GLADIATORII LUDI, originally combats on the graves of the de ceased, were first introduced at Rome by the Bruti, 264 n.c. Anciently slaves were mur dered at funerals to propitiate the manes with blood ; then it became customary to make them kill each other in combat ; and, lastly, such combats were extended from funerals and became one of the means of popular amuse ment at Rome. Captives, criminals, or dis obedient slaves were trained for this purpose ; but in the demoralization of the Empire many of the nobles, and even some of the emperors, entered the lists ; and at one show Nero ex hibited 40o senators and 600 knights ; and even women took part in the combats. The gla diators were, from their numbers, training, and doom, a formidable body ; and Spartacus (q.v.) was able to keep at the head of revolted gla diators and runaway slaves against the Roman armies from 73 to 71 B.c. ; hence many laws were passed to determine their number and the times at which the show (nzfl'-nzes) could safely be exhibited (e'elitum) by any magistrate Or private person (editor, zzrz7nIre 'tor, &in:I nas). They were kept in schools (1rt'cli) and trained by a hinis'ta, each troupe being called a fa mina ; they were trained with wooden swords (rzice'es); those who became gladiators for hire were called auctizre ti, and their pay auctordnzen'tum. The great shows were given by the 2Ediles, and handbills (libellz) were cir culated beforehand, notifying the place, time, &c. When introduced into the arena, the gladiators walked round to-show their strength, and were then matched in pairs ; after a skir mish with foils (ar'nza lisrlria, or rhd'es), they received their weapons (ar'ona decriaria), and, at the bugle's sound, the combat began. When any one was wounded, the spectators cried HA b'et (he has it) ; if the vanquished was to be spared, they intimated their will by pressing the thumb into the palm (Aol'aceon firinare), or if to be put to death (fer'runt ricil'ire), by directing the thumb towards the breast (Pflicenc verare). According
to their weapons, dress, &c., gladiators were divided into the following classes :—RitieVrii, armed with a three-headed lance (fies'cina or trid'ens) and a net (re'le), in which they endeavoured to entangle their anta gonists ; these generally fought with S Ores or tifirmilOnes, the latter of whom (named from the badge of an embossed fish, pop pivoc, on their helmets, and also called Gal' li, from being armed like the Gauls) were also matched with the Thrzeces, who, like the Thracians, had a round shield and a dagger (sica); the HopMm'',Ichi fought in full armour ; the Sanzni'les were armed in Samnite fashion, with a large shield (scri'luzn), broad at the top, and engaged the ProWaiteires ; the Essi dzi'rti fought from the es'seda (chariot of the Britons and Gauls) ; the Ancizib'eitze fought hoodwinked ; the Sichares fought with the Rearli, and were either named from follow ing the latter when his net was thrown in efiectually, or were identical with the Su/jos'.
and were substitutes for those who were rendered incapable by wounds ; the Cdterva'rIi fought not in pairs, but in sets ; the Laq'aticita'res used a noose or lasso to catch their enemy ; the lifiredidni fought at mid-day ; the FIR:ages were maintained out of the emperor's treasury (jiscus); the Divid chdri fought with two swords. If a gladiator's life was spared, he received a discharge (mis sio) for the day ; combats sine mission, when no vanquished gladiator was spared, were for bidden by Augustus : when a gladiator had signalized himself, and was discharged from the service, he received a wooden foil, and was called Rentilerius.