How to become a Gladiator in the 2nd century AD
Ways you can get into the Arena - Every major city has an amphitheater, with over 200 throughout the empire in all.
1. You are a Condemned criminal sent to the arena (instead of crucifixion or the slave-mines). A munerarius financing a gladiator show can apply to the courts for a supply of condemned prisoners to be disposed of in the arena.
Damnatio ad bestias - condemned to die by wild beasts as noxi (condemned to death).
Damnatio ad gladium - condemned to die by the sword. You may be given a sword too, so you can fight to live a little longer.
Damnatio ad ludos - condemned to die in the arena, which means you might be given a chance to become a gladiator!
2. You are a Prisoner of war. From AD 160 onward, Marcus Aurelius defeated huge numbers of Germans, Parthians, Africans, and Britons. These warriors were ideal fighters for the arena. Most gladiator types are styled after the enemies of Rome.
3. You are a Disobedient slave. A punishment for bad behavior, and convenient way to cull out violent or recalcitrant slaves.
4. You are a Volunteer; attracted by the perverse glamour of the arena as an auctoratus (author of your own misfortune).
Virtus causa - fight to show off their martial skill (like the emperor Commodus, or bad sons from good families).
Quaestus causa - fight for money, such as debtors, lower-class country boys, or disgraced soldiers (disbarred from fighting for the army). They are socially-ostracized from decent society as infamis and can't vote, hold public office, or a civil burial plot.
The auctoratus negotiates a basic salary (the legal payment for your death in the arena is 4000 sestertii, with half paid upfront) under a four-year contract, but once food, bedding, training and medical expenses are deducted you may be little better off than the gladiator slaves.
5. You could also be a female gladiatrix, clown, cripple, or dwarf allowed to fight purely as amusing novelty acts.
1. You are a Condemned criminal sent to the arena (instead of crucifixion or the slave-mines). A munerarius financing a gladiator show can apply to the courts for a supply of condemned prisoners to be disposed of in the arena.
Damnatio ad bestias - condemned to die by wild beasts as noxi (condemned to death).
Damnatio ad gladium - condemned to die by the sword. You may be given a sword too, so you can fight to live a little longer.
Damnatio ad ludos - condemned to die in the arena, which means you might be given a chance to become a gladiator!
2. You are a Prisoner of war. From AD 160 onward, Marcus Aurelius defeated huge numbers of Germans, Parthians, Africans, and Britons. These warriors were ideal fighters for the arena. Most gladiator types are styled after the enemies of Rome.
3. You are a Disobedient slave. A punishment for bad behavior, and convenient way to cull out violent or recalcitrant slaves.
4. You are a Volunteer; attracted by the perverse glamour of the arena as an auctoratus (author of your own misfortune).
Virtus causa - fight to show off their martial skill (like the emperor Commodus, or bad sons from good families).
Quaestus causa - fight for money, such as debtors, lower-class country boys, or disgraced soldiers (disbarred from fighting for the army). They are socially-ostracized from decent society as infamis and can't vote, hold public office, or a civil burial plot.
The auctoratus negotiates a basic salary (the legal payment for your death in the arena is 4000 sestertii, with half paid upfront) under a four-year contract, but once food, bedding, training and medical expenses are deducted you may be little better off than the gladiator slaves.
5. You could also be a female gladiatrix, clown, cripple, or dwarf allowed to fight purely as amusing novelty acts.
Choosing a Gladiator Name
Gladiators are in the entertainment business, so it helps to have a catchy name. Most gladiator-helmets conceal your face, so it is possible to fight anonymously, and if you are the rebellious son of a noble family disgracing yourself in the arena, then something besides Ovis Nero Familae ("Black sheep of the family") might be in order. For this reason too, many poorly-performing fighters have been laughed at by the audience and accused of being runaway-slaves in disguise using the arena as a hiding place. The most famous gladiator in history was a Thracian that fought as a Murmillo, but many assume that "Spartacus" was a Spartan, so it pays to be careful what you choose if you want to be remembered correctly.
Many names are taken from mythology, such as mighty Ajax, noble Hector, beautiful Narcissus, and invincible Achilles. Two female gladiatrices are recorded as "Achillia" and "Amazonia". The poet Martial writes about the gladiator "Hermes the Hurricane", named after the god Hermes that led dead souls to the Underworld, who seems to have lived up to his namesake. Other choices might be Victor, Felix (Lucky), Hilarus (Happy), Maximus (Greatest), and Lepidus (Nice) who ironically is really very mean!
Gladiators are in the entertainment business, so it helps to have a catchy name. Most gladiator-helmets conceal your face, so it is possible to fight anonymously, and if you are the rebellious son of a noble family disgracing yourself in the arena, then something besides Ovis Nero Familae ("Black sheep of the family") might be in order. For this reason too, many poorly-performing fighters have been laughed at by the audience and accused of being runaway-slaves in disguise using the arena as a hiding place. The most famous gladiator in history was a Thracian that fought as a Murmillo, but many assume that "Spartacus" was a Spartan, so it pays to be careful what you choose if you want to be remembered correctly.
Many names are taken from mythology, such as mighty Ajax, noble Hector, beautiful Narcissus, and invincible Achilles. Two female gladiatrices are recorded as "Achillia" and "Amazonia". The poet Martial writes about the gladiator "Hermes the Hurricane", named after the god Hermes that led dead souls to the Underworld, who seems to have lived up to his namesake. Other choices might be Victor, Felix (Lucky), Hilarus (Happy), Maximus (Greatest), and Lepidus (Nice) who ironically is really very mean!
Choosing a Gladiator fighting style
Most gladiators fight with solid enclosed helmets that make your head practically invulnerable, but severely restrict vision and breathing. You will also have manica plate-metal arm-protection, at least one shin-guard, perhaps a chest-plate, and various types of wrapped-wool padded limb-protections.
If you are big and strong, but not so fast, then you probably want to fight as one of the heavies with a giant shield that gives good cover, but can also be swung to smash your opponent's face in. These types include the Provocator (Challenger), Secutor (Chaser), and Murmillo (Fishman) named for the fin on top of his helmet.
If you are small and fast, then you should probably be a parmulari (small-shield) fighter that relies on speed and agility. These types include Hoplomachus (Hoplite-fighter) that has the advantage of a long-range spear, and Thracian, who has a Griffin on top of his helmet, symbol of Nemesis the goddess of vengeance.
If you are really quick and clever, then you can fight without a helmet or shield as a Dimachaerus (two-swords), or as a Retiarius (Net-fighter) using a trident (three-teeth) and throwing-net to catch your prey.
The main rules are to have fun, kill your opponent, or at least cripple them, and not die.
Most gladiators fight with solid enclosed helmets that make your head practically invulnerable, but severely restrict vision and breathing. You will also have manica plate-metal arm-protection, at least one shin-guard, perhaps a chest-plate, and various types of wrapped-wool padded limb-protections.
If you are big and strong, but not so fast, then you probably want to fight as one of the heavies with a giant shield that gives good cover, but can also be swung to smash your opponent's face in. These types include the Provocator (Challenger), Secutor (Chaser), and Murmillo (Fishman) named for the fin on top of his helmet.
If you are small and fast, then you should probably be a parmulari (small-shield) fighter that relies on speed and agility. These types include Hoplomachus (Hoplite-fighter) that has the advantage of a long-range spear, and Thracian, who has a Griffin on top of his helmet, symbol of Nemesis the goddess of vengeance.
If you are really quick and clever, then you can fight without a helmet or shield as a Dimachaerus (two-swords), or as a Retiarius (Net-fighter) using a trident (three-teeth) and throwing-net to catch your prey.
The main rules are to have fun, kill your opponent, or at least cripple them, and not die.
Joining a Gladiator School
Gladiator Schools are overseen by the imperial government office of procuratores familiae ludi to ensure all fighters are kept under strict control, as nobody wants a repeat of the Spartacus gladiator-slave-rebellion that occurred way back in 73 BC. In Rome there are imperial schools that funnel fighters straight into the insatiable Roman coliseum, but out in the provinces the schools are owned either by the local municipality, or by wealthy senators. Owning a school is rather prestigious, but being the lanista (manager) is disgraceful. Once you are adequately trained, you may feel it safer to join an independent-travelling gladiator troupe putting on theatrical displays in backwater towns for low pay (but without risk of death!). However, true champions prefer the blood and glory of the cheering crowds in the giant arena, where your death could win somebody that bet against you a lot of money!
Gladiator Schools are overseen by the imperial government office of procuratores familiae ludi to ensure all fighters are kept under strict control, as nobody wants a repeat of the Spartacus gladiator-slave-rebellion that occurred way back in 73 BC. In Rome there are imperial schools that funnel fighters straight into the insatiable Roman coliseum, but out in the provinces the schools are owned either by the local municipality, or by wealthy senators. Owning a school is rather prestigious, but being the lanista (manager) is disgraceful. Once you are adequately trained, you may feel it safer to join an independent-travelling gladiator troupe putting on theatrical displays in backwater towns for low pay (but without risk of death!). However, true champions prefer the blood and glory of the cheering crowds in the giant arena, where your death could win somebody that bet against you a lot of money!
Your estimated value as a gladiator
Imperial decree has divided the Gladiator Games into four classes (based on expense) and set the maximum prices that the editor financing the games must pay to reimburse the lanista for any of his gladiators killed in the arena (from Class 8 beginner, up to Class 1 champion) as follows:
I. Spectacular, 200,000 sestertii or more. Class 1 (15,000), 2 (12,000), 3 (9,000), 4 (7,000), 5 (6,000) gladiator cost.
II. Magnificent, up to 150,000 sestertii. Class 2 (12,000), 3 (10,000), 4 (8,000), 5 (6,000), 6 (5,000) gladiator cost.
III. Good, up to 100,000 sestertii. Class 4 (8,000), 5 (6,000), 6 (5,000) gladiator cost.
IV. Cheap, up to 60,000 sestertii. Class 6 (5,000), 7 (4,000), 8 (3,000) gladiator cost.
The slave-gladiators get paid 20% of their appearance fee, and the auctoratii (if you have any sense) should have negotiated for more. Remember, about half of all gladiators get killed in their first year, so you have 50-50 odds. Not bad.
Imperial decree has divided the Gladiator Games into four classes (based on expense) and set the maximum prices that the editor financing the games must pay to reimburse the lanista for any of his gladiators killed in the arena (from Class 8 beginner, up to Class 1 champion) as follows:
I. Spectacular, 200,000 sestertii or more. Class 1 (15,000), 2 (12,000), 3 (9,000), 4 (7,000), 5 (6,000) gladiator cost.
II. Magnificent, up to 150,000 sestertii. Class 2 (12,000), 3 (10,000), 4 (8,000), 5 (6,000), 6 (5,000) gladiator cost.
III. Good, up to 100,000 sestertii. Class 4 (8,000), 5 (6,000), 6 (5,000) gladiator cost.
IV. Cheap, up to 60,000 sestertii. Class 6 (5,000), 7 (4,000), 8 (3,000) gladiator cost.
The slave-gladiators get paid 20% of their appearance fee, and the auctoratii (if you have any sense) should have negotiated for more. Remember, about half of all gladiators get killed in their first year, so you have 50-50 odds. Not bad.
After hours work
You will probably only have three fights a year, with the rest of the time spent training. Retired gladiators don't make very good soldiers as they are unused to working as a team, long marches or campaign hardships, but they do make good teachers of soldiers for one-on-one combat situations. Gladiators also make fine bodyguards, enforcers, and debt-collectors since they know exactly how to beat someone to within an inch of their life without accidentally killing them - if you are being beaten by a gladiator, you are in safe hands. Rich patrons might hire gladiators to fight exhibition matches as after-dinner entertainment. Wealthy matrons too might hire gladiators as personal bodyguards for sexual gratification. Slave-gladiators sometimes have their genitals spiked before a big fight so that they do not waste any of their masculine virility on sexual emissions.
You will probably only have three fights a year, with the rest of the time spent training. Retired gladiators don't make very good soldiers as they are unused to working as a team, long marches or campaign hardships, but they do make good teachers of soldiers for one-on-one combat situations. Gladiators also make fine bodyguards, enforcers, and debt-collectors since they know exactly how to beat someone to within an inch of their life without accidentally killing them - if you are being beaten by a gladiator, you are in safe hands. Rich patrons might hire gladiators to fight exhibition matches as after-dinner entertainment. Wealthy matrons too might hire gladiators as personal bodyguards for sexual gratification. Slave-gladiators sometimes have their genitals spiked before a big fight so that they do not waste any of their masculine virility on sexual emissions.
