Only Eques Gladiator example essay topic

So you think you have what it takes to win in the ultimate game of Survivor? Can you outlast all of your opponents? Can you learn real survivor skills that are needed to remain alive? There will be a handsome reward if you are able to even live. If you think you have what it takes read on. But beware, this season we " ve changed the rules to gladiatorial combat style.

The Location Before actually entering the contest, there will be training. Training will take place either in Rome or one of the provinces. As a gladiator, you will be owned by a lanista and training will take place at their school, or a ludus. While staying at the ludus, the training will be extensive and plentiful. You will be taught the necessary skills of fighting for survival in the arena for combat.

The training will be rigorous and tough, to ensure that you do not die. Your death is certain to bring monetary loss to your lanista. The lanista is able to make a very wealthy profession of "renting" you and his gladiators for the games. Although the lanista would have enough money to be thought of as rich and wealthy, he will never be associated with the aristocrats of society. Being a lanista is thought of being at the very bottom of Roman society. August, an ancient Roman writer, is noted as saying, "It was in the eyes of the Roman he was regarded as both a butcher and a pimp... it was upon him that society cast all the scorn and contempt aroused by an institution which reduced men to the status of merchandise or cattle".

Although this opinion is held of the lanista, the games will provide enough excitement and entertainment to pacify the spectators of this feeling towards them. Once the training is complete, the true test begins. The wooden swords are replaced with metal ones where the slightest errant move is sure to result in death. Up until the late first century BC the games were held in the city's Forum.

In the forum would be temporary wooden stands, which would hold the audience as they poured into the stands to see blood and gore. The gladiatorial games were then moved to more permanent structures. These structures are called amphitheaters. The first permanent stone amphitheater was built by Statilius Taurus in 29 BC. Amphitheaters are located around the Empire ranging from Rome, Spain, Gaul, northern Africa and in the Greek east. Inside of the amphitheater is a cross section of Roman society.

The first fourteen rows of the amphitheater are reserved for the members of the upper class and aristocrats of society. There are also sections for the plebs, the common citizens, as well. The higher up the theater you go, the lower in society's class structure you are. The Cast The cast will consist mostly of captured soldiers of foreign nations (where most of the contestants will come from), serious criminals, rebellious slaves and even some people like you, a free citizen. Once a gladiator you will have to take the gladiatorial oath. The oath binds you to "agree to being branded, being chained, being killed by an iron weapon, to pay for the food and drink they received with their blood and to suffer things even if they do not wish too".

Why would a free citizen want to become a gladiator? Money. As a citizen without a certain trade, career options were very limited. You can either enter the army (where you " ll be treated possibly just as bad as a gladiator), teaching (if you are even literate and willing to fight for your wages) or become a gladiator. As a gladiator at least you " ll be given three meals daily, some medical attention and a roof over your head.

Please remember that you will be way too valuable to your lanista for you to be in poor health and not in top condition to fight. Even if you were to die and your lanista would loose your future services, if you were to not even put of a decent fight, your lanista's reputation could be at stake of providing quality gladiators. Once a gladiator, you " ll be designated as a certain type of gladiators. Some of the categories you " ll be assigned, but are not limited to, are: Retiarius- You " ll be equipped a trident, a net, a dagger, a covering over your left arm (a manica) and a shoulder piece to protect your neck. You will be thought of as the "net-man" and generally be squared off against the Secutor. Secutor- The secutor is often referred to as the pursuer.

As a Secutor you will be equipped with a large, smooth helmet and a medium sized rectangular shield. Seemingly you " ll be at quite a disadvantage when facing the Retiarius. Murmillo- The Murmillo wears a large, crested helmet (with a fish on it) and carries a little shield. However, unlike the Secutor, you " ll be given a lance to help defend yourself.

As a Murmillo, you " re likely opponent will be the Hoplomachus. Hoplomachus- The Hoplomachus is provided with a rectangular shield, a short sword, a covering over the left leg (ocrea), protective bands covering your wrists and knee and ankle of your right leg, a helmet and a small chest plate. Obviously, you " ll be heavily protected and armed as a Hoplomachus; maybe you " ll get lucky and be chosen as one of these types of gladiators. Thracian- The Thracian is also an opponent of the Murmillo. Thracian's are given a curved short sword (sica), armor covering the left arm (manica) and coverings over both of your legs.

Seems that you " re a quite a disadvantage as compared to the Hoplomachus, maybe you won't have such bad luck and land here. Eques- Eques were known as knights and horsemen. You will only fight other Eques. Eques enter the arena upon horseback, but the real fighting takes place off of the horse. You " ll have a chest plate, back plate, armor over your thighs, a round shield and a lance.

Provocator- As a Provocator you will also only fight other like foes. However to your advantage (or possibly your opponent's) you will be the only Eques gladiator equipped with upper body armor. You will be allowed to wear a chest plate and equipped with a helmet, a short sword and a lance. However, due to your chest plate that you " ll be wearing, the crowd will think of you as not being brave and noble.

Immunity Challenges Just like the rest of rules so far, the immunity challenges have taken on a drastic and brand new meaning. After your first contest, if you live, you " ll be calling the challenges Life Challenges instead. A day of festivities and events accompany the day of the games. The games are given as a funeral gift for the dead, or a mun us. The first gladiatorial contents took place in Rome in 264 BC when Junius Brutus Pera's two sons sponsored the first ever games in their father's memory. The first games only had three pairs of gladiators fighting.

But of recent, much to your dismay possibly, the editors, the sponsors of the games, usually compete in the amount of matches offered. This means more death and carnage for the fans, which is ever pleasing to them and more popularity for the editor. Once the games begin, you will fight another gladiator. The fighting will continue, with non-stop action until either one of you is mortally wounded or surrender.

To surrender you would hold up your index finger. Once this happened the spectators would ultimately decide your fate before your very eyes. They would gesture to the judge either thumbs up or down. Then, almost always according to the crowd's opinion, the editor would indicate to your opponent your fate. He would indicate to him either to kill you or issue a reprieve of your life, a mission, usually for fighting valiantly. If you were determined to die, you would bow in front of your opponent, hold their thigh while bent upon one knee and receive a blow to the head or throat.

The Winner Once entered into the life of a gladiator, the only real prize in winning is your life. For that, you are able to see and breathe another day. But, there's more. If you fight enough, fight bravely enough and win the crowd's support and favor, you could be granted your freedom. Although you will never be a Roman citizen, you " ll be a free man.

As a successful gladiator, you " ll have the opportunity to money and prizes. If you are lucky you will one day become a Rudiarii. A Rudiarii is a freed gladiator. To become free, the editor would present you with a rud is, a wooden sword, showing you that you " ll never again have to fight with the real metal ones the nearly took your life away every time you stepped into combat. Still eager to try the new season's show out?

If so, report to the nearest lanista and sign your life away. Are you still able, or willing, to be the Ultimate Survivor with your life on the line? I didn't think so.

Bibliography

Arena: Gladiatorial Games web Brooklyn College web web web web Roman Civilization web The Games web.