Training for the gladiators lasted almost all day; and this training was dedicated to the gods. Gladiators trained at one of four schools in Rome. Upon arrival at school, the gladiator received a physical. Physical appearance and strength had to be evident to obtain admittance into the school. Once admitted, the gladiator took the oath immediately. A free man becoming a gladiator would sign a contract called an auctoramentum, which stated an agreement between the gladiator and master. The master agreed to payment terms and the gladiator handed his life over for a specified amount of time. The contract also stated how often they would fight and what weapons would be used. The new gladiator would be called Novicca until he won his first game. Gladiator school presented good conditions to the gladiators; all emperors wanted their gladiators to be the best, so they fed them well and gave them quality shelter. (Meijer 50-58)
Initially, private citizens owned the gladiator schools in Rome. In order so the private citizens did not become to powerful or build armies, the imperial state took over all gladiatorial schools. Lanistas ran the major gladiator schools in Rome. The lanista would make over 200,000 sesterii a year, making him the highest paid laborers in Ancient Rome. Located next to the Colosseum, the Ludus Maximus, was the biggest gladiator school in Rome. (McManus) The school was well equipped, with a large training ground, tiers of seating, and barracks. The training area was very large, 62X45 meters. Inside the barracks two gladiators lived in a 4X5 space, called a cell. The gladiators slept on simple bed frames, inside the cell. Inside the cell was very dark, no windows could be seen, and the ground was all dirt. Guards watched the many weapons stored in the local barracks, so no slave revolts happened. The emperors realized the importance of good nutrition, and meals served three times a day at the canteen were extremely healthy, directly next to the hospital. These meals were mostly vegan, consisting of barley gruel with beans, to add fat to the gladiator’s body. The fat would serve as protection in their fights. Gladiators also ate meats and chesses as sources of calcium and protein. Shelter and nutrition were an important basis for the gladiator’s success; however, training was most important. (Meijer 50-58)
Training varied by schools and was determined by the weapons of choice used in the fight. Some gladiators followed a training regimen created by the Greek doctor Philostratos. This regimen was called The Tetrad. The Tetrad was a four day work out cycled. With each day was devoted to a different activity. The first day prepared the athlete, the second day is an all out workout, the third day was relaxation, and the fourth and final day contains medium strength workout. On the first day, gladiators practiced short, intense movements which would “stir up” the athlete for the next day. The second day consisted of a very strenuous workout, showing the entire gladiator’s potential. On the third day, the gladiators used his strength in a moderate way, by just practicing and learning fighting tactics. During the final day of The Tetrad the gladiator practiced breaking holds and preventing his challenger from holding him. (Grivetti, Applegate 7)
Many other training methods were used to prepare a gladiator to fight. To increase strength, training consisted of hitting a large pole, called a palus, with a wooden sword. Each recruit would plant his own palus and use it as his own. Gladiators were taught to stab at their opponents, not to slash them. Stabbing injured major organs the fastest. Gladiators made shields from branches and swords from sticks to practice with. Weapons included the war chain, net, trident, dagger, and lasso. All of these weapons were used against the palus. Gladiators also fought in armor. They carved a large shield called the scutum, the left grieve the ocrea, the right grieve the galea, and the sword the gladius. Gladiators not only learned how to fight well, but how to make an effective killing blow. Some gladiators used spears, and practiced throwing at targets. Gladiators didn’t only train for strength, but for distance and speed. Gladiators did not only train for strength, but for distance and speed. When the gladiator was about to be killed, the lanistas taught the gladiators to die with bravery and to not be afraid. Gladiators were trained to give watchers entertainment and a good time. (Owens, The Roman Gladiator)
Gladiator training had always been looked at as barbaric and stressful. But, the training was far from barbaric. An analysis the foot bones of gladiators that suggest they had extremely strong feet, and most had fought barefoot. An examination of the bones, showed no breaks or stress fractures in the feet; thus suggesting the training was not barbaric. (Karl Grossschmidt, True Gladiators)
Major gladiator schools, had a hospital. The one thing that was always available to gladiators was medical care. Lanistas and emperors wanted their gladiators to have the best heath possible. Many of the methods doctors used in ancient time are used today, such as the practice of bone setting. Most of the time gladiators received better heath care than many of the Roman citizens. Two of the most famous doctors from the gladiator period, are Galen and Philostratos.
Galen practiced medicine at Pergamum. He contributed many different health care techniques and different exercised and training methods. One of his suggestions was to use a small ball and follow the workout by eating, “...athletes are those which not only exercise the body, but are able to please the spirit.” (Grivetti, Applegate 7) To train with the ball, required no money; almost everyone could afford it, and it took no weapons or other equipment to use. He recommended always train in moderation. Galen also said training did not just include building upper body strength, but to work on distance and speed. He advised gladiators to run in deep sand, because it is not easy to place your feet. Galen recommended jumping across ditches carrying lead weights. (Grivetti, Applegate 8)
Philostratos, described training that included running, lifting weights, and exercise that included wrestling with beasts. His approach is what professionals today call “cross-training.” Philostratos suggested chasing horses and bending sticks of iron with their bare hands. A famous boxer, Tisander, from Naxos, trained under Philostratos. Philostratos instructed Tisander to swim around the headlands of his island. He was only to swim using his arms, which by resting the rest of his body, it also received exercise. The doctors were an important part of the training of hundreds of gladiators. As a result, gladiators were very fit for their games. Many gladiators fought throughout the Roman time, but only few became famous. (Grivetti, Applegate 7) Two gladiators, Polumbus and Spartacus, became known to history.
Polumbus was a gladiator in the city of Ephesus, the capital of ancient Asia Minor, now located on modern day coast Turkey. Polumbus was a new kind of gladiator: a volunteer. He was married; this meant he was a free man. Polumbus’s training method included running and practicing in mock fights. His master’s name was Vettius; he also owned the gladiator school that Polumbus attended. Polumbus was a Mirmalo gladiator; the Mirmalo used a Samnite sword, and a helmet. The Mirmalo’s usual opponent was the Thracian. Polumbus was Vettius’s best gladiator. He usually defeated all of his opponents. The night before his final fight, Polumbus ate with his fellow gladiators and Vettius. The next day, Polumbus fought his rival, the Thracian, and was ordered to die. He received the customary execution blow. (Discovery Channel True Gladiators) Polumbus’s wife place on his tomb, “To Polumbus, my own husband for the sake of his memory, hear this.” (Discovery Channel True Gladiators) Polumbus was later buried in the gladiator graveyard, right outside the Rome’s walls.
Spartacus was a gladiator who lived and went to school in Capua. His manager was Lentulus. Spartacus is famous for leading a gladiator revolt. The gladiators were upset at how they were being treated, and decided to revolt. The gladiators chose Spartacus, Crixus, and Oenomaus to lead the attack. Eighty of the gladiators escaped, behind Spartacus’s tactics. Knifes and other weapons were used to escape. The eighty gladiators set up a defensive front at Mount Vesuvius. When armies came looking for them, the gladiators used ropes to hide in holes, and then used surprise attacks. (Meijer 30-33) The gladiators were finally surrounded by the Roman army in the city of Bruittium and Marcus Licinius Crassus killed Spartacus in battle.
Gladiators played very important part of Roman entertainment and culture. The first gladiatorial games took place in Rome in 264 BC as a part of an upper-class funeral ritual. Decimus Junius Brutus put on a gladiatorial game in honor of his late father. Three pairs of slaves fought in the Forum Boarium. Emporer Augustus was one of the emperors to promote gladiator games, and move them commercially to an arena. He thought the games would be good propaganda for the empire. The first gladiator games were held in his name, the future games held in Augustus’s son’s and grandson’s names. During his games, over 10,000 gladiators fought to their death and these games were later said to have been the greatest ever. (Meijer 33-35) Augustus wanted to make sure other emperors did not become as well known as he, so he limited the number of gladiators allowed in the different schools. During Augustus’s reign, he chose only ten days to be devoted to gladiator games. The first dates were December 2nd to 8th, December 17th to 23rd, during the festival of Saturnalia, a peace festival in honor of the god Saturn. The second set of dates were March 19th to 23rd, during the festival of Quinquatrus, this was the fifth day after the Ides of March, the day of Julius Caesar’s death. (Meijer 33-35)
Gladiators fought in the Colosseum. The Colosseum, originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, was the main amphitheater in . It could hold up to 50,000 seated spectators. The Colosseum’s main use was holding . Construction was initiated by Emperor and completed by his sons, and , between 72 and 81 AD. (Nardo 30)
Also, after about three to five years of fighting, gladiators could earn their freedom. A form of gladiator is still around today, the football player. Football players devote their lives to training and excelling, just like yesterdays gladiators. Gladiators were the athletes of their day. Although some did not have a choice, many were motivated to join their “sport.” Financial results, adoration status, quality nutrition, shelter, and medical attention, and resulting independence from a job well done drove these men. They reflected the brutality and grit of their day. The gladiators took their oath seriously to the end: “To suffer myself to be whipped with rods, burned with fire, or killed with steel if I disobey.” As Maximum (played by Russel Crowe, in Gladiator the movie) stated: “Death smiles at us all. All that a man can do is smile back.” (Ridley Scott, Gladiator)
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