The Probert Encyclopaedia of People

GLADIATOR

Gladiators were combatants who fought at the public games in Rome for the entertainment of the spectators. The first instance known of gladiators being exhibited was in 264 BC, by Marcus and Decimus Pirutus at the funeral of their father. At first gladiators were prisoners, slaves, or condemned criminals; but afterwards freemen fought in the arena, either for hire or from choice; and latterly men of senatorial rank, and even women, fought.

The regular gladiators were instructed in schools known as ludi, and the overseer known as the lanista purchased the gladiators and maintained them. Men of position sometimes kept gladiatorial schools and lanistae of their own. The gladiators fought in the schools with wooden swords. In the public exhibitions, if a vanquished gladiator was not killed in the combat, his fate was sometimes decided by the people. If they wished his death, perhaps because he had not shown sufficient skill or bravery, they held up their thumbs; the opposite motion was the signal to save him. The victor received a branch of palm or a garland.

The gladiators were classified according to their arms and mode of fighting; thus there were retiarii who carried a trident and a net in which they tried to entangle their opponent; Thracians, who were armed with the round Thracian buckler and a short sword; secutores, who were pitted against the retiarii; etc.
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