GCSE Latin Literature & Culture: amphitheatres/gladiators

venator

gladiator who hunts wild beasts

murmillo

gladiator who carries sword and shield, and wears helmet with a crest of a fish

retiarius

gladiator who fought with a net and trident

Colosseum

a large amphitheater built in Rome around 70 AD

amphitheatre

oval arena for gladiator fights etc

arena

central area of an amphitheatre where fighting went on

tiered seating

seating which goes upwards the further back you go

Hypogeum

underground chambers in the Colosseum under the arena

trapdoors

a way of releasing animals from the hypogeum to the arena by surprise

Vomitoria

tunnels that allowed the audience to enter and exit the amphitheatre

at least 50,000

seating capacity of the Colosseum

24,000

seating capacity of the Pompeian amphitheatre

Velarium

An awning over the amphitheater to protect the audience from rain or sun