What gladiators were really like

[Viggen]

The discovery of the first confirmed collection of gladiator remains has allowed scientists to apply forensic analysis - such as seen in television dramas like CSI, except with real science and not just fluorescent sprays and swabs - to bones, providing startling new evidence of just how gladiators lived and died.

 

Instead of the all-out brawling of gladiators depicted in film, the injuries discovered on the remains suggest the fighting in a nearby arena was organised and refereed, with fights between pairs of evenly matched gladiators. These gladiators would have been trained, well fed and given regular medical attention.

 

full article at CosmosMagazine

[caldrail]

The remains at Ephesus have proven to be valuable resources on this subject. Gladiatorial training had been very harsh in republican days, when the smaller numbers of these slave gladiators meant that attention was given to making these slaves perform or else In those times, volunteer contract gladiators did not exist. Imperial times saw an increase in the professionalism of these men and some estimates reckon that half of all gladiators were volunteers on fixed term contracts. Given the high cost of purchase, training, and keep its not suprising that lanistas wanted their fighters kept in top condition. The stakes were higher after all, and so they received the sort of one-on-one medical care that few people other than the wealthiest could expect. People of those times wanted to see a good fight, not a mindless blood bath, although it must be said that in the late empire weaponry was biased toward causing wounds rather than sudden kills. It seems the promoters were trying to make the fights more interesting to the crowd, which was possibly beginning to dwindle given the costs of supporting the sort of show the mid-empire saw, and also because christian influence was beginning to make itself felt.

 

However, these men were not always matched off precisely. An experienced and famous gladiator might often be matched against a newbie, to maximise the veterans survival chances (and retain his value to the owner). The first fight of a professional gladiator wasn't guaranteed to be easy, and many fell in their first fight for that reason. it was for appearances that gladiators were matched fairly, as the audience wouldn't have liked an obvious advantage on one side. Mind you, combat is never a sure thing and its known that some newbies were skilled, talented, or aggressive enough to defeat a far more experienced man. Or perhaps more lucky sometimes?

[DecimusCaesar]

An interesting article that reflects what some scholars have been saying about Gladiators for the last few years. I believe that even back int he sixties, Michael grant hinted at some of these ideas in his books. Gladiators were also portrayed similarly in a recent BBC docudrama.

 

Was the 1960's movie Barabas about a Gladiator that took part in organised matches? I haven't seen it, but I am sure that might what be depicted in the film.

[caldrail]

I've not seen the whole film, but my impression was that its a typical christian biased tale of faith under duress. The accuracy of the arena scenes I saw are debatable, perhaps comparable to Quo vadis. I don't think the romans would have viewed a man with a spear attacked by a chariot driver as a fair fight, and is therefore atypical as a matched pair. However, given the plot showing this fight as a public execution, then as a spectacle it was interesting. However, the romans usually did this differently. Typically it was two men sent in with only one dagger between them, the winner being disarmed and forced to fight a newcomer armed with the dagger. And so on, until they were all dead, although I don't know how the man left over was treated. Given he would have been among the noxii I doubt his fate was favourable.