Different Roman Gladiator Types Explained

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Need to refresh your gladiator knowledge? We've got you covered. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re taking a closer look at the different varieties of gladiator common in Ancient Rome.

Transcript

00:00Are you not entertained? Are you not entertained?

00:05Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're taking a closer look at the different varieties of

00:09gladiator common in ancient Rome.

00:12Begin!

00:22Samnites. Samnites were the first gladiators of Rome,

00:26during around the 4th century BCE. Their look was inspired by the warriors of Samnium, one

00:32of Rome's earliest enemies, beaten in the early days of the Republic. Samnite gladiators

00:37fought with a short sword called a gladius, crafted for thrusting and carrying, but not

00:42otherwise overly effective. They also carried a rectangular shield, and would protect themselves

00:48with a greave and helmet.

00:49There was psychology at play here, with the Romans initially basing lesser gladiators

00:54on Samnium as a means of mockery. Relations did eventually warm between Samnium and Rome,

01:00however, causing the Samnite gladiator to eventually be superseded by other classes

01:05such as the Secutor.

01:07Sagittarii. From the Latin word for archer, the Sagittarii were mounted bowmen. They were

01:13high-profile gladiators, a special act at any event, and were paid generously for their

01:19talents. Inspired by the people of ancient Parthia, a Sagittarius fought in elaborate

01:24mock battles, popular in Rome as a way of demonstrating its victories to the masses.

01:43These battles would be against the Noxii, who were among the very lowest gladiator

01:48classes. Noxii were usually criminals or prisoners of war, almost certainly condemned to die.

01:54The Sagittarii wore light armour, geared for mobility and speed, which they needed because

02:00they often participated in staged hunts known as Venetiones. Here, they were pitted against

02:06exotic animals, for one of the most infamous and brutal aspects of the gladiator games.

02:12No one doubted that killing wild animals was a thoroughly civilised thing to do, but it

02:16was just the warm-up. The Roman crowds didn't just come to see hostages and ibexes killed,

02:22they were waiting for the gladiators.

02:24Tertiarius. The name Tertiarius comes from the Latin word meaning third, which reflects

02:30the unique role that these gladiators had as back-up fighters. The Tertiarius only entered

02:35the arena under specific circumstances. They were a less common variety of gladiator, but

02:40were also often crucial. Whenever another gladiator was unable to continue a fight,

02:45due to injury, exhaustion, or death, a Tertiarius would take their place as a substitute,

02:51ensuring the show would go on. As a result, they were likely to have been extremely versatile,

02:56capable of using a wide range of weapons and tactics. But, despite their importance and skill,

03:01they were less prestigious than many others who fought within the arena.

03:05Cataphractarius. These were a later addition to the roster of Roman gladiators,

03:11inspired by both Germanic and Parthian cavalry and introduced under the rule of Hadrian between

03:16117 and 138 AD. The Cataphractarius were much more heavily armoured than most others. To look at,

03:23they would have been a fearsome sight. However, their armour could also slow them down and hinder

03:29their movement. They generally faced more mobile, lesser armoured opponents, such as the Retiarius,

03:35which was one of the most popular gladiator types of all, always equipped with a net and a trident

03:41to first entangle their opponent before launching an attack. By contrast, the Cataphractarius fought

03:48with a long lance, a heavy two-handed weapon, bringing tremendous might and sheer brute force

03:54to the fight. Thracian. The Thracians were another who were lightly armoured. They were

04:00inspired by the culture of Thrace, a region in Southeast Europe comprising parts of modern-day

04:06Bulgaria, Turkey, and Greece. Their weapon of choice was a mid-length curved sword called a

04:12sika, which, when wielded with skill, could cause serious damage. Thracian helmets were brightly

04:19decorated with a tall crest and covered in feathers. On the ground, they were quick and

04:23agile fighters and, as a result, were often paired against a heavily armoured counterpart

04:28to create an intriguing fighter dynamic. A fast and tactical gladiator, such as a Thracian,

04:35against a strong and defensive one, the contrast made for a thrilling spectacle.

04:40Demachirus. Who needs one sika when you can have two? The name Demachirus derives from Greek to

04:47mean two swords, and that's exactly what these particular gladiators were famed for. They dual

04:53wielded two blades and, as a result, didn't carry a shield. They were focused entirely on offence,

04:59which meant they were some of the most exciting fighters for Roman crowds to watch. Agility was

05:04essential, so they wore extremely light armour. They could parry with one sword and strike with

05:10the other, which required a high level of coordination and skill, not to mention immense

05:15stamina. Again, they were usually paired against more defensive gladiator types, but a Demachirus'

05:21best chance of escaping alive was to finish the fight as quickly as possible. Allow it to rumble

05:26for too long, and fatigue could be fatal. Female gladiators. Sometimes known as the

05:33amazones, after the group of legendary warrior women from Greek mythology, and later as the

05:38gladiatrix, it's thought that it was quite rare for women to fight as gladiators, but we know

05:43for sure that some did. It's well documented by scholars during the reign of Nero and Demetian

05:58especially, before female fighters were eventually banned by Septimus Severus in approximately 200

06:04AD. Details on the exact profile of female gladiators are scarce, but it's thought that

06:09many were wealthy Roman women who fought for the thrill of it. On the other hand, some may have

06:14also been ordered to fight by men to deliberately bring greater attention to a family. One distinctive

06:20trait is that it's thought female gladiators didn't wear helmets, perhaps purely as a way to

06:25show their femininity to the watching, baying crowds. These girls are doing what Roman women

06:30were not supposed to do. They were bearing themselves in public, they were proving that

06:34they were strong. Mermelones. The mermillo was one of the most recognizable Roman gladiators,

06:40thanks to their heavy armor, iconic helmet, large shield, and formidable fighting style.

06:46Their helmets were decorated with a fish-shaped crest, with mermillo being an ancient word for

06:51fish. Mermelones fought with a short sword and large shield. Close combat was their specialty,

06:57mixing powerful offense with a strong defense. They were another who often fought against the

07:03retiarius, who again brandished a net and a trident, to create something of a fish and

07:08fisherman narrative. The tiny holes in a mermillo's helmet were largely to fend off a trident to the

07:14eyes. To become a mermillo, you needed to undergo rigorous training, but there was a chance that

07:19this gladiator could one day win their freedom. Secutores. The Latin for pursuer or chaser is

07:27secutor, which reflects the fighting style of the secutores. They, again, would usually be paired

07:33with the retiarius, for an oft-repeated epic struggle between water, the retiarius, and fire,

07:39the secutores, who symbolized the god of fire, Vulcan. Secutores would wear a full-faced helmet

07:45with a smooth top to make them less prone to getting caught in a net. Again, their helmets'

07:50eyeholes were tiny, to block the prongs of a trident. They also wore a breastplate, wielded a

07:56short sword in one hand, and carried a giant rectangular shield in the other. Most of the time,

08:02secutores were originally slaves or prisoners, but they, too, could gain their freedom through

08:07heroic victories in the arena. Sometimes, they even became Roman celebrities in their own right.

08:26Rudiarii

08:31Incredibly, there were many gladiators who earned their freedom but continued to fight.

08:37These are the Rudiarii.

08:40The name derives from the word rudus, which refers to the symbolic wooden sword that a gladiator was

08:59given upon their release. Despite their newfound safety, however, Rudiarius returned to the arena.

09:06As a result, they were usually huge fan favorites, and their matches carried more

09:11prestige than others. Rudiarius wasn't a class of gladiator in itself, but more a universal term

09:18for anyone who took this path. The Rudiarii also had other options. They could train new gladiators,

09:28become a referee for future games, or just retire completely. All were respected,

09:33but the bravery of the returning fighter, their unmatched experience and skill,

09:39ensured that they were among the most highly respected of all.

09:43What's your verdict on the era of Roman gladiators? Are there any other areas of

09:47Roman society that you'd like to see us feature next? Let us know in the comments!

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