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posted by Edward Casanova | Dec 02, 2019

A gladiator (Latin: gladiator, "swordsman", from gladius, "sword") was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals.

Some gladiators were volunteers that were willing to risk their lives probably because of the glory of the battle.

Their lives were under harsh conditions, socially marginalized and segregated even in death.

Some literary sources suggest their origins around the late 1st century. [1]

Their motivations for joining, besides slavery, may have been the opportunity of regular food, housing of sorts and a fighting chance of fame and fortune. [2]

From now on, you get the idea that this lavish spectacle has a resemblance to some of the top world’s most viewed sports tournaments nowadays. Notwithstanding, some of these guys only had one chance of shining under the spotlight.

And it wasn’t only men, but women also. They were described as ‘Amazons’ [3]

Lifestyle

A gladiator might expect to fight in two or three fights annually, and an unknown number would have died in their first match. Few gladiators survived more than 10 contests, though one survived an extraordinary 150 fights! and another presumably died at 90 years old of age, retired from fights. [2]

Training

If the battle was brutal, the training needed to be hell.

Novices trained under teachers of particular fighting styles, probably retired gladiators. [2]

Lethal weapons were prohibited in the schools – weighted, blunt wooden versions were probably used. Fighting styles were probably learned through constant rehearsal as choreographed "numbers". An elegant, economical style was preferred. Training included preparation for a stoical, unflinching death. Successful training required intense commitment. [4]

Mentality

Prior to the show, gladiator games were advertised well beforehand, on billboards that gave the reason for the game, its editor, venue, date and the number of gladiators to be used.

And like the fear of facing an opponent, well known by some of the world's most famous MMA fighters nowadays, gladiators also needed to digest the truth that this may be their last fight.

So the night before the fight, the gladiators were given a banquet and opportunity to order their personal and private affairs; Futrell notes its similarity to a ritualistic or sacramental "last meal". [5]

But, what about their diets? If they were about to fight for their lives, they needed the right fuel.

They may haven’t gotten access to the best sports supplements, supervised high-performance programs or the best-certified nutritionists but…it appears that a simple ration of whole grains was the ace under their sleeve.

To be continued...

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References:

1. Welch, Katherine E. (2007). The Roman Amphitheatre: From Its Origins to the Colosseum. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-80944-3.
2. Futrell, Alison (2006). A Sourcebook on the Roman Games. Oxford, United Kingdom: Blackwell Publishing. ISBN 1-4051-1568-8.
3. Jacobelli 2003, p. 18, citing Dio Cassius 67.8.4, Suetonius's Domitianus 4.2, and Statius's Silvae 1.8.51–1.8.56: see also Brunet (2014) p.480.
4. Futrell 2006, p. 137. Futrell is citing Quintilian's Oratorical Institute, 5.13.54; Futrell 2006, p. 140. Futrell is citing Cicero's Tuscullan Disputations, 2.17; Futrell 2006, p. 139. Futrell is citing Epictetus's Discourse, 3.15.
5. Plutarch. Moral Essays, 1099B (fully cited in Futrell 2006, pp. 86–87): "Even among the gladiators, I see those who...find greater pleasure in freeing their slaves, and commending their wives to their friends, than in satisfying their appetites."

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