Gladiators

Hollywood History

Hoo?

• Originally slaves• Captured prisoners of

war• Africans• Christians• Lower than actors,

athletes, and musicians

Y?

• Entertainment for the upper class

• A potential means of advancing upwards in society

• Not necessarily for military training

Methods

• One on one

• Groups against groups

• Animals against animals

• Animals against humans

• Some battles were to be fair contests– Some were intended to be massacres

• Women are occasionally involved

The Colosseum

• Largest venue for Gladiatorial combat• Contained underground tunnels and a retractable roof for

shade• Could be flooded to allow for naval battles• Had a sand floor to soak up the blood quicker

Commodus…the Gladiator?

• Roman Emperor Commodus (180 – 192 CE) loved the idea of being a Gladiator– Believed they represented strength and

bravery

• Often dressed as a Gladiator at social gatherings

• Fought prisoners and other unprepared people– Often not given proper weaponry or armor

One on One Battle

• Different styles (see assignment)• Ended either with death or surrender• The surrendered would raise their thumb, index,

and middle fingers as a symbol of submission• The Emperor, speaking for the crowd, would

either signal thumbs down (drop your weapon) or thumb into the body (kill the opponent)

• Very few gladiator battles actually ended with death

Pollice Verso – With a Turned Thumb (Thumbs Down)

The End

• Rise of Christianity• Gladiator games are seen as games meant to

honor the pagan Gods• Also too bloody for Christian societies• Constantine (first Christian Emperor) rebuilds

Rome by eliminating older blood sports (~300’s CE)– Olympics (honored pagan Gods)– Gladiator games

• 476 CE – Western Roman Empire falls