02-07-2012, 07:05 AM
Welcome to the forum, Marco.
I believe that we should not try to draw firm statistical conclusions from these inscriptions. The very fact that these gladiators rated inscriptions means that they had money, families, friends, fans and probably all four. Such men, assuming they had decent swordsman skills, would be more likely to survive defeats than the broke and friendless (the majority). There is a record of a chariot-fighter who gained his freedom when his sons appealed to the emperor, who used the opportunity to deliver a homily on the advantages of having a large family.
I believe that we should not try to draw firm statistical conclusions from these inscriptions. The very fact that these gladiators rated inscriptions means that they had money, families, friends, fans and probably all four. Such men, assuming they had decent swordsman skills, would be more likely to survive defeats than the broke and friendless (the majority). There is a record of a chariot-fighter who gained his freedom when his sons appealed to the emperor, who used the opportunity to deliver a homily on the advantages of having a large family.
Pecunia non olet
