A

retiarius

 (“net fighter”) with a trident and cast net, fighting a 
secutor
 (79 AD mosaic).

(Example of early media advertising gladiator fights.)

So, let’s say you do want to become a gladiator!

for this part of your discussion, I want you to create your own gladiator or gladiatrix. 

You will write a short, one page story (between 300 and 500 words) based on the gladiator or gladiatrix you create:

Despite what Hollywood would have you believe, gladiators were not given random weapons, sent into the arena and told to fight. When someone became a gladiator, they were assigned a specific type and style of fighting and practiced it constantly. A specific type of gladiator only fought another specific type of gladiator as determined by well established rules. These pairings were intended to provide the combatants with offsetting strengths and weaknesses in an effort to give the best showing. Although underground fights could do what they wanted, official “games” (as they were called) were very strict with following the rules.

You are now a Lanista, a man who purchases and looks after gladiators, and you must create a gladiator to fight in the arena. This gladiator can be female or male. 

When creating your gladiator you must choose a fighting style and weapons. You must also have a back-story for this gladiator/gladiatrix.  In essence, you are creating a character with a life story.

Below you will find types of gladiators and the types of weapons and armor that each one uses.  You do not have to use the same weapons or armor, feel free to mix and match, and research other weaponry/armor online as well.

What to include in your One-page story:

· Where in the Roman Empire did your gladiator/gladiatrix come from?

· How did he/she become a gladiator/gladiatrix?

· What type of gladiator is he/she? (see list below)

· What type of weapon did he/she use? (see list below)

· What is the story behind his or her last battle in the arena? Describe the battle to us. Did he or she survive the battle? Who did they fight in front of? Describe the fans in the arena.

· Was he/she successful in the arena and who or what did they fight? Did the emperor give the thumbs up or down.

Types of Gladiators

 (what type is your gladiator):

Andabatae wore helmets without eye holes.
Catervarii did not fight in pairs, but several together.
Dimacheri fought with two swords.
Equites fought on horseback.
Essedarii fought from chariots like the Gauls and Britons.
Hoplomachi were like the Samnites, but more heavily armed. They wore ocrea on both legs and mail or leather cuirasses.
Laqueatores used a noose to catch their adversaries.
Meridiani fought in the middle of the day, after the wild beast fights. They were lightly armed.
Myrmillo wore a large galea with a fish on its crest, a manica of mail, leather or metal scales on his left arm, ocrea on at least one leg, a scutum and a straight Greek-styled sword.
Ordinarii were the regular gladiators who fought in pairs in the ordinary way.
Provocator was armed like the Samnite with a parma and a hasta, his opponent was often the Myrmillo.
Retiarius wore a subligaculum and a metal galerus on the left arm. He carried a net, a dagger and a trident or tunny-fish fascina.
The Samnite used scutum and ocrea on his left leg, a galea with a large crest and plume, and a gladius.
The Secutor carried a large oval or rectangular shield, an ocrea on his left leg, a round or high-visored helmet, manicae at the elbow and wrists, and a sword or dagger.
Thracian wore ocrea on both legs, a small square shield, a helmet, a sica or the Thracian sword. (Spartacus was a Thracian)

Gladiator Swords and 

Weapons

 (mix and match as many as you want to include in your story; feel free to research more online):

fascina: harpoon
galea: visored helmet
galerus: metal shoulder piece
gladius: short Roman sword
hasta: lance
iaculum: net
manicae: leather elbow or wrist bands
ocrea: metal or boiled leather greave
parma: round shield
scutum: large oblong shield
sica: curved scimitar
subligaculum: loin cloth

BE CREATIVE! This is your creative story, so as long as you refer to the requirements above, the back story is up to you! 

You can either write this out in your discussion or attach a word document.

You are NOT required to comment on other posts this week! You have the full week for this assignment. 

As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about this assignment.

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