First Day on the Job
Gladiator training camps were capable of holding numerous recruits. A famous case is that of Gaius, whose camp was home to 20,000 gladiators. Novici (New Recruits) were immediately examined by the school owner (or lanista), doctors (medici), and trainers (doctores). In early training, gladiators were treated as prisoners always under guard. These new gladiators focused on acquiring the physical strength needed to fight before learning skills. Some gladiators were former knights trying to improve their skills. For a couple hundred years, some gladiators were women.
Bittersweet Victory
Gladiators were valuable resources. When their worth was proven in the arena they would be given a tattoo often on the face. This tattoo made it nigh impossible for escaped gladiators to blend in with roman society. Due to the expenses of training and feeding gladiators their lives weren't thrown away, and they only fought about three to five times a year. Most gladiators were in funerary clubs to assure them a good funeral in the end.
First Day on the Job
Gladiator training camps were capable of holding numerous recruits. A famous case is that of Gaius, whose camp was home to 20,000 gladiators. Novici (New Recruits) were immediately examined by the school owner (or lanista), doctors (medici), and trainers (doctores). In early training, gladiators were treated as prisoners always under guard. These new gladiators focused on acquiring the physical strength needed to fight before learning skills. Some gladiators were former knights trying to improve their skills. For a couple hundred years, some gladiators were women.
Bittersweet Victory
Gladiators were valuable resources. When their worth was proven in the arena they would be given a tattoo often on the face. This tattoo made it nigh impossible for escaped gladiators to blend in with roman society. Due to the expenses of training and feeding gladiators their lives weren't thrown away, and they only fought about three to five times a year. Most gladiators were in funerary clubs to assure them a good funeral in the end.
Bibliography
Tribunes and Triumphs - Life of a Gladiator, 2017
Tribunes and Triumphs - Gladiator Training, 2017
Ancient Origins - The Real Lives of the Gladiators of Rome, July 30th, 2015
Various image sources, credits in captions when necessary.
Tribunes and Triumphs - Life of a Gladiator, 2017
Tribunes and Triumphs - Gladiator Training, 2017
Ancient Origins - The Real Lives of the Gladiators of Rome, July 30th, 2015
Various image sources, credits in captions when necessary.