Gladiators and Roman Circus

Nowadays, when we want entertainment, we go to the movies, the theater, or concerts. The Romans also had places where they could have fun and forget the harshness of daily life. Some of these places were the theater, the amphitheater and the Roman circus.

The Circus Maximus was Rome's first circus. A circus was a large outdoor theater with an open space in the middle that was covered with sand. The name circus, which in Latin also meant "circle," comes from the rounded shape of these theaters, which formed a huge oval. Famous horse chariot races were held there. The Romans greatly enjoyed these races, which could last between 20 and 60 days.

Gladiator fights were also held in circuses. The name gladiator comes from the Latin word gladius, which means "sword." Gladiators could be free men who fought for pay, but some gladiators were slaves or thieves.​

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There were many types of gladiators. Some were the andabatae, who fought blind by using helmets without openings for the eyes. Another group of gladiators was the equites, who fought on horseback or chariots. They would often fall off and continue fighting without their horses. There were also the Thracians, who fought with short, curved swords. 

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Gladiator fights attracted many people. Politicians used these events to gain support from citizens. You may know the names of a few famous gladiators and their stories. Spartacus, for example, was a slave who became a well known gladiator. He later led a revolt against the Roman Empire. ​

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