Gladiators
Heroes or Victims?
By Thomas McGowan
Let the Games Begin
FIghters and their Weapons
There were many different styles of fighting in the coliseum. Most fights mainly consisted of advantages and disadvantages. The same style fighters were almost never paired together. One of the most common fights was the retarius and the sectutor. All fighters were trained specifically for their type of combat.
Gladiators took their name from their main weapon, the gladius. Gladiators where set free if they were victorious and the overall victor of the games. Some female gladiators where not even gladiators at all. They, in some cases, where expert hunter who appeared in the coliseum. These types of gladiators commonly fought animals. A gladiatrix was a term referring to a female gladiator.
Fun Facts about the Fights
The matches are often rigged in one gladiator’s favor.
Criminals were used as gladiators and were often outnumbered or outmatched.
Animals in the coliseum were often so frightened they would not attack.
The fight between Priscus and Verus was the only know recorded fight and the only known fight in which both fighters were victors