Certamen customs - gladiators

Myrmillones

Fought with helmet, oblong shield, sword, fish crest on helmet. Usually fought the retiarius or Thracians.

Retiarii

Lightly clad, armed with a net and trident. Usually fought Myrmillones or Secutores.

Samnites

Oblong shield, visored helmet, sword.

Thracians

Small round shield, curved scimitar.

Bestiarii

Hunters - fought wild beasts.

Essedarii

Rode chariots with 2 horses.

Andabatae

Heavily armed, but can't see out of visored helmet.

Laquearii

Armed with lasso and a curved piece of wood.

Secutores

Pursuers - like Samnite but without the neck protector.

Hoplomachi

Full-armed with a breast-plate and visored helmet.

Rudis

Wooden sword given to gladiators on their retirement.

Lanista

Gladiator trainer.

Editor munerum

Giver of games.

Arena/harena

Sand put down to absorb the blood from a gladiator match.

Venationes

Hunts where Bestiarii fought wild beasts.

Premere pollicem

To press the thumb against the forefinger - crowd wants to spare gladiators life.

Vertere pollicem

Turning the thumb upwards or towards the chest - to signify the death stroke.

Gladiator fights introduction to Rome

Gladiator fights were brought to Rome in 264 BC.

Gladiator fights origin

Gladiator fights were originally only at funerals.

Naumachiae

Mock naval battles - they flooded the arena.