Gladiators, like Roman soldiers, had their own charter, some historians call him a Code of honor, but in fact this is a conditional name. Because Initially, the gladiator by definition is not a free person, but the concepts of honor from Roman slaves did not have anything. When a person got into the gladiator school, especially if he was free before, he needed to be legally considered a gladiator, to fulfill a number of actions, in many ways of course purely formal. Gladiatators gave an oath and took the oath for the semblance of military, according to which they had to be considered "formally dead" and transferred their lives to the property of the gladiator school in which they lived, studied, trained and died.
There was a number of unklassic rules and conventions that each gladiator had to stick and not to violate them under any circumstances. The gladiator always during the fight was to keep silence - the only way he could contact with the hall was gestures. When the gladiator raised up the index finger - it symbolized the plea about mercy, but if the thumb was turned down, it symbolized that the fighter was so hard for the wound, could not continue the fight and asks to finish him, for he knew that he would die after the fight. The second semistle points was observing certain "rules" of the dignity, which can be compared with the rules of samurai. Fighter - Gladiator did not have the right to cowardice and fear of death. If the fighter fighters that he dies.
It was supposed to open his face to the enemy so that he finished him, looking at his eyes, or himself cut her throat, removing his helmet and opening his face and eyes to the audience, and those who had to see that they had neither a drop of fear. The third law was that the gladiator could not choose the enemy himself, obviously, it was done in order that fighters in the arena did not reduce their personal accounts and resentments. Going to the field, the gladiator did not know until the latter, with whom he would have to fight.
Among the Roman aristocrats, it became fashionable to have their personal gladiators who not only earned money by performances, but also performed the functions of personal guards, which during the civil unrest of the late republic was extremely relevant. In this regard, all of Julius Caesar, which contained one time to 2 thousand gladiators-bodyguards, who constituted the real army. It must be said that gladiators became not only for the coercion of the slave owner or by the court sentence to the arena, but also absolutely voluntarily, in pursuit of glory and wealth.
Despite all the dangers of this profession, a simple, but strong guy with a Roman social bottom really had a chance to get rich. And although the chances of perishing the Arena on the sand impregnated with blood was much more, many risked. The most fortunate of them, in addition to the love of Roman mobile, and happened, and the Roman Matron, received solid cash prizes from fans and organizers of battles, as well as interest from betting in bookmaker offices. In addition, the Roman spectators often threw money into the arena, especially those who loved the winner, jewels and other expensive trough, which also constituted a considerable share in the income of the circus star. Emperor Nero, for example, gave one day gladiator to the spikula whole palace. And many of the famous fighters were given to everyone who wishing fencing lessons, receiving a very decent fee for it.
Nevertheless, luck in the arena smiled quite a few - the public wanted to see blood and death, so gladiators had to fight seriously, bringing the crowd to fury.
All these animals in the circus were victims of Bestiariyev gradiators. Their training was much longer than classic gladiators. Pupils of the famous Morning School, who received such a name due to the fact that the animal persecution took place in the morning, taught not only the handling of weapons, but also for the dresswork, and also acquainted with the features and haggles of different animals.
Ancient Roman trainers have achieved unprecedented heights in their art: Bears went through the rope, and the Lions put the little ones under the legs of the trapped, but still a living hare, the monkeys rode on the ferocious Girkan hounds, and deer hardened in chariot. This amazing tricks did not have a number. But when a must-beed crowd demanded blood, fearless behavisors appeared in the arena (from Lat. Wenator - a hunter) who could kill animals not only by various types of weapons, but also with bare hands. The highest chic they thought to throw on the head of a lion or a leopard of a raincoat, to clutch it, and then kill the beast with one blow of a sword or a spear.
Huge popularity was also enjoyed by the booming of animals with each other. The Romans for a long time the battle between an elephant and a rhinoceros, during which an elephant grabbed the broom, was noticed by the arena, blinded it with sharp rhinoar rhino, and then trampled the enemy.
Gladiatorovsky fights passed differently. There were fights of single pairs, and sometimes several dozen, and even hundred pa vapors were fighting at the same time. Sometimes, entire performances entered into the practice of mass entertainment in Julia Caesar were played in the arena. So, in a matter of minutes, the grand scenery, portraying the walls of the Carthage, and gladiators, dressed and armed, as legionnaires and Carthaginians, were presented to the city assault. Or in the arena grew a whole forest from freshly edged trees, and gladiators depicted the attack of Germanians on the same legionnaires from the ambush. Fantasy director-producers of the ancient Roman show did not know the borders. And although the Romans were extremely difficult to surprise something, the emperor Claudia, which was ruled in the middle of the i century, it was quite possible. An embodied by his order Naughty (the stage of marine battle) was such a scale that it turned out to be able to hit the imagination of all the inhabitants of the eternal city from Mala to Velik. Although Naumakhi was rare enough, because they were very expensive even for emperors and demanded careful development.
The first naphum spent in 46 BC Julius Caesar. Then a huge artificial lake was dyed on the Marsfield of Rome for the marine battle. In this presentation, 16 gallers participated, on which there were 4 thousand rowers and 2 thousand soldiers-gladiators. It seemed that it was impossible to arrange a more large-scale spectacle, but in 2 BC The first Roman emperor Octavian Augustus after one year preparation presented to the Romans of Naughty with the participation of 24 ships and 3 thousand soldiers, not counting the rowers who played the battle between the Greeks and Persians during Salamine. To beat this record managed only to Emperor Claudia. To hold a lake, which is 80 kilometers from Rome, was chosen to hold Naumakhi's conceived Naumakhi. No other nearby reservoir could simply accommodate 50 real combat triirtes and bires whose crews made up 20,000 sentenced to the arena of criminals. For this clawdium devastated all the city prisons, putting on the ships of everyone who could wear weapons.
And in order to beat off such a number of criminals collected in one place, the hunt to organize a rebellion, the lake was surrounded by troops. The marine battle occurred in that part of the lake, where the hills formed a natural amphitheater. The shortcoming in the audience was not: about 500 thousand people - almost all the adult population of Rome, located on the slopes.
Ships, divided into two fleet, depict the opposition of the Rhodians and Sicilians. The battle that began at about 10 am, ended only in the fourth hour of the day, when the last "Sicilian" ship surrendered. The Roman historian Tacit wrote: "The fighting spirit of the faded criminals was not inferior to the combat spirit of real warriors." The waters of the lake were red from the blood, not to mention the wounded, only those killed were more than 3 thousand people. After the battle of Claudius, he pardoned all those who survived, with the exception of several crews, who applied, in his opinion, from the battle. The public was in the most advanced delight of what he saw. "Replay" Claudia to anyone from subsequent emperors no longer succeeded. It was not by chance that his death mourned literally the whole city, because he, like no one else, perhaps, with the exception of Nero, was able to entertain the public. And for the time of his reign, Claudius showed himself far from a brilliant statesman, it did not prevent him from being almost the most revered in the people of the emperor.
It was the gladiatorial battles held on the arons of the circus were the daily and favorite spectacle of the Romans, who perfectly split in the nuances of hand-to-hand fights.
The public has closely followed the course of the fight, noting the slightest changes in the actions of battle gladiators.
If one of them, during the fight, was seriously injured, he could throw a weapon and raise his hand - he asked the audience to this gesture. If the public liked the way he fought, then people raised up the thumbs of her hands or just waved with scarves, shouting at the same time "release!". If I did not like, the audience lowered the big fingers down the book, yelling "Dae!". The verdict of the crowd was not contested even by the emperor.
It happened that the fight was delayed, and both gladiator wounded for a long time could not overcome one another. Then the audiences could themselves stop the fight and demand from Editor - the organizer of the games - to let go of both fighters from the arena. And the Editor obeyed the "Glass of the People". The same happened in the event that the gladiator pleased the public with his skill and courage that she demanded the immediate delivery of the wooden training sword as a symbol of complete liberation not only from the bouts in the arena, but also from slavery. Of course, it concerned it only prisoners of war and slaves, but not volunteers.
The name of Gladiator Flamma came to this day, during the career of which the delighted spectators demanded four times to give it a wooden sword, and he still refused four times! It is possible that Flamma showed so unheard of stubbornness in pursuit of glory and money. One way or another, but he succeeded, he left the Arenas voluntarily, more or less unharmed, and in rather mature age and being the owner of a decent state.
The gladiator fights were not alien to the educational people of the time. Cicero, for example, assessed these games: "It is useful to see people to see that slaves can be courageously fighting. If even a simple slave can manifest the courage, then what should be the Romans? In addition, the games teach the militant people to mind murder and prepare him for war. " Pliny, Tacitus and many other outstanding Roman writers and thinkers were hot fans of circus spectacles. The exception was, perhaps, only the Peneck philosopher, who had repeatedly ratified for their prohibition, which did not last led to his forced suicide on the orders of his stand-alone pupil of Nero.
Almost all Roman emperors sought to surpass in the grandiiness of each other's games to win the love of the crowd. The emperor Tit on the opening of the Colosseum, which accommodate up to 80 thousand spectators and immediately became the main arena of ancient Rome, ordered the following methods of 17 thousand Jews, who worked on its construction. And the emperor Commod, who passed the course of study in the gladiator school, he himself fought in the arena. All his fights naturally ended with victories. However, the Romans, who did not love the "hack of" in such an important case, pretty quickly forced him to finish the gladiator's career. Although entering the chronicle of games Commoda still managed - one day he killed by a launch shots from the onion five very expensive hippos. The emperor Domitsian, being a virtuoso in archery, loved to swee the audience, hitting the head of a lion's head or a bear, so that the arrows seemed to be horns for them. And from the nature of animals - deer, bulls, bison and so on he killed a shot into the eye. It must be said that the Roman people loved this ruler very much.
They met among the Roman emperors and merry. With the name Galline, for example, a very funny story is associated. One jeweler who sold fake precious stones and sentenced to the arena, the Bestiaria was kicked out for the middle of the circus and was installed opposite the closed lion's cell. The unfortunate with the fading of the heart was waiting for an inevitable and more terrible death, and then the door of the cell opened, and it came out of it ... chicken. The jeweler did not comply with the stress fainted. When the spectators dared, Gallien commanded to declare: "This man was deceived, so he was deceived." Then the jeweler led to the feeling and let go on all four sides.
By the beginning of the IV century, gladiatorial battles and animal etches began to decline gradually. It was the time when the once the Great Roman Empire began literally to be squeezed under the blows of numerous "barbaric" tribes. The situation was aggravated by the incessant economic crisis - the Romans themselves practically did not work, and the bridal goods were continuously significant. Therefore, the Roman emperors of that period had enough worries, in addition to the device of expensive games. And, nevertheless, they continued, although already without former scope. Finally, the gladiatorial battles were prohibited 72 to the fall of the Roman Empire.
The end of the bloody orgies in the arena put the Christian Church, which became in the late Roman Empire, seriously as spiritual and political strength. Withstand the terrible persecution in the first 300 years and losing tens of thousands of the first followers of Christ, tortured everything in the same arena, the church in 365 achieved a widespread ban of the crowbar in the circuses. In 404, the monk of Telam, intervening in the battle of gladiators, managed to stop his attendance of his own life. This event was the last straw, which was overwhelmed by the Chat of the patience of Emperor-Christian Goning, who had fallen on the battles official ban.
For historians to this day, the fate of women - gladiators remains for the book. Do not doubt, the brutal morals of that time could be allowed. In 2000, all world newspapers proclaimed a sensation: "Women's remains - gladiator are found!". This, according to the truth, the shocking find was made by British scientists who conducted an excavation of the study of the Roman period. If earlier, the only thing that proved the fact that women not only could participate in battles, but participated in them, there were only scientists' hypotheses. After studying the pelvic bones and the spine, the scientists were able to establish with great accuracy that the remains found belong to the woman. After conducting a complex analysis, the decisive age, scientists stated the fact that rates belong to the Roman period.
A woman died from numerous damage, and it may be assumed, participated in a fight with animals. The Romans professed paganism, and therefore the nature of the Roman religion did not prohibit women to "Lying" i.e. reincarnate, by means of theatrical game. For the first time, a woman as an actor on stage was seen with neuron. Neuron enthusiastically enjoyed the beauty of the female body and attracted women not only to execution on the scene of songs and theatrical acts, but also to real fights. Gradually, a woman moved from the theater to the amphitheater. The first in the history of the Gladiator's battles in honor of the death of women were held after the death of the beloved daughter Caesar Yulia. There is also information that these games were accompanied by women's ritual dancing, during which women imitated the battle. Of course, no one for sure no longer names the names of women of gladiators, the reasons for this somewhat. First, entering school, they may have received male names under which they were buried, secondly, even reading Roman historians, it becomes clear that women's battles were more mysterious and sacred ... and the secrets are known, it is not being disclosed.
The speech of women - gladiators, which refers to the light in the life of the emperor Domitsian (81-96), already at that time was considered something new. The circus was arranged bloody fights of women - gladiators, in which even women from the honorable families were participated, which was considered particularly shameful. On the 9th year of the Board of Nero, these battles took incredible scales. It would be completely wrong to think that the representatives of the gentle sex only in advanced and emancipated twentieth century so stubbornly sought to assign all the original men's behavior, participation in public life, clothing, professions, hobbies. Such is the nature of the woman that she always wants the fact that, in theory, she should not belong. So, the ancient Greek has been made a lot of effort (up to risk to lose life), to get to the Forbidden Olympic Games for Women, and the ancient Romans adored men's baths and a male rampant lifestyle. Moreover, women-gladiators sometimes winked over representatives of the strongest sex.
The world changed, and with him the value orientations of people were changing. When the Roman emperor was Konstantin, Christianity was hard and gained strength. Gradually, the church became a strong feudal, she owned the land and as a result, seriously influenced public policy.
Konstantin himself - the great accepted Christianity first among the Roman emperors, however, did it a few minutes before his death. Soon Christianity was taken equal to the Roman language of religion, and after and completely displaced the pagan views of the Romans about the gods, and imposed monothe. As a collection of the first church cathedral, it was decided to fight bloody pagan playing. The convicts of the highest dawn no longer erected to death and did not throw in the arena with the predatory thirsty blood of animals, instead they were incriminated to forced hard work.
However, even after the adoption of this Edict on the Administant Peninsula, the priests, with the consent of the emperor, still continued to organize gladiatorial battles. The priests, the bread for which was the ministry of a bloody cult, did not want to part with their familiar and understandable rituals, and with their light hands, gladiator's battles were almost revived. However, in 357, Emperor Konstantin Second forbade the military-rich young men to join the gladiator schools, and in 399 the last of them closed. But, to part with the habit of seeing death, living in society for a long time, was not so simple. Five years later, a new imperial decree was needed decisively and irrevocably prohibiting the organization of both schools and gladiator battles. The reason for this was the tragic death of the Christian novice in 404, a certain telemace. The monk ran into the arena and tried to calm the fighting, but instead he was broken by an angry crowd. After that, the emperor Ganory forbade the gladiator. forever and ever.
"Telemas stops gladiators." Picture of J. Stallert, 1890 And next time I will tell you about the uprising of Spartacus.
Sources
http://www.mystic-chel.ru/
http://www.istorya.ru/
http://www.gramotey.com/
And I remind you of this disputed topic: And let's remember The original article is on the site Inforos Link to an article with which this copy is made -
Gladiator ancient Rome There was a professional fighter who specialized in a concrete weapon and fought before the public on large, specially built arena. Such arena were built throughout the Roman Empire.
Gladiatorovsky fights have begun from 105 to n. e. and had the status of official competitions until 404 N. e. The battles continued, as a rule, to the death of one of the gladiators. It was on this life expectancy of such fighters was short. And although it was prestigious to be a gladiator, most of the fighters were slaves released by slaves or convicted. Without a doubt, the gladiator fights were one of the most popular forms of entertainment in ancient Rome.
Romans in many respects believed the signs and traditions of their Italian ancestors, etrues. For example, animal sacrifices were used to predict the future, symbolic fascia were used and gladiatorial battles were organized. Etrusks associated the competition of this kind with the conduct of ceremonies of death, so the gladiatorial battles had a certain religious value for them. Although the first private gladiator competitions took place in 264 BC. e. And they were organized in memory of the death of the Father, later for the organization of official battles, this reason was not taken into account. However, traces of religious origin left the tradition to finish defeated gladiators. In this case, the assistant should have hit the forehead to the victim gladiator. The duty assistant was supposed to wear a suit, which is a suit of God Hermes, who accompanied the souls into the afterlife or "Charun". The presence of God's Messenger and the Emperor, accompanied by priests and Vestnok, showed some pseudo-religious trend on battles.
Roman gladiator fights gave the opportunity to emperors and rich aristocrats to demonstrate their wealth to the population. The battles were arranged in honor of the military victories, visits of important officials, in honor of the birthday celebration or just to distract the people from economic and political problems. In the eyes of the public, it was something like entertainment, which became literally a question of life and death. These extremely popular events took place on all mass arena of the Roman Empire. The Colosseum (Amphitheater Flaviev) was the largest of them. From 30 to 50 thousand spectators from all layers of the Roman society Flushed here for entertainment in bloody spectacles, where the hunt for wild and exotic animals was arranged, executed executions, religious martyrs threw in cells with lions, starches were arranged, which were symbols of Roman virtue, honor And courage.
Used all their fighting skills, fighting under the motto "Kill or Be killed." A popular misconception is the statement that gladiators welcomed their emperor at the beginning of each battle rows: "Long live the emperor! We, going to death, welcome you! " However, in reality, these words were uttered in honor of the prisoners and those killed in the initiated marine battles (Naumachia), which were also held on closed arenas for special cases.
Most often gladiaators were slaves or criminalsAlso many prisoners of war were forced to perform on the arons. There were cases when, due to bankruptcy, the aristocrats had to make money on the life of a sword, for example, simpronius (sempronius), a descendant of a powerful clan of grakhs. It should be noted that before the adoption of the Septimius Severus law (Septimia North) in 200 n. e., women were allowed to fight in the role of gladiators.
Across the entire empire were created special gladiator schools. In Rome itself, three such barracks were located. Kapui is one of the barracks, which was especially famous for his gladiators. All over the risk Empire, the agents produced a search for potential gladiators to meet the ever-growing demand and fill out schools that had to have a huge turnover of fighters. Conditions in schools were like a prison - small cells and shackles, however, the food was better (for example, a sprouted barley), as well as students received the opportunity to provide them with better medical care, as they were for school an expensive investment.
Winners of gladiator battles became the favorites of the crowd and were especially popular among women.
Term " Gladiator"Comes from Latin gladiators., By the name of their main weapon Gladius or a short sword. However, there was a wide range of other types of weapons used in gladiator battles. Also, the gladiators wore armor and helmets, which, in particular, were samples of great skill, were richly decorated with decorative ornaments, and the ridges were decorated with feathers of ostriches and peacocks. The type of weapons and armor depended on what kind of gladiator belonged to.
Types of gladiators
In ancient Rome, there were four main types of gladiators:
- view of Samutit, was named after the great warriors of the Samutorov, who fought for Rome in the first years of the empire. Interestingly, the Romans used the words "gladiator" and "self" as synonyms. One of the best armaments of Samuntit was a sword or a spear, a large square shield and protective armor on his right hand and left leg;
- Thracian gladiator (Frakian) had a short curved sword (Sica) and a very small square or round shield (Parma), which was substituted to deviate enemy strikes;
- gladiator MurmillonAlso known as "Fishman", was equipped in the image of the fish - the comb was installed on the helmet. Like the selfite, he had a short sword and shield, but from the armor there were only lining on hand and leg;
- w. gladiator Retiary There was no helmet nor armor, except for soft shoulder linings. He had a network and a trident as a weapon. He tried to confuse his opponent by the network, and then hit his trident.
Gladiators fought in certain combinations. As a rule, for contrast, pairs were selected, which consisted of a slow and well-protected by heavy gladiator armor (Murmillalon) against fast and less protected gladiator (retiory).
Other less common types of gladiators with different combinations of weapons and armor were also known, whose names change over time. For example, "Samutit" and "Gall" became politically not correct when these countries became allies. Other types of gladiators included archers, boxers and a festival (armed with a dart or dagger) who fought wild animals.
Those who lacked courage in the duel were forced to fight using leather whips and hot metal bars. However, under the perturbed roar of crowds (from 40 thousand spectators) and the ruthless attack of their opponent, many fought to the end. There were cases and refusal to fight. One of the most famous cases was the gladiator match, organized by Quint Azerbaija Simmakh in 401 N. E. When the German prisoners who had to fight the games, instead they hanged themselves in their cameras, thereby leaving the Roman population without a spectacle.
If the loser gladiator was not killed on the spot, he applied for pardon, lowering weapons and a shield and raising his finger. The enemy could show a condesception, although then there was a risk of a re-meeting in the arena, but it was considered a good professional practice. If the emperor was attended on the battles, then he took the decision, although the crowd tried to influence his judgments, waving rags and hand gestures, "the thumbs raised up and shouted" Mitte! ", What meant" Give him to leave "; The thumb down and shouted "Iugula!", which meant "execute it."
The winners of the fights, especially multiple, became the favorites of the crowd and in honor of them were created images on Roman buildings, as well as they were popular among the female half of the population of ancient Rome.
Graffiti Pompeii give a unique opportunity to learn how much gladiators were recognized as a public. They depict the gladiators and the number of their victories, for example, the north of 55. However, the average victory was significantly lower. Sometimes they were fighting when the winners of one battle were fighting with the winners of others, until alone remained alive. The winners were awarded material prizes, which included the prestigious palm branch of victory and a silver dish with money. After many years of victory, Gladiano was given freedom.
Perhaps, one of the most famous gladiators was Spartak, who was headed by the uprising of gladiators and slaves in 73 BC. e.
Moreover, the Ancient Roman state itself took the troubles of their organization. So in 65 BC. The then emperor - Guy Julius Caesar, spent the games in which more than 320 pairs of brave gladiators took part (with many of them you will meet when you start play online on our website).
The action was so epic that before the depth of the soul was struck by the present audience and united the horror in the soul of unfriendly Romans of the neighbors. Hands armed to teeth demonstrated real wonders of military science, and the people who encouraged their cries of approval are fantastic bloodthiance. Inexpressible, cruel, but at the same time fascinating the atmosphere of the vague era will open in front of you in all its glory, as soon as the Gladiator's gladiatory game is loaded.
Life or death - no other options
Each online Gladiators game From this section is a mega exciting, gambling battle, designed to participate one or two players. He will have to do with everyone who is interested in history or simply an Internet surfit in search of fresh portions of adrenaline. In it, you can enter the arena in ancient armor and test your strength in battle with the most strong warriors of ancient Rome.
Gladiators game offers gamer participation in a difficult, dynamically developing duel, the key to the victory in which its composure and ability to own the mouse. It is, as well as the keys with arrows on the keyboard, you will strike on the enemy. As a rule, any first battle is preceded by a training stage. He gives the player the opportunity to master the main techniques and blows. The glasses are not accrued and not removed, so there are no winners, no losing time during such an online workout.
The range of online fighters presented in this section can be divided into two groups: step-by-step, in which rivals apply to each other shocks alternately, and simultaneous, where all actions are made chaotically and depend on the one who best owns the mouse. Both those and others are available on our website for free, so you can enjoy the good fight of handsome gladiators without any restrictions. The territory of Fight maneuvers is limited to the arena, which completely eliminates the element of the chase and gives the gamers the opportunity to focus on the Boy.
Favorite by the audience and sometimes despised by the elite, Roman gladiators were antiquity heroes. For almost seven centuries, they attracted crowds of the people to the arena and amphitheaters, showing their skill, strength and dexterity. Bloody battles of gladiators were equally sporting, theatrical production and cold-blooded murder.
Here are some facts about mysterious warriors who have become the pillar of the most massive, ill and popular entertainment, which has stored the history of ancient Rome.
Not all gladiators were slaves
Most of the first soldiers were brought to the gladiator schools in chains, however, by the first century n. e. The ratio of slaves and free people has changed very much. Creek and confession of the crowd, trepidation and excitement attracted a lot of free people in schools who hoped to get glory and money. These free birds were most often desperate by people who had nothing to lose or former soldiers who had the necessary training and knowledge for the battles in the arena. Sometimes some patricians and even senators wishing to show their military training were temporarily adjacent to the rank of gladiators.
Fights of gladiators were initially part of the funeral ceremony
Most modern historians insist that the performances of gladiators in the arena take roots from the bloody tradition to arrange battles between slaves or criminals at the funeral of outstanding aristocrats. This kind of bloody necrologist follows from the belief of the ancient Romans that human blood clears the soul of the deceased. Thus, these cruel rites replaced the human sacrifice. On the occasion of the death of his father and daughter, Julius Caesar organized battles between hundreds of gladiators. Presentations used mass popularity in the first century BC. e. Ancient Rome began to arrange the gladiator fights whenever the government needed to calm down, distract or enlist the support of the crowd.
They didn't always beat to death
Despite the popular image of gladiator fights in literature and cinema as spontaneous and uncontrolled bloodshed, most of them were carried out in accordance with strict rules. Most often, the battles were one on one between the gladiators of similar physique and with equal combat experience. The judges looked after the battle and stopped him if one of the opponents received a serious injury. Sometimes fights ended a draw, if they were too tightened. If gladiators managed to show an interesting idea and bring the crowd to delight, both opponents were allowed to leave the arena with honor.
The famous gesture "finger down" did not mean death
When the gladiator was seriously injured or preferred to recognize defeat, throwing the weapon to the side, to solve his fate was given to the audience. Various artworks often describe the crowd with thumbs thrown upwards, if the audience wanted to save the loser. But it is likely that this opinion is not entirely true. Historians believe that the gesture of the mercy was different - a thumb hidden in his fist. The fact is that the finger symbolized the sword, and to them the crowd showed exactly how it was necessary to kill the loser: a thumb up could mean cut, finger to the side - blow to the sword between the blades, and the finger down - a deep blow to the sword in the neck, towards Heart. Gestles were often accompanied by loud cries demanding release or kill.
Gladiators were divided into types and classes, according to the types of fighting and experience
To the opening of the Colosseum in 80 n. E. Fights of gladiators have become highly organized, bloody sports with their directions and types of weapons. The division of fighters into classes occurred in their level of training, experience in the arena and the weight category. The separation of types depended on the choice of weapons and the type of fighting, the most popular types were Murmillon, Goplomakh and Thracians, whose weapons were sword and shield. Equates were also riders, essays - chariot fighters, Dimehers - armed with two swords or daggers and many others.
They rarely fought wild beasts
Among military types were both the Bestiaries, which were originally criminals sentenced to a fight with wild animals, with a slight chance to survive. Later, the bastiary began to train specially for fights with animals, they were armed with darts and daggers. In animal battles, the remaining gladiators participated very rarely, even though the battles were organized so that the beast had no chance to survive. Often presentations with the participation of wild animals opened battles and at the same time used for the public execution of criminals.
Women were also gladiators
Basically it was slaves, too high for homework, but occasionally free women of Rome joined them. Historians cannot say for sure when, for the first time, the gladiatoric armor was trying on themselves, but it is just known that by the first century n. e. They were regular participants in battle. They often became the subject of ridicule on the part of the patriarchal Roman elite, but used their comparative popularity at the crowd. Despite this, Emperor Septimia North forbade women to participate in any games at the beginning of the III century.
Gladiators had their own trade unions
Despite the fact that the gladiators were forced to fight each other, sometimes even death, they considered themselves as a fraternity and sometimes gathered in the college. The gladiator trade unions had their chosen leaders, patronage deities and fees. When one of them died in battle, the college paid his family compensation and arranged a false funeral.
The emperors sometimes participated in the battles of gladiators
Among the regulars of the Arena were Caligula, Commod, Adrian and Tit. Most often they took part in the battles or had an obvious advantage over opponents. The emperor Commod once defeated several frightened and poorly armed spectators.
Gladiators often became famous and enjoyed success in women
Roman historians were often called the gladiators with uneducated booms, the elite looked at them, but successful fighters enjoyed loud success among the lower estates. Their portraits were decorated with taverns and houses, the children played with clay figures of favorite gladiators, and the girls wore hairpins, covered with blood of gladiators.
The Romans turned the gladiator fights into cruel fun, but invented the entertainment of their ancestors of Etrusca. The ritual wore a religious significance and accompanied the burial process of wealthy people. The sacrifice was committed in honor of the deceased. In the struggle, there was someone who falls in the fight and will delight the cult of Mars.
For the first time fighting gladiators passed in the empire in 264 BC The event also marked the funeral of a noble citizen of the Empire. The event was carried out with the participation of three pairs of fighters on retail space. The tradition was remembered in 50 years during the funeral of the Son of the Consul. The funeral games were organized on the Roman Forum built on the occasion. The battles were made for three days and more than 20 pairs of fighters took part in them.
Over the next 100 years, the work of gladiators was used for burials. In 105 BC Competitions received entertainment status in Rome.
The crowd was delighted with battles, and politicians, in turn, tried to conquer the nationwide love and the location of Roman citizens. Before coming to power in the Empire, Caesar arranged games with the participation of 320 pairs of fighters-gladiators. After that, the Roman Senate decided to limit the number of participants in the event. Officials were forbidden to carry out games two years before election to a high position.
Were slaves gladiators in ancient Rome
Gladiators were considered professionals in the skill of struggle. They specialized in handling a certain type of weapon. Fights were conducted on the Public Arena of the Roman Empire. Amphitheaters for representations were built in the period from 105 to 404 BC.
Gladiator's battles, usually ended in death. The life expectancy of the battle was short, but the profession was considered prestigious. Most gladiators belonged to the class of slaves, free citizens or were prisoners. Bloody battles often replaced the death penalty. Without a doubt, the spectacles on the Arena of the Roman Empire were one of the most popular forms of entertainment in antiquity.
Gladiators were trained in the art of fighting in schools of skill. They gave oath and were not considered to be people: did not testify in court, sold, leased. The profession of gladiator was heated by romanticism, although in fact there were often the poor in search of good nutrition. Some men went to the arenas in search of glory. Stories are known when gladiators were given freedom.
The life of gladiators of ancient Rome
Gladiator's games were conducted by the Emperors of Rome and the local aristocracy to demonstrate their power and wealth. The event marked the high victory of the state or the visit of the official or diplomat of another state. Fighters fought on arons on the birthday of wealthy people or to distract people from everyday problems, solving political and economic issues.
The largest platform in the history of ancient Rome was the Colosseum in the center of Rome - Amphitheater Flaviev. The ancient stadium accompanied from 30 to 50 thousand spectators. Representatives of the Roman society in advance acquired tickets to the bloody attraction of death. Wild and exotic animals died of gladiator's hands. In the case of their victory, men threw the lions.
The misconception is common that gladiators were required to welcome the Emperor Rome at the beginning of each show with the words:
Ave Imperator, Morituri Te Salutant
"Long live the emperor, we who come to death, welcome you!"
In fact, these words uttered prisoners, doomed to death in battles at sea.
Often, gladiators were prisoners of war, forced to work in the arena. There are cases when bankrupt aristocrats came out on the arena. For example, the Gladiator was the famous sempture - a descendant of the powerful dynasty of the Grakhkhs.
Before entering the village of Septmius Severus in 200, N.E., women were forbidden to act as a gladiator.
The set in the battle schools of gladiators was constantly conducted. The conditions of residence in them were like a prison: shackles and small born premises. However, the food was fed much better to promote health. Gladiators received good medical support.
To defeat the competitions became the favorites of the people and enjoyed much popular in women.
Refused to enter the arena beat leather whites, as well as hot metal rods. A perturbed crowd of 30-40 thousand spectators demanded the killing of the enemy. The most famous case of refusal during the battle, organized by Kwint Avrellia Simmach 401 AD. German prisoners, instead of entering the arena, strangled each other in cells, depriving the spectacle Roman citizens.
When the gladiator did not kill at once, his opponent could show mercy and leave alive. He raised the weapon with a shield and finger. Although his opponent at that moment could kill him. If the emperor was present during the presentation, the fate of the gladiator solved the crowd, waving the tissues and making gestures with his hands. The word "Mitte!" And the thumb raised upstairs meant "Let them go!" Finger down and expression "iugula!" - "execute it!"
About the life of gladiators tell scenes on the walls of the ancient Pompeii. On the images indicated how many victories won a fighter: Petronia Octavian - 35, Severus - 55, NACATION - 60. The winner was handed a palm branch of victory, crown and often a silver dish.
Conducting gladiator competitions confluence with the new Christian religion that came to ancient Rome in 404 AD. Emperor Honorius closed school of gladiators. The last event was the arrival of a monk from Malaya Asia, Telemach, who stopped the bloodshed of stuck between the fighters. An outrageous crowd threw the monk by stones to death.
As a result, the Emperor Honorius as a result banned the gladiator fights, although the hunt for wild animals remained for a long time. The Romans complained to cancel popular entertainment.
How were the fights of gladiators in ancient Rome
The days of gladiator fighting were declared festive in the empire. Preparation for the event was carried out for a long time, she was engaged in specially trained people - Editors. They made an advertisement, sold tickets.
The search and redemption of gladiators were engaged in citizens with a natural profession. They were looking for in the markets of physically strong slaves and prisoners of war and brought them to schools to teach fighting skills.
On the appointed day of citizens, they were searched strictly according to social status. Massed a huge number of citizens. The show was accompanied by a theatrical show. Then wild animals were produced. With them fought sentenced to death convicts. In case of defeating victory, they were given life.
The battles were under musical accompaniment. Rhythms of music accelerated as struggle. The main goal of the Gladiator was to strike a skull or artery. The demonstration of military skills was equated by the civilian population in ancient Rome to heroism.
Types of gladiators in ancient Rome
The term gladiatores meant "weapons" or "short sword". In competitions, many other types of weapons were used. Gladiators wore armor and helmets with decorative motifs, decorated with ostrich or peacock feathers.
The quality of weapons and armor depended on the class of gladiator. Highlighted four main groups.
- The Class "Samutit" was named after the soldiers-Samutori, who fought in the first years on the Arena of the Republic. Initially, the Romans used the word "self" as the synonym for the gladiator of Etruscan origin. They were well armed, had a spear and sword, shield, protective armor on hand and leg.
- Thracian gladiators were armed with a curved short sword (sika) and a square or round shield (Parma) to protect against shock.
- Other gladiators were known as Murmillon. They had a comb in the shape of the fish on the helmet. Like the samnets, they wore short swords and had armor pads on their hands and legs.
- The retiode did not wear a helmet or armor. He carried the metal grid in which he tried to conclude his opponent. Having entered his network, he applied the final blow to his trident.
Gladiators fought in pairs in different combinations. This made it possible to ensure the contrast between armored slow classes as Francian, and protected as retiore.
Names and classes changed over time. For example, "Samutit" and "Gallium" names began to sound incorrectly when countries with similar names became allied. Also on the ancient Arena Rome, archers, bastiarys and boxers, who hunted wild animals.
Who gave the names of gladiators of ancient Rome
The name of the gladiator was part of his stage image. Fighters gave names in schools of skill or owners of slaves. In any case, they wore Roman origin. About the "barbaric" citizens of ancient Rome did not want to hear.
The most famous gladiators of ancient Rome
The most famous gladiator Rome was Spartak. He headed in 73 BC. The uprising of gladiators and slaves from Kapui. Roman soldier, he was captured by the military in Thrace for transportation to the school of gladiators.
He organized an escape with 70 comrades from school and created a defensive camp on the slope of Vesuvia. The camp was besieged by Roman military, after which they left Pzizia and went to the path around the Campania. Former gladiators organized their own combat group. Fighting on the way in the north of the Alps, Spartak showed the features of the military leader in the fight against the Roman army. Spartak died in battle, but before he managed to free the three hundred military prisoners in honor of his fallen comrade.
After two years after the uprising, the army brand Licinia Crassa finally arrested the rebels in Apulia in the south of Italy. More than 6,000 gladiators along the Appia Road between Capua and Rome were crucified. After that episode, the number of gladiators belonging to citizens was strictly controlled.
Another famous gladiator is the emperor Commod (108-192 AD). There were rumors that he was an extramarital son of Gladiator. He was not a professional fighter, but he received huge money for his speeches in the Coliseum. The emperor dressed as Mercury and competed in the arena. More often, he killed wild animals with a closed platform with a bow.
The gladiator Spikul was so inimitable in the art of conducting combat that Emperor Nero gave him a whole palace.