In modern times, Roman gladiators are known mainly for their violent ability to entertain. They have gone down in history as an ancient equivalent to celebrity athletes. Distracted by their arena achievements, the relentless lifestyle of these gladiators has often been overlooked by mainstream society. Today, I will discuss the what life was truly like for a Roman gladiator, covering topics ranging from training to diet.
Contrary to popular belief, not all gladiators were slaves, criminals or prisoners of war. By the fall of the Roman Republic, half of the gladiators who did battle were volunteers. These free gladiators entered into this lifestyle due to the wealth, honour and fame associated with the gruelling job. They were adored by crowds according to graffiti from Pompeii. Given that gladiators were prosperous and only had to fight up to 5 times a year, many former soldiers and bankrupt aristocrats were also enticed to join. Even emperors, such as Commodus and Caligula, entered the arena to battle, although it was ensured that they would not be killed.
Upon admission into the gladiatorial occupation, they had to submit to their lanista, who was their trainer and owner, and swear an oath that meant: “I will endure to be burned, to be bound, to be beaten, and to be killed by the sword.” The gladiator initiates were given the title Novicius.
Training was a major aspect of every gladiator’s daily life. Gladiator training took place in prison-like schools known as ludi, or ludus singularly. The remains of the Carnuntum gladiator school in Austria resembles a fortress with tight cell-like living quarters. Enslaved gladiators entered these schools under obligation but volunteers had to have a magistrate’s consent and pass a health inspection before admittance. In these schools, gladiators were subject to rigorous training routines and discipline. All new gladiators, free or otherwise, wore shackles when not training and were banned from speech during meals. Whilst training, they used rounded weapons made of wood to reduce the chance of injury before their exposure to the arena. The aim of the initial training was to achieve supreme physical fitness and learning how to die with honour and dignity. After finishing their preliminary training, the gladiators became known as Tirones.
On account of their extremely varied experience and skills, gladiators were placed into specialised categories. These were dependent on their physique and ethnic origins. For example,Thracian gladiators resembled warriors from the ancient country of Thrace, wearing detailed helmets and using curved swords. Over time, these categories evolved to identify gladiators by their armour, apparatus and technique. These included Bestilarii who fought animals, Retiarii who fought with nets, Sagittarius who fought with bow and arrow on horseback and Dimachaeri who fought with two swords. There were also female gladiators, known as Amazones or Gladiatrix. The Noxxi gladiators, who were criminals or prisoners, were given no defensive armour and were constantly exposed to their opponents according to Seneca the Younger. All gladiators wore a loincloth held in place by a wide belt. It was common for certain types of gladiators to be matched against each other for entertainment value or equitability. These categories of gladiators have been documented many times in mosaics, amphorae, statuettes and stone reliefs.
Gladiators enjoyed three meals a day, a better diet than most slaves, because of the stamina required for a compelling, profitable battle. The vegetable-focussed diet of gladiators mainly consisted of carbohydrates such as barley and legumes according to an isotopic analysis of their remains. This provided them with ample padding and a surplus of energy, improving their chance of survival. For strong bones, they consumed calcium supplements in the form of bone ash or charred wood. This was very effective and led to gladiators having higher levels of calcium compared to the rest of society. Other foods eaten were fish, bread, fruits, eggs, cheese and wheat. Water was their main drink. No alcohol. Hygiene was also a prime factor in the life of a gladiator. They were given both hot and cold baths and massages were a common occurrence. Gladiators had what was considered to be the finest medical care on account of their frequent injuries. Slaves and women were also supplied. Regardless of competition, gladiators had strong friendships with each other and many formed associations to guarantee their family’s financial security and a suitable funeral. Although governed by strict rules, the living conditions of gladiators were high quality.
Despite honour, wealth and the crowd’s adoration, gladiators were considered to be ‘infamis’, meaning they had no legal protections nor social respectability. They were, after all, still bound by their owner. Although rare, it was possible for gladiators to gain freedom for a long successful career or outstanding performance. Once free, they were given a wooden sword known as a rudis and could become bodyguards or trainers.
The early gladiators worshipped the Roman gods and goddesses. Particular attention may have been paid to Mars the god of warfare, Pluto the god of death, Fortuna the goddess of luck and Nemesis the goddess of revenge in hope that they would assist them in their battles. In 312AD, Constantine the Great made the official religion of the Roman Empire Christianity. Following suit, gladiators began praying to God and Jesus until the end of the games in 404CE.
Death was an ever-present aspect of a gladiator’s life. At each battle, a gladiator could meet their end directly from wounds or from infection. Unsurprisingly, this led to a high mortality rate. The average age of Roman gladiators was 27 years old but many died younger. Usually fighting 3 or 5 fights each year, a large number of gladiators did not survive past their fourth year. Anticipating death, the gladiators enjoyed a ‘final’ feast organised in their honour before gladiatorial games. However, historians have stated that less than 20% of gladiators died in the arena. This was because fights to the death were senseless when training a gladiator was so expensive. If a gladiator was clearly going to lose, the emperor and the crowd decided whether a gladiator lived or not based on their performance.
Thank you for listening. I hope you have gained some knowledge of what life was truly like for a Roman gladiator.