Welcome to Gladiator Games - a place for people who are interested in Roman Gladiator History.
Famous Gladiators
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Emperor Commodus
Commodus was rumored to be the son, not of Marcus Aurelius, but of a gladiator. Coincidentally, Commodus had an almost obsessive interest in the games and would sometimes participate in the arena as a gladiator. Naturally, Commodus always won since his opponents were forbidden to be victorious against him. As a result, these sorts of games would not end in a death. However, in Commodus' private quarters, it was common for him to kill practice opponents. Occasionally, Commodus brought wounded soldiers, amputees, and injured Roman citizens to the arena for the purpose of personally slaughtering them. It is likely that his actions in the arena contributed to his assassination in 192 CE. |
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Flamma
One of the most popular and successful gladiators in the arena was the Syrian Secutor, Flamma. He had 34 total fights, won 21 of them, fought to a draw in 9 of them, and lost only 4 of them. Flamma was offered his freedom four times, but declined and chose to remain as a gladiator. |
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Priscus and Verus
Priscus and Verus were friends who had been successful in the gladiatorial ranks. Before becoming a gladiator, Priscus was a slave from Gaul. Verus, on the other hand, was born free. Priscus and Verus fought each other in the opening games of the Flavian Amphitheater. They bravely fought each other for a long time as the crowd marvelled in anticipation. Finally, in the final moment of the duel, both men acknowledged defeat at the same time. As a reward for such an compelling fight, Emperor Titus gave victory and freedom to both Priscus and Verus. |
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Spartacus
Spartacus's legacy began when he became an auxiliary for the Roman legions. He was later condemned to slavery - likely for desertion. Spartacus trained as a gladiator at a ludus near Capua that belonged to a lanista named, Lentulus Batiatus. In 73 BCE, Spartacus led about 70 men to form a rebellion against the ludus by using kitchen tools as weapons. Later, they plundered several wagons to retrieve weapons and armor. Spartacus and his men then roamed the area around Capua and helped free more slaves to join their ranks, thereby beginning the Third Servantile War against Rome. |
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