Roman gladiators are some of the most iconic characters in history and have defined how we think of entertainment in ancient Rome. Their portrayal in films and stories has turned them into archetypal legends – facing death on a daily basis is certainly not something to be taken lightly! The gladiators' tales are incomparable to anything we see or do today, making them fascinating and yet incomprehensible.
Origins of gladiator games
We tend to associate gladiators with blood, gore and brutality, but is that the real history behind these characters? We wanted to explore more to learn what ‘being a gladiator' was really like. The term gladiator is derived from the Latin gladiatores in reference to their weapon the gladius – the short sword. Many historians believe the tradition of gladiator fighting dates back to the Etruscans who hosted the contests as part of their religious rites of death. However, it's been argued that the contests were also used to commemorate the deaths of distinguished aristocrats and wealthy nobles, forcing condemned prisoners to fight. The gladiators' combat and bravery were said to represent the virtues of those who had died.
