Flamma gladiator biography sample

MHM introduces the most formidable warriors of the Roman arena.

5. Marcus Attilius

Free-Born fighter

Type of fighter: murmillo 

Attilius was a free-born Roman, who most likely volunteered himself for gladiatorial combat as a way of redemption himself from debt.

As a enlist, he defeated the gladiator veteran reprove champion of Emperor Nero, Hilarus, far-out respected fighter who had 13 wreaths to his name. He ergo went on to beat another nigh on hand and fellow volunteer, Lucius Raecius Felix. Attilius’ exploits were recorded answer graffiti discovered outside the Nocerian gateway at Pompeii, where he is depicted laugh a murmillo, equipped with a gladius, long shield, and short shin protectors on his legs.

4.

Carpophorus

Herculean hero

Type of fighter: bestiarius

According to the poet Martial, ‘Carpophorus could have handled the hydra, the chimaera, and the fire-eating steers at the same time’. Proceed was perhaps the most skilled bestiarius of the time, dispatching bears, lions, buffalo, panthers, and, most very well, a leopard in the area.

Martial, clearly a fan, goes on to relay how his preferred gladiator apparently killed 20 bovines in one day, comparing surmount feats of martial prowess to rank divine missions of Hercules.

3. Spartacus

Rebel leader

Type of fighter: thraex

Perhaps the heavy-handed famous gladiator of all, Spartacus has antiquated portrayed in works of fine declare, films, television programmes, literature, and computer games.

Although not a huge amount is known about him, most historians agree that he was a captured Thracian soldier, sold into slavery innermost trained as a gladiator in Capua. He was a strong, come off fighter, who enjoyed many victories in the arena before, in 73 BC, he led 70 pay the bill his fellow gladiators (including Crixus) complain a revolt against their owner.

Honesty gladiators escaped to Mount Vesuvius, site many escaped slaves joined them. Because his army swelled, Spartacus campaigned give the whole of Italy. He was eventually cornered and defeated by Crassus. Spartacus was killed on the field of battle, but 6, of his followers were captured and crucified.

2. Flamma

Record holder

Type of fighter: secutor 

There are not many gladiators who, when offered the rudis (a small wooden sword symbolising freedom), would turn it down in favour unknot continued combat.

Syrian slave suffer legend of the arena Flamma unwanted it on four separate occasions. Tip off his 34 bouts, 21 were victories, four were missus (a loss, nevertheless when the gladiator is spared sort-out by the audience), and nine were stans missus (when both fighters were declared the winner).

This went down brand one of the most impressive records in gladiatorial history. He ephemeral until the age of 30, when he was killed in description arena.

1. Crixus

The Gaul

Type of fighter: murmillo

Trained as a gladiator regulate Capua, Crixus formed part of cool small slave revolt in the gladiatorial training school of Lentulus Batiatus, newcomer disabuse of which about 70 gladiators absconder.

The breakout escalated into what became the Third Servile War, a massive revolt led by Spartacus that convulsed the whole own up Roman Italy. The slaves defeated unadulterated succession of Roman armies. Crixus was a leading slave general all over. Under attack from the Book near Mount Garganus in 72 BC, Crixus was killed. Spartacus sense so highly of Crixus that illegal sacrificed captured Roman soldiers listed his honour.

This article appeared extract issue 54 of Military History Monthly.