On the day before the event I woke up early, but my sister had already beaten me and was already up and out the door with two of her friends running to the gladiator barracks. I quickly left the house and arrived at the barracks sweaty and out of breath. Gladiators were trained at special schools originally owned by private citizens, but later the schools were taken over by the imperial state to prevent the build up of a private army and revolutions. Gladiators trained like true athletes and received medical attention and three meals a day. Their training consisted of learning how to use various weapons, including the war chain, net, trident, dagger, and lasso. Each gladiator was allowed to fight in the armour and with the weapons that best suited him. Gladiators wore the armour and used the weaponry of non-Roman people, playing the role of Rome's enemies. The gladiators are idols among the citizens and there are always crowds of screaming fans all watching the gladiators train.
The gladiators training looked extremely hard and brutal, fighting each other with hard wooden swords hitting their toned bodies with extreme force with their lanista shouting at them sometimes hitting them with a long stick if they seemed tired our not trying. Training involved the learning of a series of figures, which were broken down into various phases. There were numerous assault courses in the barracks where a big wheel would rotate a mechanical device, which would spin, and two gladiators had to jump and duck the spinning weapons. If they were hit they could actually be knocked out or even die from the blow of the weapon. Yet they managed to graciously avoid all the weapons, it looked to me like what they were doing was near impossible. Those who were not completing the assault courses were practicing forms of fighting like boxing or kickboxing. These men looked exhausted and I couldn’t imagine how they would have enough energy left to fight the next day.
I left the barracks amazed and thrilled but disappointed, as I didn't get to see Marcimus. I went back to work with my father and left my sister drooling over the ferocious gladiators. Tomorrow was the big day and I couldn't wait, shivers would crawl down my spine just hearing people talk about it.
The big day was here and the whole family got ready for the big event. We took enough food and wine with us so that it would last us for the day and didn’t forget to bring cushions to make sitting down for the whole day more comfortable. We all walked together, alongside crowds of people cheering and saying "hello" and made our way towards the same destination.
We arrived at the amphitheater, hearing food-sellers calling out their low prices and we bought a basket of figs and various other fruit. Admission was free as all costs of the gladiatorial games were paid for by the Editor (sponsor) who was in this case the Emperor. We spotted the ticket-men who were ready to hand out the tokens, which assigned places in the various tiers and wedges of seats, those who arrived first got the best seats so we hurried along to get our tokens. Looking around you could see the citizens of Pompeii pouring in, some dressed in white, the formal Roman manner, others robed in brilliant colours. Women in their best finery, bejeweled and veiled, with children scampering freely, and men wandered about making contacts, possibly business acquaintances. A fine haze of perfumes, fried squid and garlic gently assaulted our nostrils. The day was sunny and there was not a breeze about so the awning was stretched out by experiences sailors, and slave girls walked around sprinkling scented water in order to make the day more comfortable.
The sand of the arena was raked and the morning ceremonial procession soon began. The leader of the procession was the Emperor and behind him followed all the combatants, musicians and many other people that would be taking part in the event. The morning’s events began with mock fights, which depicted various famous Roman battles. When these were over, two trained lions were brought out and performed many tricks on stage. This was a rare event and the crowd went wild with excitement. The lions were then sent taken away and replaced by a bull and a panther that were to engage in a hunt (venatio). This excited the crowd as the two beasts were hissing and foaming at the mouth and eventually they both tore each other to shreds. The corpses were dragged off of the arena floor by hooks. Another few more wild beasts were bought in and bestiarii fought them bravely. All the beasts were soon dead and the exhausted, yet still alive and victorious, bestiarii took leave.
It was around midday now and it was time for the criminals to be executed in brutal, grotesque displays. The first criminal to be punished had been caught red handed stealing and cursing Emperor Nero. Naturally golden veils were wrapped around the statues of the gods so they would not have to witness the killing. The whole amphitheatre booed the criminal when the Roman guard dragged him in. his crimes were posted up and he was shaven headed and filthy. I got the feeling he was beaten up the night before. The criminal was weak and floppy and was stripped naked and tied to a stake, which was on a wheeled platform. The platform was wheeled to the middle and from nowhere two lions that had been starved prior to the games had been released. The two lions ran towards the convict and he slowly lifted his head and he tried to scream but he was so weak he just opened his mouth wide open and started to weep. The dominant lion leapt on him and the crowd rose, shouting, "Kill him". Moments later the lions tore the man to pieces. The public nature of the execution made it degrading as well as painful and was intended to serve as a deterrent to others. Many other criminals were dragged out and killed in equally brutal ways, which left the crowd roaring.
The afternoon had come and with it the main event of the day. The first two gladiators to fight ware Marcimus against the highest ranked gladiator in Nuceria. The huge doors opened and the two gladiators entered the arena. Marcimus looked stronger than ever and he was applauded with the roar of trumpets and horns with screaming fans. I was one of them. Both were oiled and showing off their muscles, they strutted forth in order of the programme. Their names were hailed. They were both attended by their lanistae, all in crisp white tunics. All the weapons were then checked and approved and two took a final march around the whole arena. Then the Emperor recited the phrase, "Morituri te salutamus!" ("We who are about to die salute you!") and the fight began. Marcimus’ opposition was a murmillo in a fish crested helmet; he held a small round shield and a gladius. They both circled each other several times stirring intensely until the murmillo threw his first blow at Marcimus, but missed and the force of his throw made him stumble. This gave Marcimus the chance to hit him. Marcimus charged at the murmillo holding his curved blade high and stroke him on the shoulder, the murmillo had a deep wound and fell in pain. Marcimus turned round and boasted his strength, but whilst doing this, his enemy got up, blood dripping from his arm and took a hit at Marcimus. However Marcimus quickly turned around shocked of his recovery and blocked his opponents’ sword. The fight continued on while the orchestra played and the crowd cheered their favourite gladiator on. The referee followed the fight making sure both sides were obeying the few rules that there were, while official dressed Charun, the Etruscan demon of the underworld lingered in the background. The murmillo was steadily moving backwards with Marcimus taking strike after strike on him until the murmillo fell over covered in blood from wounds. Marcimus kicked his sword and shield away and put his foot on his stomach raising his sword in the air screaming. We were all awaiting the verdict of the Emperor and the audience was shouting "Verbera", and "Lugula". Marcimus was then restrained while the official dresses as Charun walked over to the barely-alive murmillo. The defeated murmillo held up one finger on his bloody left hand as a plea for mercy from the crowd and the Emperor. The Emperor slowly put his fist side ways waiting and listening to the shouts of the crowd. The Emperor could clearly tell that the crowd did not want to spare the man and finally put his thumb downwards. The official dressed as Charon immediately finished him off and the bloody corpse was dragged off the arena and through the death gate using a hook.
This fight was all I ever hopped it would be and more. However the event was not over yet. The Emperor walked onto the arena and towards Marcimus while the musicians played. The Emperor then presented a wooden sword, the symbol of freedom, to the brave gladiator, signaling that Marcimus was no longer a slave, but a freeman - a Rudiarius. This was an extremely rare event and the crowds went wild cheering Marcimus on, as he left the arena no longer a slave. He could now choose to retire from the gladiatorial games altogether and live on the profits that he had made from his previous winnings, go to work as a bodyguard for a wealthy Roman or to continue fighting in the arena as a Rudiarius.
After Marcimus left the arena another pair of gladiators came on and fought. This continued on throughout the evening and the crown was entertained for every moment of it. The gladiators who fought one another were paired up very carefully so that they would be an equal match for one another; this made the battles all the more entertaining. Heavily armed gladiators would be well protected and armed but slow, and would be matched against the lightly armed gladiators who although are less well protected, would have the advantage of speed on their side. The fights were all thrilling yet I found none as entertaining as that of Marcimus against the murmillo.
The day finished on a high with the whole crowd in good spirits. My family left for home while I stayed to discuss the event with my friends. After leaving the amphitheatre my friends and I went to the streets where we wrote a things on the side of buildings in memory of the great even, I wrote on the side of an inn “Marcimus, forever an idol”. The day was even better than I hoped it to be and the freeing of Marcimus was the biggest event of my whole life. I really hope that he carries on fighting as I wish to see him out in the arena again.
