Summary

Gladiators of the Coliseum

This animated documentary explores the gladiators of the Coliseum, showcasing their equipment, strengths, and weaknesses, featuring both standard and unorthodox fighters with exotic weapons and strategies.

Types of Gladiators

The documentary starts with the Samnite gladiators, one of the first classes of gladiators based on Samian warriors. Other types of gladiators include:

• Samnite gladiators: wore distinctive armor, including a Greve on their leg, leather or metal arm guards called Manica, and used a Gladius sword and Scutum shield.
• Murmillo gladiators: comparable to heavyweight boxers, requiring strength and height due to their heavy kit.
• Sagittarius: skilled archers with lightweight armor, fighting on horseback.
• Hoplomachus and Thracian: used specific equipment like shields, swords, and armor, including greaves and manica, to complement their fighting styles.
• Retiarius: a unique gladiator, wore minimal armor and used a trident, dagger, and net to fight.
• LaMarcus: larger and more heavily armored, carrying up to three weapons.
• Finetti: targeted vulnerable parts of their opponents.
• Dima Kairos: fought with two swords and only against others with the same handicap.
• Venator: not traditional gladiators but instead fought or hunted exotic and aggressive animals in the arena.

Equipment and Strategies

Gladiators used various equipment and strategies to gain an advantage in the arena. Some of the equipment used includes:

• Gladius sword: a short, deadly sword with a tapered point.
• Scutum shield: a large, curved rectangular shield made of wood, leather, and metal.
• Seeker: a Roman weapon with a slight bend, useful against opponents with shields.
• Trident and net: used by Retiarii to finish off disarmed opponents.
• Custom helmet: with a smooth and streamlined design that allows a net to slide off, and creepy eye holes that make it difficult to attack with a trident.
• Cardio Felix: a partial breastplate, designed to absorb immense damage and protect against sword and spear attacks.

Some of the strategies used by gladiators include:

• Using speed and range to catch and dominate opponents.
• Knocking down armored opponents with pickaxes and taking advantage of their heavy armor.
• Using a rope lasso and a gladius to pull opponents off balance and create a safe distance to strike.

Life as a Gladiator

Gladiators lived a life of fame and danger, with their survival depending on their skills and strategies in the arena. They wore colored outfits to differentiate themselves, and mounted gladiators were often overpowered against foot soldiers. Female gladiators did exist, but were viewed as a novelty and not highly valued.

Under-equipped and untrained fighters were often thrown into the arena for a last-man-standing death sentence, while cestus fighters engaged in hand-to-hand combat with special gloves. The Romans modified the sport by adding metal plates and sharp blades to the gloves to increase excitement and attendance.

Conclusion

The documentary provides a comprehensive look at the gladiators of the Coliseum, their equipment, strengths, and weaknesses, and the strategies they used to survive in the arena. It also highlights the dangers and challenges faced by gladiators, and the ways in which they were viewed and treated by the Romans.

Key Vocabulary

Watch The Video

Vocabulary Quiz

1. Which type of gladiator was known for wearing minimal armor and using a trident, dagger, and net to fight?

A) Murmillo gladiator
B) Sagittarius gladiator
C) Retiarius gladiator
D) Hoplomachus gladiator

2. What was the name of the Roman weapon with a slight bend, useful against opponents with shields?

A) Gladius sword
B) Scutum shield
C) Seeker
D) Trident

3. Which gladiator type was comparable to heavyweight boxers, requiring strength and height due to their heavy kit?

A) Samnite gladiator
B) Murmillo gladiator
C) Sagittarius gladiator
D) Retiarius gladiator

4. What was the purpose of the custom helmet with a smooth and streamlined design and creepy eye holes?

A) To intimidate opponents
B) To protect against sword and spear attacks
C) To allow a net to slide off and make it difficult to attack with a trident
D) To increase visibility in the arena

5. What was the name of the partial breastplate designed to absorb immense damage and protect against sword and spear attacks?

A) Cardio Felix
B) Scutum shield
C) Gladius sword
D) Manica

Answer Key:

1. C
2. C
3. B
4. C
5. A

Grammar Focus

Grammar Focus: Using the Present Participle to Describe Ongoing Actions

Grammar Quiz:

Choose the correct form of the verb to complete each sentence:

1. By the time the documentary starts, the Samnite gladiators _______ their equipment, including a Greve on their leg and a Gladius sword.

• were using
• have used
• are using
• use

2. The Retiarius gladiator _______ a trident, dagger, and net to fight in the arena.

• is using
• uses
• was using
• has used

3. The documentary _______ the gladiators of the Coliseum, showcasing their equipment and strategies.

• explores
• is exploring
• has explored
• was exploring

4. Gladiators _______ speed and range to catch and dominate their opponents in the arena.

• use
• are using
• have used
• were using

5. The Romans _______ the sport by adding metal plates and sharp blades to the gloves to increase excitement and attendance.

• modified
• are modifying
• have modified
• were modifying

Answer Key:

1. were using

2. uses

3. explores

4. use

5. modified