Gladiators (Lat. gladius, a sword), in Roman antiquity, men who fought with each other or with wild animals at the public games, for the entertainment of spectators. They were originally captives, slaves, or condemned criminals; but under the republic free-born citizens, and under the empire knights, senators, and even women, fought in the arena. Those who were malefactors were divided into two classes: those condemned ad gladi-um, to be killed within a year, and ad ludum, who were discharged if they survived three years. Professional gladiators were trained in schools at Rome, Capua, and Ravenna, by overseers (lanistae), who either purchased and maintained them to let them out for public exhibitions, or only trained them for their owners. Clodius and Milo employed gladiators as a political force in their struggle; Caesar had 5,000 of them at Capua, who were not overlooked by Pompey. They were taught the postures to be assumed in falling and in dying, and such food was chosen as would thicken their blood in order to give the spectators a more leisurely view of their death. The public combat between gladiators began with weapons of wood, which were soon exchanged for deadly arms. Usually they were matched by pairs.

According to their arms or modes of fighting, gladiators were divided into numerous classes. The andadatae fought blindfolded, the catervarii in troops, the essedarii in chariots, the equites on horseback, the hoplomachi in full armor, the laqueatores with the lasso, the mir-millones with the weapons of the ancient Gauls, the Samnites with those of the people of Sam-mum, the Thraces with a dagger and round buckler. The retiarii were lightly equipped, and fought by throwing a net lasso-fashion over the head of their antagonist, and then despatching him with a three-pointed lance or trident. If a combatant was vanquished, but not killed, his fate depended on the people, who turned their thumbs down if they wished him to be spared. A man who had once been a gladiator was always regarded as disgraced, and, if a knight, could not resume his rank. Gladiatorial contests were first exhibited at Rome in 264 B. C, as an entertainment at funerals, and they continued till the reign of Honorius (A. D. 404), when Telemachus, a Christian monk, rushed between two contending gladiators at Rome, and by his self-sacrifice occasioned the decree for their abolition. The passion for them had risen to its height under the emperors.

Titus ordained a combat of 100 days, and Trajan one of 123 days, in which 10,000 gladiators fought, and 11,000 fierce animals were killed. Rome was imperilled about 72 B. C.by a rebellion of gladiators. (See Spartacus.)