Advantages And Disadvantages Of Being A Roman Gladiator
“I will endure to be burned, to be bound, to be beaten, and to be killed by the sword.” This is the oath every gladiator would take before entering the coliseum. After reciting this phrase and preparing mentally and physically they would be let out into the arena where they would fight until the end. They would fight using different types of weapons and gear or sometimes almost nothing at all. The fight might be against another gladiator or against exotic animals who will be fighting for their life just as much them. The Roman Gladiators were the toughest and most brutal fighters of their time. The early times of being a gladiator is different than what people think it would be. The whole concept of being a gladiator and the coliseum
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Four out of the many classes were Samnite, Thracian, Murmillo, and the Retiarius. They all had special weapons and different fighting techniques they used during the fight. Gladiators of the same class normally fought each other to keep it fair. They would also fight gladiators from the same school unless specifically requested. The Samnite would be heavily armed with a sword or lance and a large square shield. They would also have armor on their right arm and left leg. The Thracian would have a curved sword and a small square shield. The Murmillo had a fish shaped helmet, a short sword, and a large shield. Like the Samnite they would have padding on the arm and leg. Last and certainly the least is the Retiarius. All this gladiator had was a net made of rope and a trident. This class could only try to capture enemies in their net and then try to stab them, which was flawed in many ways.
Just like the types of gladiators there were also different types of fights and events. Gladiator fights could consist of other gladiators, animals, and emperors. If they did fight animals it would be extremely rare. They would be fought by certain types of gladiators during opening events. These events were often called animal hunts. They would usually fight exotic animals such as ostriches, deer, lions, crocodiles, bears, elephants, and giraffes. The more exotic the animals to the roman people the more interested the spectators would
Four out of the many classes were Samnite, Thracian, Murmillo, and the Retiarius. They all had special weapons and different fighting techniques they used during the fight. Gladiators of the same class normally fought each other to keep it fair. They would also fight gladiators from the same school unless specifically requested. The Samnite would be heavily armed with a sword or lance and a large square shield. They would also have armor on their right arm and left leg. The Thracian would have a curved sword and a small square shield. The Murmillo had a fish shaped helmet, a short sword, and a large shield. Like the Samnite they would have padding on the arm and leg. Last and certainly the least is the Retiarius. All this gladiator had was a net made of rope and a trident. This class could only try to capture enemies in their net and then try to stab them, which was flawed in many ways.
Just like the types of gladiators there were also different types of fights and events. Gladiator fights could consist of other gladiators, animals, and emperors. If they did fight animals it would be extremely rare. They would be fought by certain types of gladiators during opening events. These events were often called animal hunts. They would usually fight exotic animals such as ostriches, deer, lions, crocodiles, bears, elephants, and giraffes. The more exotic the animals to the roman people the more interested the spectators would