Gladiatorial Games and Gladiators Flashcards
Where did gladiatorial contests originate from
funeral games to honour dead aristocrats in etruscan society
7 main types of gladiator
-Secutor
-Murmillo
-Thraex
-Hoplomachus
-Retiarus
-Eques
-Provocator
Murmillo opponents
-Thraex
- Hoplomachus
Thraex opponent
Murmillo
Hoplomachus opponents
Murmillo and very rarely, thraex
Secutor oppponents
Retiarius
Retiarius opponents
secutor
Provocators and Eques oopponents
other provocators
Murmillo tactics
stand in a basic position of left foot and shoulder forward
-top of scutum at mouth level and lower portion overlapping the greave by 10cm
– gave protection from the foe and from the shield hitting the shin
-scutum could be used offensively but the murmillo primarily thrust and occasionally slashed with the gladius
Retiarius tactics
-net was used until lost, thrown in an underarm motion with trident pointing downwards
-trident = primary offensive weapon
- trident could be used to disarm a secutor
-Retiarii often shown jabbing at the legs
-Could thrust with much power at the head of thee secutor over the shield, which is why secutors needed smooth helmets
Eques Tactics
-Started on horse but often finished battle on foot when horse was injured or killed
Who were gladitorial schools set up and run by
A Lanista
what is a lanista
a private entrepreneur who aquired men by purchase or recruitment, trained them and then hired them to clients
What kind of people were gladiators predominantly
Men of low status as well as volunteers.
What did the training programs prioritise
-maximise physical fitness
-balanced diet
- hard training
-medical attention
Where and what did gladiators use to practise and train
a small arena, using blunt instruments made of wood
- they trained with a post before training with a live opponent
What were gladiators that fought animals called
venatores
What did the most popular animal hunt fights inclue
dangerous beasts eg. lions, tigers, leopards, and bears.
- venatores armed with spears
What are the types of spectacles linked to animals
- presentations of exotic animals
-shows with trained performing animals - hunting of animals
- fights between venatores and dangerous animals
-executions of criminals by throwing them to wild animals without weapons.
Parmula shield
small square shield belonging to the thraex
Scutum
curved rectangular shield belonging to murmillo
hoplon
small round shield of the hoplomachus
