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Gladiator facts for kids

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Brot und Spiele Gladiators1
Gladiator show fight in Trier in 2005.

Gladiators were amazing professional fighters in ancient Rome. Their name comes from the Latin word gladius, which means "sword." These brave fighters would battle against each other, wild animals, or even people who had broken the law. They did this for the public's entertainment. These exciting fights happened in large arenas across many cities. This tradition lasted from the time of the Roman Republic all the way through the Roman Empire.

The word "gladiator" comes from gladius, which was a short sword. Roman soldiers and some gladiators used this type of sword.

Gladiators were like the famous sports stars of their time. If you were a gladiator, you could become very well-known and even rich!

The Emperor of Rome had the final say over the gladiators' lives. After a fight, he would decide if a gladiator lived or died. He would signal with his thumb: thumbs up meant death, and thumbs down meant the gladiator would live.

Types of Gladiators

There were many different kinds of gladiators. Each type had its own special armor and weapons. This made the fights even more interesting to watch.

  • Thracians: These gladiators wore a small shield and used a curved sword.
  • Mirmillones: They had a large helmet with a fish crest and carried a big shield. They fought with a short sword.
  • Retiarii: These were unique because they fought with a net and a trident (a three-pronged spear). They usually had less armor.
  • Secutores: Their name means "pursuer." They wore a smooth, round helmet and carried a large shield and a sword. They often fought against Retiarii.

Gladiator Training and Life

Gladiators were often enslaved people, prisoners of war, or even criminals. Some free people chose to become gladiators for fame or money. They trained very hard in special schools called ludi. Here, they learned how to use different weapons and fight skillfully.

Life as a gladiator was tough and dangerous. But successful gladiators could become heroes to the Roman people. They were admired for their courage and strength. Sometimes, they even earned their freedom.

The Arenas

Gladiator fights took place in huge outdoor amphitheatres or arenas. The most famous one is the Colosseum in Rome. These arenas could hold thousands of spectators. People would gather to watch the exciting battles. The crowds would cheer loudly for their favorite fighters. These events were a big part of Roman public life.

Images for kids

  • Gladiators from the Zliten mosaic 3

    Part of the Zliten mosaic from Libya (Leptis Magna), about 2nd century AD. It shows (left to right) a thraex fighting a murmillo, a hoplomachus standing with another murmillo (who is signaling his defeat to the referee), and one of a matched pair.

  • Fronton marmol anfiteatro romano de Merida

    Relief of gladiators from Amphitheatre of Mérida, Spain

  • Mosaic museum Istanbul 2007 011

    A 5th-century mosaic in the Great Palace of Constantinople depicts two venatores fighting a tiger

  • Paegniarii gladiators (from Nennig mosaic)

    A duel, using whip, cudgel and shields, from the Nennig mosaic (Germany)

  • Mosaique Zliten

    Musicians with trumpet (tuba), water organ (hydraulis), and horns (cornua), from the Nennig gladiator mosaic

  • GladiatorFeldflasche

    A flask depicting the final phase of the fight between a murmillo (winning) and a thraex

  • Borghese gladiator 1 mosaic dn r2 c2

    Part of the Gladiator Mosaic, displayed at the Galleria Borghese. It dates from approximately 320 AD. The Ø symbol is the theta nigrum ("black theta") or theta infelix ("unlucky theta"), a symbol of death in Greek and Latin epigraphy.

  • Gladiadores después del combate, por José Moreno Carbonero

    Gladiators after the fight, José Moreno Carbonero (1882)

  • Painting from the Amphitheatre. Hunter with lioness - Google Art Project

    Mérida amphitheatre, Spain; mural of beast hunt, showing a venator (or bestiarius) and lioness

  • Colosseum in Rome, Italy - April 2007

    The Colosseum in Rome, Italy

  • Arlesarena

    Arles Amphitheatre, inside view

  • Pompeii - Battle at the Amphitheatre - MAN

    The Amphitheatre at Pompeii, depicting the riot between the Nucerians and the Pompeians

  • Kourion10

    Late 3rd century gladiator mosaic from a private residence in Kourion, Cyprus. All the participants are named. The central figure (Darios) is positioned as a referee but wears a citizen's high-status toga or tunic with broad stripes

  • Graffito of a gladiatorial scene from Pompeii, Naples National Archaeological Museum (15269619095)

    Graffito of a gladiatorial scene from Pompeii, Naples

  • Roman myrmillones gladiator helmet with relief depicting scenes from the Trojan War from Herculaneum 1st century CE Bronze 01

    Murmillo gladiator helmet with relief depicting scenes from the Trojan War; from Herculaneum

  • Roman gladiator helmet found in the gladiator barracks in Pompeii 1st century CE

    Helmet found in the gladiator barracks in Pompeii

  • Roman gladiator helmet from Herculaneum Iron 1st century CE

    Iron gladiator helmet from Herculaneum

  • Gladiator helmet found in Pompeii and richly decorated with scenes of Greek mythology, Gladiators – Death and Triumph at the Colosseum exhibition, Museum und Park Kalkriese (9618142634)

    Gladiator helmet found in Pompeii, with scenes from Greek Mythology

  • Antica roma, elmo con cresta, I-III secolo ca

    Helmet from 1st–3rd century

  • Ornate pair of gladiator shin guards depicting a procession of Bacchus from the gladiator barracks in Pompeii 01

    Ornate gladiator shin guards from Pompeii

  • Gladiator shin guard depicting the goddess Athena from the gladiator barracks in Pompeii 1st century CE

    Shin guard depicting the goddess Athena

  • Gladiator shin guard depicting Venus Euploia protectress of seafarers sitting on a ship shaped like a dolphin from Pompeii 1st century CE

    Shin guard depicting Venus Euploia (Venus of the "fair voyage") on a ship shaped like a dolphin

  • Heart-shaped spear head found in the gladiator barracks in Pompeii 1st century CE

    Heart-shaped spear head found in the gladiator barracks in Pompeii

  • 5791 Arenes NIM 6062 C Recoura

    Nimes, 2005.

  • Provacatores show fight 02

    Carnuntum, Austria, 2007.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Gladiador para niños

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