Gladiators

Question 1

Name the three main layers of seating in the colosseum

Answer 1

• Ima Cavea
• Media Cavea
• Summa Cavea

Question 2

How many spectators could the colosseum hold?

Answer 2

around 50,000

Question 3

Who opened the colosseum in 80AD

Answer 3

Emperor Titus

Question 4

Name the morning activities that would happen in the colosseum

Answer 4

• Animals v animals
• Venatio (the hunt)
• Demnatio ad bestian (damnation to the beast)

Question 5

Name the events that would normally happen midday at the colosseum

Answer 5

• Dematio and flammas (death by flames)
• Mythological re-enactments
• last man standing

Question 6

What was the late afternoon event?

Answer 6

The gladiators would come out to fight with about 10 mins per fight

Question 7

What was the gladiator survival rate?

Answer 7

90%

Question 8

Name the 5 different gladiators and key bits of information about each

Answer 8

• Murmillo: ‘man fish’ with fish designed helmet, large rectangular shield and short sword
• Thraex: curved sword, medium shield and crested helmet
• Retiarius: ‘fisherman’ with trident, net, small dagger and shoulder shield. Mobile as not weighed down.
• Secutor: egg shaped helmet, short sword, heavily armed and smooth so thee was nothing for the Retiarius to catch his net upon.
• Hoplomachus: looked like a greek, long spear and round shield

Question 9

Name the appeal of coming to see the shows that was to do with animals and not fighting

Answer 9

The animals would often be very exotic- they were animals romans did not get to see in their everyday lives and also emphasised the power and how widespread the Roman Empire was.

Question 10

What were the colosseum arches made of?

Answer 10

Concrete and brick to allow stability for the weight from above.

Question 11

What were the outer walls made of in the colosseum?

Answer 11

Hard travertine rock.

Question 12

What shape were amphitheatres?

Answer 12

Oval/Elliptical (you can’t say circle!)

Question 13

What did people shout during gladiator games to take part?

Answer 13

“Mitte!” (Let him go!) “Lugula” (Kill him!)

Question 14

Give one reason a fight between a murmillo/hoplomachos/retiarius and a Thracian might be especially enjoyable for the audience.

Answer 14

a murmillo; fight would last a long time due to heavy armour
hoplomachos: reasonably evenly matched, offer a fair fight
retiarius; interesting combination of weapons used by the two