Entertainment in the Colosseum

The Romans had many different types of entertainment they could watch in an amphitheater. They had gladiatorial battles; some including humans forced to fight animals, naval battles in the Colosseum, where the arena would be flooded, and occasionally “freak battles.” (Domitian put on one of these in 90 BCE between a dwarf gladiator and a woman) Basically, if the battle drew blood, the Romans were happy. Luckily for the gladiator, if they had shown great bravery and had fought well but had become injured, the audience would be able to decide his fate. If they wanted him to die, they would show a thumbs up, if they wanted to spare him, they would give a thumbs down and wave handkerchiefs, but this was very difficult to get… The Romans didn’t have much mercy. Though, since training and buying all the animals and gladiators to put on the show was so costly, the lives were spared, only to be put into another gladiator battle. Many times though, the fate was ultimately chosen by either the Emperor or whoever was putting the spectacle on.Wealthy men were able to put on a show for the entire city, paying for all to attend. Occasions such as that, though, were very special since gladiators were very expensive to train. Gladiators who survived were hailed as "superstars" and admired by many. Because of their "superstar" status, some people were actually willing to give up their lives and become a gladiator. Though gladiators were mainly slaves and captured war victims, they could gain status, some wealth, and possibly limited freedom. There were four main types of gladiators; Samnite (later called hoplomachus or secutor), carried a sword or a lance, a scutum (the rectangular shield used by Roman legionary soldiers), a metal helmet, and protective armor on his right arm and left leg. Thracian (named so because he resembled fighters from Thrace, a region of northern Greece), fought using far less - a curved short sword (the sica), and a small round shield, the parma. Thirdly came the Murmillo, or "fishman" (after the fish-shaped crest on his helmet) - similar to a Samnite, but less heavily armed. He usually fought the fourth main type of warrior, the Retiarius, or "net-man," who wore no armor at all. A Retiarius attempted to ensnare his opponent in his net (or used the net to trip the other man) and then to stab him with a long, razor-sharp trident, or three-pronged spear. In addition to these, there were a number of special and off-beat types and pairings, which included Equites, who fought on horseback using lances, swords, and/or lassoes; the Essedarii, who confronted each other on chariots; and, most bizarre of all, the Andabatae, who grappled while blindfolded by massive helmets with no eyeholes.