Roman Gladiators and Amphitheatres

1. Gladiator means swordsman - taken from the Latin word for sword - gladius.

2. Originally gladiatorial fights were performed at funerals, but they became very popular.

3. Shows were staged by wealthy Romans as a means of displaying their power.

4. Gladiatorial contests were free events that attracted the whole of society who were seated according to status.

5. The event began with a procession of gladiators.

6. Gladiators were mainly slaves and criminals, although some freemen did volunteer.

7. Gladiators fought to the death in amphitheatres, in games that went on all day.

8. Roman amphitheatres were open, round or oval-shaped buildings with a central area for the entertainment.

9. The central arena was surrounded by raised seats.

10. Tunnels with caged areas were built underneath the amphitheatres to hold the animals that were used.

11. The gladiators were trained to fight at a Ludus gladiatorius - a gladiator school.

12. Gladiators exercised every day, fought with wooden swords and lived in barracks.

13. They were given plenty to eat and good medical attention.

14. Discipline at the school was strict, but successful gladiators became very famous.

15. Gladiators were armed differently.

16. Some had daggers and small shields, others sword and large shields and some had nets and tridents.

17. In Britain, many of the contests were between gladiators and wild animals, such as bears and lions.

18. The animals, who were chained to heavy stone or wooden blocks, were rarely able to kill the gladiators.

19. Gladiators hacked at each other, inflicting wounds to cripple parts of the body or limbs.

20. Audiences at the amphitheatres were very bloodthirsty and would cheer and shout encouragement.

21. Gladiators who fought well, but lost, could be spared, but nearly 50% died each show.

22. The crowd indicated whether gladiators should live or die by putting their thumbs up or by putting their thumbs down.

23. Gladiatorial contests fell into disfavour with the coming of Christianity.