1. Not everyone wore togas. Only free-born men were allowed to wear togas (as a sign of citizenship), while women wore stolas. Prostitutes and adulterers wore togas, because they were not allowed to wear stolas and this male garment was a sign of their female disgrace and shame. This is even reminiscent of Hawthorne’s Scarlett Letter.
Atia from HBO Rome
2. Hair dying was popular among women. Red and blonde were the most popular colors. Dye colors were achieved through ingredients like goat fat, beech wood ashes, henna, saffron, and bleach. Even modern day women dye their different colors to achieve a new look. There is even a popular scene in Rome, where Atia is choosing amongst her dyed wigs (only the extremely wealthy had wigs) of blonde, red, orange and even blue. Henna was used by the Egyptians in 1500 B.C.E. More on hair dying and other cosmetics can be found here.
Spiny dye-murex
3. Purple clothing was a high status symbol; reserved only for emperors or senators. To achieve the color, a dye was made from murex seashells or the tyrian seashell. It was treason for anyone other than the emperor to dress completely in purple. However, it is often mistaken that it was a fine or royal purple as modern people know purple; instead the purple was closer to that of a rich maroon. The science behind the seashell dye can be discovered here.
A strigil used to collect strigmentum.
4. Gladiator sweat was used as cosmetics. The sweat of gladiators and the fat from animals use to be sold in “souvenir pots” outside the arena to improve complexion. The sweat would have been captured by means of a strigil and the oily sweaty mixture known as strigmentum would have been bottle and sold for cosmetics and even as an aphrodisiac. The notion that gladiator sweat was good for one’s complexion or even their sexuality even not a difficult conception. The virality of the gladiator continues to appeal to modern consumers as can be seen with Le Male Gladiator Jean Paul Gaultier. The BBC has an amazing website that discusses this at length; here.
Bronze Phallic Wind chime( tintinabulum).
5. Phalluses were worn on necklaces and considered good luck charms. They were worn as charms on necklaces or hung in doorways as wind chimes as a way to ward off evil spirits. However, this Roman ”fade” may be seeing a resurgence with Kei$ha’s newest “penis” jewelry line, as can be seen here. Although, I doubt her phallic jewelry has any symbolic or magical properties other than being avant-garde to modern society’s standards.
Everyone knows the iconic movie poster above. It invokes the idea and concept of gladiators. There is an understanding that these "fighters" were unique to ancient Rome and fought in amphitheaters or even the most famous amphitheater: the Flavian Amphitheater: i.e The Colosseum.
Where did they fight:
The Colosseum completed 80AD.
The Colosseum was capable of holding 50,000- 80,000 spectators.
The Colosseum is situated just east of the Roman Forum.
The Colosseum housed various forms of entertainment during its lifetime from gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical Mythology.
However, while the Flavian Amphitheater( the Colosseum) is the most recounted of the amphitheaters; there are about 230 remains or sites of other ancient Roman amphitheaters. A list of locations and some pictures may be found here.
Who Fought:
Gladiator ,from the Latin gladius which means sword, comes to mean swordsman.
Gladii; Roman short swords.
Gladiators were normally slaves , but later on free men also volunteered to be gladiators( to settle a debt or to win large sums of money) and, by the end of the Republic, comprised half the number who fought. Often, they were social outcasts, freed slaves, discharged soldiers, or former gladiators who had been liberated on retirement but chose to return for a period of service.
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus
It is claimed in Suetonius' "The Twelve Caesars (21.6)" that Gladiator use to address the emperor in the Colosseum before their match: "Ave, Imperator, morituri te salutant" or "Ave, Caesar, morituri te salutant" ( " Hail, Emperor, thoses who are about to die salute you!)" This moment can be seen in the film Gladiator.
"It's all thumbs to me." Who Judged:
It should be noted however, that similar to the film not all gladiatorial games orludiwere held at Rome's Colosseum , nor were they all viewed by the emperor. There would be an overseer of a gladiatorial match, but that person varied from a senator, general, wealthy patron, and so on. However, the overseer or editor would usually be the one made the "judgment call" of life and deathor thumbs up or down( PolliceVerso , meaning with thumb turned).
Pollice Verso: 1872 Gladiator painting by Jean-Leon Gerome.
Pollice Verso by Gerome (closer detail of spectators)
There is much debate about the authenticity of the "thumbs up or down" motions of the editor or overseer. Some people believe thumbs up meant to live; others believe it meant to die and visa versa for thumbs dumb. Regardless of what it is true or isn't true, one thing can be agree upon- the blood and lives taken in gladiatorial games and combat has been numerous.
For more on Pollice Verso (Turned Thumbs) please refer to the University of Chicago's page: Pollice Verso
Types of Gladiators:
Gladiators from the Zliten mosaic 200 AD
The following is a clip from the Gladiator film and it should be advised that it is very bloody. If you choose to view the video (I would advice watching the whole film); please pay close attention to the types of gladiator armor, helmets, and fighting implements.
Thraex Helmet
The first type of gladiator is the one swinging a flail, which was not an ancient weapon, but later he pulls out a mace, which again was not a Roman weapon. However, Hollywood will take their liberties for a good film. It is very difficult to discern what type of gladiator he is or suppose to be, the only clue is on the top of his helmet. The top of his helmet is a griffin. The griffin being the companion of the avenging goddess Nemesis. He is a Thraex or Thraces for plural. He would usually have a long shield and a curved sword (sica)- however we do not see this. But, the helmet is nice and historical.
The Second Gladiator who is wearing the head of some beast is unknown. Apparently, the ancient Romans would put on mime shows after a fight in which entertainer would wear animal heads, but not during a fight traditionally. Perhaps he is reminiscent of the Time Bandit's Minotaur:
Time Bandit Minotaur
CIRCA 2ND CENTURY A.D. Murmillo
The third gladiator, who Maximus actually kills, would appear to be a Myrmillo. They were heavily armored and used a gladius. It is important to note that specific gladiator types were paired against other types. This was done in order to have a fair, even matched, or simple an interesting pairing and combat for spectators. The Myrmillo was apparently a match for the Thread. A second look at this gladiator may be needed since he also resembles a Semite.
The fourth Gladiator which we see Juba fighting is not a real gladiator either. He appears to have
helmet with horns, but there are no mosaics or record literature describing such a helmet. However, his blade that he wields is interesting. It would appear to be similar to the blade that a Thraex would have: a sica. Perhaps they all share weapons and gear!
Sica
A retiarius ("net fighter") with a trident and cast net,
fighting a secutor (79 AD mosaic).
The next and last gladiator that is worth mention would be the one with the net and trident. This gladiator is known as Retiarius "net fighter." The mosaics depicting the trident was once thought to be simply decorative until graves were unearthed revealing gladiators with odd looking marks that fit this weapon.
Thus, Hollywood may have some historical accuracies, but time is money. So, does a movie producer spend five extra hours researching proper gladiator equipment, or does he spend two hours to have some historian consult give him the basics to get the feel of ancient Rome.
Gladiators as Sex Symbols
Thracian gladiator is the delight of all the girls
There is an inscription on a wall in Pompeii that says the Thracian gladiator Celadus was "suspirum et decus puellarum," literally "the sigh and glory of the girls."
The strigil – or stlengis (στλεγγίς) as it’s called in Greek – has a cross-section like a thin piece of celery and is curved like a sickle, but the edges are dull. You couldn’t cut yourself with it. But the strigil (above) is designed to collect the gluey mixture of sweat and oil called gloios (γλοίος) in Greek and strigmentum in Latin. Why? Because ‘gladiator sweat’ was worth a lot of money.
Gladiator sweat and fats of the animals fighting in the arena were sold in souvenir pots outside of the games to improve complexion. BBC
In reference to the title of this post: Lions, Tigers, and Gladiators, some gladiators actual fought animals. These can be seen in Hollywood's blockbuster Gladiator along in some mosaics.
Maximus fighting a Tiger and Gladiator
5th Century Mosaic from Istanbul of gladiators fighting a tiger
The following video discuss the making of the Colosseum and the fighting of with the Tigers!
As Hollywood discovers interesting stories and possibly film ideas, it is important to recall what has already been done: Ancient Rome Movies
