by Orlando Pipes

Created on: May 24, 2009   Last Updated: May 27, 2009

Among the most popular entertainments in all parts of the Roman world were shows in which gladiators fought each other. These contests were usually held in an amphitheatre.

Layout and design of amphitheatre:
The amphitheatre was a large oval building, without a roof, in which rising tiers of seats surrounded an area. Canvas awnings, supported by ropes and pulleys, were spread over part of the seating area to give shelter from the sun.

The amphitheatre at Pompeii was large enough to contain the whole population as well as many visitors from nearby towns. It held about 20,000 people. The Coliseum in Rome seated around 50,000, meaning only a fraction of the city population could squeeze in.

Organisation and programme of events at the games:
Spectators paid no admission fee, as the shows were given by wealthy individual sponsors at their own expense. They would 'give' the gladiators, and pay all expenses for the event. Soon after dawn on the day of a show, the spectators would begin to take their places. A trumpet blared and priests came out to perform the religious ceremony with which the games began. Then the gladiators entered in procession, paraded round the arena and saluted the sponsor of the show. The gladiators were then paired off to fight each other and contests began.

Gladiators:
The gladiators were slaves, condemned criminals, prisoners of war or free volunteers. They lived and trained in a 'school' or barracks under the supervision of a professional trainer. The fight ended with the death or surrender of one of the gladiators. The defeated gladiator would appeal to the spectators, who would indicate their wishes using their thumb. The sponsor of the show would have the final decision, with the thumb up towards the chest probably meaning 'kill him' and the thumb down meaning 'let him live.' It was not unusual for the life of the loser to be spared, especially if he were a well-known gladiator with a good number of victories to his credit. The successful gladiator received prize money and a crown. If he scored a run of victories, he earned the wooden sword, signifying freedom and an end to his fighting career. There were also female gladiators.

Types of Gladiators:
Samnites-They carried an oblong shield and a short sword.
Thracians-They had a round shield and a curved sword or dagger.
Murmillones-A murmillo was armed with a sword and shield, and wore a helmet with a crest shaped like a fish.
Secutores-Also heavily armed, strong but slow.
Retiarri-They were armed

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