Group 1's Rome Blog

2009-04-29T09:07:00.000-07:00

Types of Gladiators: There were many categories of gladiators, who were distinguished by the kind of armor they wore, the weapons they used, and their style of fighting. Most gladiators stayed in one category, and matches usually involved two different categories of gladiator. The following examples will illustrate some of the different types of gladiators which modern scholars have identified:

Thracian: Wide-brimmed crested helmet with visor, high greaves on both legs, arm protector, very small shield, and short, curved sword (similar to Spartacus); the victorious gladiator in this mosaic is a Thracian.
Secutor: Egg-shaped helmet with round eye-holes, greave on one leg, arm protector, legionary-style shield and sword (scutum andgladius); see the small black helmet in the above image and the victorious gladiator in this mosaic. The secutor was called a “chaser,” probably because he was frequently paired with the retiarius, who used running as one of his tactics.
Retiarius (“net-and-trident” fighter): Arm protector (often topped with a high metal shoulder protector), large net, trident, small dagger, no helmet; the retiarius was the only type of gladiator whose head and face were uncovered. Since he wore practically no defensive armor, the retiarius was more mobile than most gladiators but was also more vulnerable to serious wounds. Looking at the retiarius in this mosaic, one has to ask, “Why is this man smiling?” because the secutor appears about to stab him.
Bestiarius: This was a special type of gladiator trained to handle and fight all sorts of animals. The bestiarii were the lowest ranking gladiators; they did not become as popular or individually well known as other types of gladiators. Although this relief depicts bestiariiwearing armor, most depictions show them without armor, equipped with whips or spears, wearing cloth or leather garments and leggings.

(got information from www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/arena.html )

Gladiator Shoes

2009-04-27T16:49:00.000-07:00

The Gladiator Shoes. This century hasn't forgotten about gladiators. Imagine them wearing these into the colosseum. Would definitly add some class.

Spartacus (c. 109 BC-71 BC)

2009-04-27T16:44:00.000-07:00

The Roman slave, possibly a prisoner of war from Thrace, who sparked a rebellion of slaves who fought against the might of the Roman Army. Spartacus was sold as a slave to the lanista Lentulus Batiatus of a gladiatorial school (ludus) near Capua. Spartacus was trained as a gladiator and used his skills to fight the Romans. His chief aides were gladiators from Gaul, named Crixus and Oenomaus.

Gladiator School

2009-04-27T16:11:00.000-07:00

The earliest named gladiator school (s. ludus; pl. ludi) is that of Aurelius Scaurus, the lanista at Capua, in Campania.
Above is a model of Rome's Great Gladiatorial Training School (Ludus Magnus) which was built by the emporer Domitian.

2009-04-24T14:42:00.000-07:00

Roman Gladiators were paid after every fight

Gladiators were paid alot of money after every fight if they survive and would be freed after 3-5 years. Most Roman gladiators became very wealthy and lived a very luxurious live after they were freed. Some nobles and normal citizens wanted to become gladiators because they wanted fame, wealth or both, even though it meant pain and death. Also, some gladiators stayed in the arena even if they were freed because they wanted to become wealthier, more fame, or they liked killing.

2009-04-24T14:30:00.001-07:00

2009-04-24T14:25:00.000-07:00

Romans citizens legally derogated as infamus sold themselves to lanistaeand were known as auctorati. Their social status was neither that of volunteers nor condemned criminals, or slaves. Condemned criminals, thedamnati ad mortem who committed a capital crime, entered the gladiatorial arena weaponless. Those criminals who did not commit a capital crime were trained in private gladiator schools, ludi. At these private and imperial schools, gladiators became specialist in combat techniques that disabled and captured their opponents rather than killed them quickly. Criminals trained in gladiator schools fought with the weapons and armor of their choice and could earn their freedom if they survived three to five years of combat. Though a gladiator was only required to fight two or three times a year, few survived the three to five years.

2009-04-24T14:22:00.000-07:00

In general, gladiators were condemned criminals, prisoners of war, or slaves bought for the purpose of gladiatorial combat by a lanista, or owner of gladiators. Professional gladiators were free men who volunteered to participate in the games. In The Satyricon, Petronius suggested that Roman crowds preferred combat by free men over that of slaves. For example, the character of Echion is excited about games in which free men, "not a slave in the batch," will fight. Though low on the social scale, free men often found popularity and patronage of wealthy Roman citizens by becoming gladiators. The emperor Augustus sought to preserve the pietas and virtus of the knight class and Roman senate by forbidding them to participate in gladiatorial combat. Later, Caligula and Nero would order both groups to participate in the games.

2009-04-24T14:20:00.000-07:00

• Most people would watch gladiator fights in arena's, colosseum or amphitheatres.

They watched it in arena's and amphitheatres because those two places are big enough to fit a lot of people, and a lot of people went to gladiator fights. A lot of people went to gladiator fights because fighting one another and other animals was a main sport in Roman days. Colosseums were some of the most used places for gladiators to fight. The amphitheatre was the one place in which the execution of justice was uniquely visible to all classes, and in which all classes were mutually visible. Its layout separated and distanced them from the "pollution" of the arena. It was also one of the few places in which crowd and editor could assess each others character and temperament, and freely express their mutual pleasure or displeasure – for most spectators.

Roman Gladiators were paid after every fight

Diary Entry

2009-04-24T14:13:00.000-07:00

Dear Diary,

Today is C.E. 200, another harsh and tiring day in the Coliseum. Today was considered a pretty good day, I didn't get injured like one of my fellow gladiators Bob. Bob was a good gladiator, but people thought he was a useless slave and accidently threw him out of the Coliseum. He only got minor injuries, he broke 10 bones, and badly sprained his arm and ankle. It was nothing like the huge body cast I had 2 years ago. I have finally recovered from that and I just started fighting 10 days ago. Boss says tomorrow, we will be fighting lions, I am very scared of this because I might die and not be able to get back to my lovely wife and wonderful children. I haven't seen them for 5 years. We also had a new man added to our circle of gladiators. His name is Pepy, and he is so weak that he can't even lift a tiny stool, and so dumb that he is actually excited for fighting hungry lions! I am happy that he is here because when we fight, I can easily beat him.

Right now, I miss my family a lot. My four kids Nicholas, Emily, Louisa, and Iris are only around 12 years old. I also miss my wife too, I hope she doesn't have to see what I'm like right now because she wouldn't recognize me through all these painful bruises, cuts, and burns from the collesium and my master's whip.

Boss says that I am the best out of the bunch, but I know way better. The last time he said that to a gladiator, the gladiator ended up fighting 5 different lions and died a slow and painful death. I feel chills every time I walk past the amphitheater now. Will I die? I don't know, but I'm trusting my goddess Venus to guide me through this rough time. Uh-oh, I see Boss coming, if he sees me writing again, he will punish me with his huge whip. I'm in pain even thinking about it. I wonder what he will make me do this time but I don't have any time for thinking. Better go!

- Irinickal Emlou

The Arena

2009-04-22T09:27:00.000-07:00

Gladiatorial contests, like chariot races, were originally held in large open spaces with temporary seating; there is evidence that some munera were held in the Roman Forum, for example. As the games became more frequent and popular, there was need for a larger and more permanent structure. Although the Circus Maximus was often pressed into service because of its huge seating capacity, the Romans eventually designed a building specifically for this type of spectacle (called an amphitheatrum because the seating extended all the way around the oval or elliptical performance area, which was covered with sand, harena). Early amphitheaters, both in Rome and elsewhere, were built of wood, but stone amphitheaters proved to be much more durable; the oldest stone amphitheater, built in Pompeii in the first century CE and seating approximately 20,000, is still well preserved. Like Roman theaters, amphitheaters were freestanding; because they did not require natural hills, as Greek theaters did, they could be built anywhere.

Roman Gladiators

2009-04-22T09:23:00.000-07:00

Like chariot racing, contests of gladiators probably originated as funeral games; these contests were much less ancient than races, however. The first recorded gladiatorial combat in Rome occurred when three pairs of gladiators fought to the death during the funeral of Junius Brutus in 264 BCE, though others may have been held earlier. Gladiatorial games (called munera since they were originally “duties” paid to dead ancestors) gradually lost their exclusive connection with the funerals of individuals and became an important part of the public spectacles staged by politicians and emperors. The popularity of gladiatorial games is indicated by the large number of wall paintings and mosaics depicting gladiators; for example, this very large mosaic illustrating many different aspects of the games covered an entire floor of a Roman villa in Nennig, Germany. Many household items were decorated with gladiatorial motifs.

2009-04-22T09:21:00.000-07:00

a picture of roman gladiators fighting

5 important things you should know about Gladiators

2009-04-22T09:16:00.000-07:00

•In general, gladiators were condemned criminals, prisoners of war, or slaves bought for the purpose combats

The romans punished slaves and crinimals by forcing them to fight in gladiator fights. Most were killed, only few survived. It was a horrible punishment but people loved watching them.

•Most people would watch gladiator fights in arena's or amphitheatres.

Gladiatorial contests, like chariot races, were originally held in large open spaces with temporary seating; there is evidence that some munerawere held in the Roman Forum, for example. As the games became more frequent and popular, there was need for a larger and more permanent structure. Although the Circus Maximus was often pressed into service because of its huge seating capacity, the Romans eventually designed a building specifically for this type of spectacle (called an amphitheatrum because the seating extended all the way around the oval or elliptical performance area, which was covered with sand, harena). Early amphitheaters, both in Rome and elsewhere, were built of wood, but stone amphitheaters proved to be much more durable

•Women once competed in the gladiatorial arena though not without controversy

It is horrible but true. Woman fought for their rights but the emperor always won and made them fight in the arenaor colosseum against other woman and men.

•The Roman emperor Septimius Severus, allowed women to fight as gladiators

He ruled from 193 to 211 CE and sadly allowed women to fight as gladiators but luckily banned the tradition in 200 CE. Recently, the remains of a young woman who were probably gladiators, approximately 20 years old, were found in Britain.

•Gladiators were paid each time they fought

Aqueducts Today

2009-04-20T14:53:00.001-07:00

There were many aqueducts that served Rome as well as ones that provided other Roman cities with water. The Aqua Appia was the first aqueduct to serve Rome. Aqua Anio Vetus, Aqua Marcia, Aqua Claudiaand Aqua Anio Novus were other aqueducts that flowed to Rome. They were supplied by the Anio River. The Aqua Appia was 10.5 miles long. Forty years after the completion of the Appia, the Anio Vetus was being built. It length was 40 miles long. Other aqueducts to Rome included the Aqua Tepula, Aqua Julia, Aqua Virgo, Aqua Alsietina, Aqua Hadriana, and the Aqua Augusta. Ancient Rome and the surrounding countryside must have been quite a site. The beauty and mystery of these incredible structures can still be experienced today. Rome is not the only area in which aqueducts were utilized. Many other countries used the same technology to solve their own water problems. Aqueducts were found in the old Spanish towns of Tarraco, Merida, and Segovia. The Segoviaaqueduct probably dates to the first century. Its grandeur and cost of construction would indicate that Segovia was a very important Roman city. However, the city was not on a major road and it was hardly mentioned in ancient sources. Many of the aqueducts were equally splendid but did not survive. The Segovia aqueduct still delivers water to the city. Other aqueducts still in existence are Pont du Gard in France,Aqueduct of Valence in Istanbul , Medieval aqueduct in Sulmona, the old aqueduct at Napoli Sotterranea , the Ottoman Aqueduct, and the remains of an aqueduct beyond the French Rivieria 10 miles south of Mons. Today aqueducts may be found in California . The aqueduct is a technology that has survived the test of time. Yes, aqueducts are history but they are also progress.

2009-04-20T14:49:00.000-07:00

The aqueduct at Nimes, in southern France (Pont du Gard)

These aqueducts were quite a challenge to build. The engineering had to be just right in order to get the water to run through the channels and get to the city without stagnating in the channel or coming too fast into the city. They had to keep the slope the same all the time, so sometimes the aqueducts had to run on high arches, and other times along the ground in stone channels, or even under the ground in tunnels.

creation of the word Aqueduct

2009-04-20T14:43:00.000-07:00

The word Aqueduct was made from the latin word for water (aqua) and the latin word for channel (ductus).

2009-04-20T14:42:00.000-07:00

As Roman towns got bigger, in the course of the Roman Republic, it got too hard for the people who lived in the towns to get drinking and washing water. Because raw sewage was draining into the rivers, people who drank river water often got very sick or died. Local governments, first in the city of Rome and then elsewhere in the growing Empire, decided to build long stone channels to carry clean water from nearby hills to the towns. Above is an aqueduct of the city of Rome.

more about aqueducts

2009-04-20T14:38:00.000-07:00

Ancient Rome had eleven major aqueducts, built between 312 B.C. (AquaAppia) and 226 A.D. (Aqua Alexandrina); the longest (Anio Novus) was 59 miles long. It has been calculated that in imperial times, when the city's population was well over a million, the distribution system was able to provide over one cubic meter of water per day for each inhabitant: more than we are accustomed to use nowadays.

In order to keep the gradient constant, the aqueducts took a roundabout route, following the contours of the land and heading along spurs which led towards Rome. As time went on, Roman engineers became more daring in the construction of high arches to support the conduits across valleys and plains and some of the later aqueducts were as much as 27 meters (about 100 feet) above ground level in places. Closed pipes were occasionally used to cross valleys by the "inverted syphon" method: the pressure forced the water down and up again on the other side, to a level slightly lower than before. But this system was costly, as it required lead pipes (lead had to be imported from Spain or Great Britain) and it was difficult to make joints strong enough to withstand the pressure; so arches were far more common.

Except where closed pipes were used, the channel in which the water flowed was just over three feet wide and about six feet high, to allow workers to walk throughout its length - when the water supply had been cut off - for inspection and maintenance. Where the aqueduct went through impermeable rock it was not lined, but where the rock was porous, and where the conduit ran on arches, a layer of impermeable concrete was applied to form a waterproof lining (opus signinum).

Every now and then there was a sedimentation tank, where the flow of water slowed down and impurities were deposited. Where two or more conduits ran near one another, as was common in later times, there were places in which water could be exchanged between them, either to increase the flow of an aqueduct carrying little water or so that one of the conduits could be emptied for maintenance and repair.When the water reached Rome, it flowed into huge cisterns (castella), situated on high ground, from which it was distributed through lead pipes to the different areas of the city. Part of the water was for the emperor's use, part of it was sold to rich citizens, who - for a price - could have it piped to their private villas, but much of it was available to the populace through a network of public fountains, which were located at crossroads throughout the city, never more than 100 meters apart. Enormous amounts of water went to supply the numerous baths complexes, such as the Baths of Caracalla.

For centuries, an army of laborers was constantly at work, under the supervision of the curator aquarum, extending and repairing the water system. But in the 6th century A.D., as the power of the Empire began to decline, the Goths besieged Rome and cut almost all the aqueducts leading into the city. (The only one that continued to function was that of theAqua Virgo, which ran entirely underground.) One or two were later restored and were used during the Middle Ages, but most of the population had to resort to the Tiber as the only source of water: it is for this reason that the medieval buildings of Rome lie almost exclusively in the two great bends of the river, the Campo Marzio and Trastevere. It was not until Renaissance times that the Eternal City was once again provided with aqueducts and fountains.

Early Aquedusts

2009-04-20T14:35:00.000-07:00

For most of their length the early aqueducts were simply channels bored through the rock, from the water lakes in the hills to the cities in Rome. The depth of the channel below ground varied so as to maintain a constant, very shallow gradient (less than 1/200) throughout the length of the aqueduct; vertical shafts were bored at intervals to provide ventilation and access. Only in the final stretches was the conduit raised on arches, to give a sufficient head for distribution of the water within the city.

?

2009-04-19T16:31:00.000-07:00

Um, Emily, did u write the letter? cuz u aren't supposed to write info on it, ur just sayin ur opinion... I think....

-Louisa

Letter to the Editor- (300)

2009-04-17T14:19:00.000-07:00

Aqueducts are great technology because they supply water to the cities and industrial sites such as gold, lead and tin mines, water mills, forges and baths. Also because they were one of the greatest engineering feats of the ancient world, because it was good health to have as pure water as they got. And for them to carry it not just to Rome but to other cities around like to the Greeks.(72)

The Aqueducts were vastly expensive to build and maintain, and the works were usually a liability to the community. The whole water-course through the aqueducts was public property; when the water arrived it was stored in reservoir buildings, castella, and piped thence to public fountains, baths, and private consumers, who paid a rent for the privilege.(67)

These Aqueducts brang large quantities of pure water from the distant hills. They were also carried as far as possible below ground. Aqueducts were the greatest contribution to architecture and public amenity in the world of ancient civilization, So they were extremley important to have. And we shuld be lucky they were invented.(83)

So you see Aqueducts mght have been expensive but they were most useful and outstanding pice of architecture built in the acient times of Rome. They supplied pure water for many cities including Rome. I would contribute my extra money on such a wonderful invention, and I think you would too. I also think that the Roman Aqueducts were really amazing and cool because they were built over 1000 years ago and they are still standing here today. (68)

Total- 300 words.

2009-04-17T14:14:00.001-07:00

2009-04-17T14:12:00.001-07:00

Beautiful Aqueduct in the country side

Aqueduct Facts

2009-04-17T14:12:00.000-07:00

Romans constructed numerous aqueducts (Latin aquaeductūs, sing. aquaeductus) to supply water to cities and industrial sites. These aqueducts were among the greatest engineering feats of the ancient world, and set a standard not equaled for over a thousand years after the fall of Rome. Many cities still maintain and use the ancient aqueducts even today, although open channels have usually been replaced by pipes.

The Romans typically built numerous aqueducts to serve any large city in theirempire, as well as many small towns and industrial sites. The city of Rome itself, being the largest city, had the largest concentration of aqueducts, with water being supplied by eleven aqueducts constructed over a period of 500 years. Scholars can even predict the size of the city by its water supply. They served potable water and supplied the numerous baths and fountains in the city, as well as finally being emptied into the sewers, where they performed their last function in removing waste matter. The methods of construction are well described by Vitruvius in his work De Architectura written in the first century BC. His book would have been of great assistance to Frontinus, a general who was appointed in the late first century AD to administer the many aqueducts of Rome. He discovered a discrepancy between the intake and supply of water caused by illegal pipes inserted into the channels to divert the water, and reported on his efforts to improve and regulate the system to the emperor Nerva at the end of the first century AD. The report of his investigation is known as De aquaeductu.

In addition to masonry aqueducts, the Romans built many more leats — channels excavated in the ground, usually with a clay lining. They could serve industrial sites such as gold mines, lead and tin mines, forges, water-mills and baths or thermae.Leats were very much cheaper than the masonry design, but all aqueducts required good surveying to ensure a regular and smooth flow of water.

newspaper article

2009-04-17T14:11:00.000-07:00

AQUEDUCT MANIA!!!

I am Louirisem Sieglee writing in the Daily Roman Newspaper. Today, we will be discussing a very popular and new equipment added to our town. And that is... AQUEDUCT!!! Aqueduct is a great engineering feature just added to our town, it sends fresh water from the river to our houses, schools, and bathing houses! No more having to walk hard hours to the river with heavy buckets, and carrying them back! With this new invention, no one will ever suffer! Everybody is crazy with Aqueducts, and people are making them everwhere, even places outside of our Empire are copying this idea! This craziness has been described as Aqueduct Mania by our scholars. On one completely different thought, our town soothsayer has predicted that there will be a famous band in the future consisting of four men. They will be called the "Beatles" and they will call their fan craziness "Beatle Mania". Of-course, most people don't believe her, and that includes me, what kind of name is "Beatles"?

Anyway, the Aqueduct serves many industrial sites like gold/lead/tin mines, forges, water-mills, and baths!!! These beautiful aqueducts are usually made mostly of rocks, cement, and clay (you can see that they look beautiful in all the pictures on this website). Tomorrow, we will also be meeting in the main hall for a job assignment of aqueduct builders. Our old builders are nice enough to have offered this job to whoever wants it. Anyone who has been assigned this job should be proud of building this new and exciting equipment. As of next week we will be getting fresh water from the river, courtesy of the wonderful Aqueduct.

(approx. 272 words)

more Aqueduct

2009-04-15T09:27:00.000-07:00

Awesome Aqueduct

2009-04-15T09:24:00.000-07:00

AQUEDUCT!!!!!!!!!!!