Important Events In Gladiatorial History
In 264 BCE a Roman aristocrat, Decimus Junius Brutus Scaeva, put on the first recorded gladiatorial fight to honor his deceased father at his funeral.
Later in 73 BCE Spartacus led an uprising of slaves and gladiators in Capua. This uprising defeated the armies of Marcus Licinius Crassus. The first official gladiator games in Rome took place in 105 BCE. In 200 CE Septimus Severus declares women no longer eligible to fight as gladiators. In 401 CE Germanic prisoners being prepared as gladiatorial spectacle strangle each other rather than entertain the Romans. In 404 CE Emperor Honorius formally outlaws gladiatorial contests. |
Famous Gladiators
Priscus and VerusLate 1st Century CE
Priscus and Verus were and are the most famous gladiators. They fought in the opening event of the Colosseum and were both crowned winners because they both fought equally. This match was so famous that it was recorded by Martialis, Liber de Spectaculis in detail. This is the only gladiatorial match of which we have a detailed description.
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Sparticus111-71 BCE
Spartacus was a Thracian Gladiator who started a revolution. He was a Murmillo Gladiator at his gladiator school. He and 70 other enslaved gladiators plotted their escape and broke out of the school by stealing kitchen utensils to seize gladiator weapons. They defeated soldiers sent to capture them and recruited other slaves before moving to a more defensible area at Mt. Vesuvius. Rome dispatched a militia led by Gaius Claudius Glaber to force their surrender. Spartacus made rope out of vines to allow his army to attack the Roman forces from behind. Spartacus’ forces were victorious, killing most of the Roman forces. They also defeated the second attack as Spartacus proved to be an excellent tactician. These victories attracted many more slaves and even free shepherds and herdsmen to the revolt. Thus building their ranks to about 70,000. The rebels used the local resources and their creative tactics to hold back the Romans as they trained and raided nearby towns for resources. The rebels were divided between Spartacus’ and Crixus’ command. Alarmed by the rebellion’s success, the Roman Senate sent two legions under the command of Lucius Gellius Publicola and Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Clodianus. At first the legions succeeded, defeating Crixus’ forces of 30,000, but were then overcome by Spartacus. Marcus Licinius Crassus, the wealthiest man in Rome, volunteered to end the rebellion. He had control of eight legions and began to be able to push Spartacus’ forces back. Spartacus tried to escape with his force by bargaining with Sicilian pirates. The pirates betrayed him and Crassus was able to stop them from getting to Sicily. More legions were sent to assist led by Pompey. Spartacus attempted to negotiate with Crassus, but Crassus refused and the rebellion fled to the mountains west of Petelia. Pursued by Crassus’ forces, a portion of the rebels were captured and discipline in their ranks began to disintegrate. Spartacus was able to bring his entire force together for a final stand where they were finally defeated with the majority dying in the battle. The 6,000 surviving rebels were captured and crucified, lining the road from Rome to Capua. Spartacus’ body was never recovered.
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Crixus1st Century BCE
Crixus, whose name means “one with curly hair” in Gaulish, was born in Gaul. He co-led Spartacus’s rebellion, which was later called the Third Servile War. Towards the end of 73 BC, 30,000 followers split from the main body led by Spartacus. The group was defeated and Crixus was killed near Mount Gargano by consul Lucius Gellius Publicola. Prompting Spartacus to organize gladiatorial games in his honor.
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Commodus161-192 CE
Roman Emperor Lucius Aurelius Commodus, son of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, was the first emperor born during his father’s reign. He competed openly in gladiatorial games as a secutor, which the Roman populus found scandalous. Of course, he always won, and strained the Roman economy by collecting a million sesterces for each appearance. His habits spawned the rumor that he was not in fact the son of Marcus Aurelius, but of a gladiator which his mother Faustina had taken as a lover in Caieta. He also thought he was a reincarnation of Hercules, and frequently imitated his feats by killing wild animals in the arena.
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Gods
VictoriaGoddess of Victory
Gladiatorial games were often held in her honor. Victoria was worshipped by many gladiators who asked her to grant them victory in battle.
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Mercury
Declarer of DeathThe god Mercury guided souls to the Styx river. In gladiatorial games, a person dressed as Hermes would strike the forehead of the defeated, symbolizing his collection of the person’s souls.
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CharonFerryman of SoulsCharon was not precisely a god, but he was the immortal ferryman which took your soul across the river Styx and into the underworld. In gladiatorial games, a man dressed as him would remove the bodies of dead gladiators from the field.
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Bibliography
http://www.tribunesandtriumphs.org/gladiators/gladiator-history.htm
https://www.thoughtco.com/priscus-versus-verus-118420
https://www.ancient.eu/gladiator/
http://msthompsonworldhistory.weebly.com/uploads/1/0/8/0/10808077/movie_scr.docx
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spartacus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodus#Commodus_the_gladiator
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crixus
https://www.ancient.eu/gladiator/
http://www.tribunesandtriumphs.org/gladiators/gladiator-history.htm
https://www.thoughtco.com/priscus-versus-verus-118420
https://www.ancient.eu/gladiator/
http://msthompsonworldhistory.weebly.com/uploads/1/0/8/0/10808077/movie_scr.docx
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spartacus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodus#Commodus_the_gladiator
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crixus
https://www.ancient.eu/gladiator/
http://www.tribunesandtriumphs.org/gladiators/gladiator-history.htm