provincial gladiator

[garrelt]

May be this is been asked before.

When you see gladiators being displayed they are very "Rome" like.
Were the gladiators (types) in the provinces like Germany, Gaul, Brittan exactly the same as in Pompei and Rome.
Or is there any evidence that there were different types with different equipment.

This is because we prefer to show the Roman era (civilian, military, gladiator) from our region and not from another area.

[jvrjenivs]

Yes, there surely is some difference in gladiators types between different area's. I don't know what good the evidence about gladiatorial stuff is up the north, but there is much know from the east, where different types were fighting. Junkelmann discuss this topic a little bit.

I think we mostly see gladiators from the Rome/ Napoli area simple because most of what we know from gladiator clothing (the founds, so not the mosaic evidence) is from that area, specially Pompeii.

[garrelt]

I know and read the book of M. Junkelmann, Das spiel mit dem tod.
I also saw, parts of, his show last year trying to keep the arena in Xanten free from overcrowding.
I'm reading now J. Coulsten's article about gladiators which he wrote in JRME.
Hopefully these are not the only references to gladiators.

[jvrjenivs]

Garrelt, take a look in the 'Ancient Combat Sports' subforum. There you'll find a good lists of books on gladiators.

[Medusa Gladiatrix]

If you have a look on mosaics or reliefs found in the provinces you will notice that the looks of gladiators were more or less standardized in the Imperial time after the reform of Augustus. There is of course a change e.g. in style of helmets throughout the centuries but a retiarius was always equipped the same as well as a secutor etc. Of course the armor of a provincial maybe even itenerant troupe was not as lavish as those pieces found at Pompeii which are from an Imperial ludus.

Below you will see a picture I have taken at the villa in Nennig (in the Saarland close to the border to Luxemburg) which is a detail of the famous mosaic showing a retiarius against a secutor. It is believed that this complete mosaic commemorates a munus held at the amphitheater in Trier (Augusta Treverorum) and that the owner of the villa was the editor.

[jvrjenivs]

If you have a look on mosaics or reliefs found in the provinces you will notice that the looks of gladiators were more or less standardized in the Imperial time after the reform of Augustus. There is of course a change e.g. in style of helmets throughout the centuries but a retiarius was always equipped the same as well as a secutor etc. Of course the armor of a provincial maybe even itenerant troupe was not as lavish as those pieces found at Pompeii which are from an Imperial ludus.

I agree that a retiarius from the province will look like a retiarius from the Rome region, but I think there were differences in gladiator combat between those regions.

First, I would think about typically local gladiator types, based on local (military) traditions. Another thing I really think is that the popularity of the different pairings would differ from province to province, so give another average day at the local arena.

[Medusa Gladiatrix]

What evidence to we have? For the provinces we lack inscriptions like those found at Pompeii announcing the pairing of an upcoming munus. But we also find reliefs, mosaics (like above example), frescoes (e.g. the fresco from Mechern, Saarland shows a hoplomachus against a murmillo), small arts like statuettes or oil lamps in the provinces. And they all show more or less the same types of gladiators. But as even Junkelmann states there might not always be all types available esp. for itenerant troupes. One example is shown on an earthen ware bottle showing a fight of a provocator against a murmillo. Usually the provocator fights against another provocator but the murmillo is similarily equipped.

Reliefs of a "strange" type, the scissor have been found in Turkey. We have discussed this elsewhere in this subforum. The dimachaerus is known only from an inscription in Pompeii.

In the beginning gladiators evolved from native military types such as the Samnite or the Gaul and the provocator resembles in his equipment very much the Roman legionary. But types like the Samnite and Gaul "died out" and the scholars since Junkelmann agree that they are not sure what the armature of those types really looked like.

[garrelt]

Some quotes from J.C.N. Coulston
From his article Gladiators and Soldiers: personnel and equipment in ludus and castra.
Journal of Roman Military Equipment Studies volume 9 1998 page 1-17

Quote
The para-military organisation and training of the iuventus involved gladiatorial trainers and played a part in inculcating the elites with gladiatorial methods.

Gladiators were debarred from becoming soldiers, unless in extreme crisis.

Specific types of fighter, the Samnite up to the Augustian period, and thereafter the myrmillo, secutor, provocator and hoplomachus, used weaponry equivalent to legionary provision.

The extent of body armour worn by gladiators varied according to type from none to complete coverage, with some emphasis on scale armour.

Some swordsman carried round shields, but the majority bore a large,rectangular, curving shield with a central umbo.

There were demonstrably a number of overlaps between military and gladiatorial spheres ib types of weapon and training apparatushort sword, rectangular shield, rudis and palus.

End quote.

My conclusion after reading this article:
A gladiator was could also be used as a campi doctor for the legion or auxillia, fot their swordfighting skills.
This would explain the manner of how the legion and auxillia used their sword and shield.
A gladiator could also be equipt with arms and armour from the army base next door.

[/quote]

[garrelt]

For the complete article click the link below

coulston-JMRE-vol9-1998

[Q. Vipsanivs Praetextatvs]

I agree that a retiarius from the province will look like a retiarius from the Rome region, but I think there were differences in gladiator combat between those regions.

First, I would think about typically local gladiator types, based on local (military) traditions. Another thing I really think is that the popularity of the different pairings would differ from province to province, so give another average day at the local arena.

Maybe the differences in gladiator combat depends of the school, not the region, that's more logical I think...

[garrelt]

Both options are possible, because every trainer has his or her personal style.

[Q. Vipsanivs Praetextatvs]

After reading the text of JRMES I have changed my opinion, because if gladiatores used the same instruction that legionarii, I'm sure that there was a standard form of figthing, may be with some details, but not important.

[garrelt]

I have removed the Coulston article.

For those still interested, just let me know.