This page cannot be viewed in frames

Go to page

If you have found a spelling error, please, notify us by selecting that text and pressing Ctrl+Enter.

Great gladiators

This post is also available in: Polish (polski)

Roman mosaic showing fight of gladiators
Mosaic showing the fight of gladiators

Gladiators enjoyed great fame – we know some of them by name thanks to Roman writers. Martialis, a Roman poet, mentions in his poem a man named Hermes, who specialized in wielding all types of weapons and his spectacular fights “brought” crowds to the stands of the amphitheaters.

In another work, Martialis describes a certain Carpophorus who fought mainly with wild beasts. Gladiator was supposed to kill 20 animals in one day, including a lion, bear, leopard and rhino.

Sources
  • McKeown J. C., A Cabinet of Roman Curiosities: Strange Tales and Surprising Facts from the World's Greatest Empire, 2010

IMPERIUM ROMANUM needs your support!

If you like the content that I collect on the website and that I share on social media channels I will be grateful for the support. Even the smallest amounts will allow me to pay for further corrections, improvements on the site and pay the server.

Support IMPERIUM ROMANUM!

Support IMPERIUM ROMANUM!

Find out more!

Check your curiosity and learn something new about the ancient world of the Romans. By clicking on the link below, you will be redirected to a random entry.

Random curiosity

Random curiosity

Discover secrets of ancient Rome!

If you want to be up to date with newest articles on website and discoveries from the world of ancient Rome, subscribe to the newsletter, which is sent each Saturday.

Subscribe to newsletter!

Subscribe to newsletter

Spelling error report

The following text will be sent to our editors: