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| Their oath (which ] describes as particularly shameful) implied their acceptance of slave status and of the worst public consideration (''infamia''). | Their oath (which ] describes as particularly shameful) implied their acceptance of slave status and of the worst public consideration (''infamia''). | ||
| Gladiators were trained by (and were property of) a specialised ], called ], and are now mostly famous for their appearance in the ''ludi circenses'', the "games" played at ]s or ]s (like the ]), where they fought agaist lions, other animals, captured enemies and between themselves. The number of possible combats was usually less than 3 per year, decreasing their likelihood of death. Some ], among which ], ], ] and ], were also seen entering the arena for (presumedly) ficticious combats. | Gladiators were trained by (and were property of) a specialised ], called ], and are now mostly famous for their appearance in the ''ludi circenses'', the "games" played at ]s or ]s (like the ]), where they fought agaist lions, other animals, captured enemies and between themselves. The number of possible combats was usually less than 3 per year, decreasing their likelihood of death. Some ], among which ], ], ] and ], were also seen entering the arena for (presumedly) ficticious combats. | ||
| One of the most famous gladiators was ], perhaps a ] slave, allegedly a deserter from the Roman Army, who also deserted from the gladiators and became the leader of a group of escaped gladiators and slaves hiding on ] (near ]), about ]. These escapees fought on several occasions against the official army, and the story of the combats is popularly knwon as the "Third Servile War". Spartacus crossed the Italian peninsula many times, reached ] in the north and was finally defeated in southern ] by ] after a long escape between ] and ]. He was killed in battle, his comrades crucified. The last survivors were killed by ], coming back from ]. His name has been used by many revolutionaries, but the gladiators' wars were not meant as true ]s: they were perhaps only military conflicts or, better, conflicts among soldiers, some of which refused to surrender and respect rules. | One of the most famous gladiators was ], perhaps a ] slave, allegedly a deserter from the Roman Army, who also deserted from the gladiators and became the leader of a group of escaped gladiators and slaves hiding on ] (near ]), about ]. These escapees fought on several occasions against the official army, and the story of the combats is popularly knwon as the "Third Servile War". Spartacus crossed the Italian peninsula many times, reached ] in the north and was finally defeated in southern ] by ] after a long escape between ] and ]. He was killed in battle, his comrades crucified. The last survivors were killed by ], coming back from ]. His name has been used by many revolutionaries, but the gladiators' wars were not meant as true ]s: they were perhaps only military conflicts or, better, conflicts among soldiers, some of which refused to surrender and respect rules. | ||
Revision as of 02:34, 24 July 2002
A Gladiator is a low-class infantry soldier, specifically selected for highly risky operations or combats. Even if a similar figure is found in many armies or regroupements (at least nominally), typically and originally the gladiator was a roman soldier not enrolled in the official Roman Army.
The name comes from Gladius, latin for sword.
Despite their use in very risky operations (or when high casualties were expected), Roman Gladiators were not well reputed among common people, or were outright considered perhaps worse than slaves. Gladiators were usually selected from amongst the most violent people: criminals, deserters, in some cases amongst the soldiers of defeated armies or even slaves. Some volunteers too, however, joined gladiators and were called auctorati; effectively this career was also a sort of last chance for people who had gotten into economical troubles. Nevertheless, on a military basis, gladiators were famous as well- and severely disciplined soldiers, brave and skillful, well-remunerated, supposed to have a certain charm on women, although reduced to a slave dignity status.
Their oath (which Seneca describes as particularly shameful) implied their acceptance of slave status and of the worst public consideration (infamia).
Gladiators were trained by (and were property of) a specialised veteran, called lanista, and are now mostly famous for their appearance in the ludi circenses, the "games" played at arenas or amphitheatres (like the Colosseum), where they fought agaist lions, other animals, captured enemies and between themselves. The number of possible combats was usually less than 3 per year, decreasing their likelihood of death. Some emperors, among which Hadrian, Caligula, Titus Flavius and Commodus, were also seen entering the arena for (presumedly) ficticious combats.
One of the most famous gladiators was Spartacus, perhaps a Thracian slave, allegedly a deserter from the Roman Army, who also deserted from the gladiators and became the leader of a group of escaped gladiators and slaves hiding on Mount Vesuvius (near Naples), about 70 BC. These escapees fought on several occasions against the official army, and the story of the combats is popularly knwon as the "Third Servile War". Spartacus crossed the Italian peninsula many times, reached Gaul in the north and was finally defeated in southern Italy by Crassus after a long escape between Calabria and Lucania. He was killed in battle, his comrades crucified. The last survivors were killed by Pompey, coming back from Iberia. His name has been used by many revolutionaries, but the gladiators' wars were not meant as true revolutions: they were perhaps only military conflicts or, better, conflicts among soldiers, some of which refused to surrender and respect rules.
See also: Gladiator (movie)