Gladiator Trivia Questions

Commodus was a real emperor who performed as a gladiator, but he rigged fights and only fought people with amputated limbs or animals to ensure victory.

The Colosseum had a massive retractable canvas awning called the 'velarium,' operated by sailors, to shade the audience from the sun during events.

Female gladiators, called 'gladiatrices,' did exist, though they were rare. Historical records and artwork show women fighting in the arena until a ban in 200 AD.

Gladiators were expensive investments. Death matches were rare; most fights were stopped by a referee after one gladiator was wounded or surrendered.

Historical records show gladiators ate a mostly plant-based diet rich in barley and legumes. They were called 'hordearii' (barley-eaters) for this reason.

Romans used specific hand signals—like a thumb pressed to the chest—to indicate death. The 'thumbs down' as a kill signal is a Hollywood invention from the 19th century.

Free volunteers known as auctorati signed contracts with a lanista, agreeing to fight in return for a fee, glory, and the chance to win prize money.

This line is only recorded once by the historian Suetonius, describing a naval battle reenactment, not a typical gladiator greeting. Hollywood made it famous.