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Famous Gladiators and Stories

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Famous Gladiators and Stories

Read the source cards, then investigate what gladiator stories reveal about Roman society. Use evidence from the cards in your answers. Some accounts were written to entertain, so consider what each source can—and cannot—tell us.

Source cards: people and events

A. Spartacus was enslaved and trained as a gladiator. In 73 BCE, he escaped with others from a training school near Capua. Their revolt grew into a major uprising against Rome. Roman forces defeated it in 71 BCE. Spartacus became a lasting symbol of resistance, though ancient writers disagree about details of his life. B. The emperor Commodus (ruled 180–192 CE) appeared in the arena as a fighter. Ancient writers report that he fought staged bouts, often on favourable terms. His performances linked the arena to imperial power as well as entertainment. C. A Roman writer describes a celebrated match between Priscus and Verus at the opening games of the Colosseum under Emperor Titus in 80 CE. After a long fight, both men yielded; Titus declared them both winners and awarded them freedom. The account presents this as an extraordinary event. D. Gladiators had different fighting styles. A retiarius carried a net and trident; a secutor used a helmet and shield and was equipped to pursue him. A thraex carried a small shield and curved sword. Gladiators could become popular with spectators, but their work was dangerous and they had low social status.

Investigate the stories

Answer using the source cards. For questions that ask you to explain, give a reason or evidence, not just a name.

1.Which statement best describes Spartacus’s revolt?

He led an uprising after escaping from a gladiator training school.
He became emperor and banned arena games.
He invented the retiarius fighting style.
He won freedom in a match against Verus.

2.Put these events in chronological order by writing 1, 2 and 3 beside them: Commodus rules as emperor; Spartacus’s revolt is defeated; the Colosseum opens under Titus.

3.Match each fighter to the equipment or role described in the source cards.

Retiarius
Secutor
Thraex

Small shield and curved sword
Net and trident
Helmet and shield; pursuer

4.According to Source C, what unusual decision did Emperor Titus make after the match between Priscus and Verus?

5.Source B says Commodus fought staged bouts, often on favourable terms. What does this suggest he may have wanted to show spectators?

6.True or false: Gladiators could be admired by spectators even though their social status was low and their work was dangerous. Use one detail from Source D to support your choice.

TrueFalse

7.Sources A and C tell different kinds of gladiator stories. Which one is mainly about resistance to Roman power, and which one is mainly about arena fame? Explain your choices.

8.A historian wants to learn what Roman writers thought about gladiators. Give one useful feature and one limitation of Source C as evidence.

9.Use evidence from at least two source cards to explain what gladiator stories reveal about Roman society. You could consider entertainment, power, resistance or social status.