Roman Gladiators

History shows competition in the form of war, games and political ventures as early as recorded history. The Roman Gladiators were a unique example of this competition during the Roman Empire. Through studying the gladiators one can see how the competition influenced politics, games, human lives and the culture. The term Gladiator comes from the term gladius after the Roman sword. They were mostly condemned criminals, prisoners of war and slaves. These individuals would be …

…final stab in his neck. The gladiator was expected to die respectfully without flinching or crying out. It was not too often that the gladiators were killed, as this was costly for the lanista. Gladiators who were skilled fighters made a good sum of money and were awarded the wooden sword symbolizing their freedom. Once freed, the gladiators could continue to fight for money but more often became trainers in the gladiatorial schools or bodyguards.