Roman Social Life Essay

Gladiators may have been prisoners of war, slaves, convicts or volunteers who were usually ex-soldiers.They were well trained by a manager and trainer called a lanista at gladiator schools such as the one in Pompeii which still stands today. There are three types of heavily armed gladiators classified as Thracians, Samnites and Gauls according to their weapons and armour supposedly based on what natives of those parts used in war. They had helmets, shields, shin guards and a sword called a gladius from which their name derived. Another kind of gladiator was called retiarius was lightly armed with a trident and net or rete and was supposed to catch the fish or murmillo on the helmet of a Gaul.

The real task was to ensnare the opponent in the net and dispatch him with the trident but usually agiley retreating from the opponent’s sword. If he fell or lost his net then his death was certain. Before the contest, gladiators march in a procession through their own special gate and saluted their sponsor, usually the emperor. War-up fights usually took place with blunt weapons before a trumpet signalled the change to sharp weapons and the contest began. Where a man was wounded or cornered he might cast his weapons aside and raise an arm in a plea for mercy.

Writers like Seneca and Martial considered the violent and bloodthirsty games as ‘pure murder’ and St. Augustine, who disapproved of the games, was appalled to find how seductive the bloodshed was. For example, Seneca wrote ‘wasting your time at a show makes you more cruel and less decent.I went to one of them at lunch time, hoping for a change from all the killing. Far from it! In the morning, men were thrown to the lions and bears. But at lunch-time it was man against man! ’ During the first century AD Romans could enjoy large public bath complexes called thermae. For the poor, the thermae was one of the more pleasant aspects of everyday life and a way to practice good hygiene on a regular basis.

The Plebian masses, as well as having the privilege of leisurely bathing and pampering oneself, were exposed to culture, promoting education and cleanliness.For the equivalent of five cents Plebian masses were able to step into the luxurious life of a wealthy citizen if only momentarily. Like the opinions surrounding the events at the amphitheatre the rich and the educated could differ.