Some gladiators were the sports stars of their time they were also the entertainment in a brutal world of death. Most were slaves taken from another country and forced into the gladiatorial world or paid volunteers to entertain and also bring riches to their owner 'Lanista'. He would own a gladiator school where he would train the gladiators, they would live in close confinement and work hard all day training in the various skills. They were fed a basic diet and were worked hard to be fit and strong to fight. Some of the more successful gladiators were considered to be elite sporting heroes and possess special powers and things like their blood were collected and used to give mythical strength to the rich. If a gladiator fought well and survived the brutal years they may have been granted their freedom and this was demonstrated by presenting them with a wooden sword 'Rudius' a symbol of your prowess as a ex-gladiator, and also a sign of your new found free status in society that may bring great prestige as an ex superstar.

Some gladiators were professionals some were slaves, criminals, captives or Christians, they were basically cannon fodder. They had little fighting experience or battle fitness and most were certainly going to die against a stronger more skilled professional opponent. Sometimes they were forced to fight each other to the death , criminal against criminal or even against wild animals like lions. These non professional people were considered worthless with no value, unlike the professional gladiator who was like a premier league footballer today who had a fan base and were considered very special especially if successful in the arena.

Contrary to popular belief not all fights ended in death as some of the Gladiators were very valuable and it would have been a waste of money for them to die so they would fight until they were "bested" and beaten to submission. Although many did die in the arena as the crowd needed to be pleased with blood, the winner would be chosen by the games master and crowd. Because some were so famous they were very popular and crowds would shout their names and rival fans would often fight in the crowd when their champion was being beaten. This all sounds very familiar with modern football matches and the similarities are uncanny. A stadium with crowds all facing a central point, watching the games and cheering until there is a victory, loss or a draw.

Sometimes great battles and victories were reenacted to relive the glories of the Roman empire on the battlefields of the conquered nations and these sort of things involved slaves and criminals wiped out as the vanquished enemies. There were several types of gladiators each with their own armour, weapons, outfit and fighting skills There were a 'Murmillo' a 'Thracian' a 'Samnite' and a 'Retiarius' and many more types, each were trained in their specialist skill and they were matched in the arena for maximum entertainment. These were the elite and most valuable type of gladiators that lived and died in the name of entertainment for the masses.