5. Not All Gladiators Were Slaves, Some Were Just Condemned To Death
Most people assume that gladiators were only slaves. This was not the case in Ancient Rome. Many free men and freedmen joined the gladiator ranks willingly. It was a chance to be seen as a hero, glorified in the eyes of the Roman people and with money to boot. However, it wasn’t all it was cracked up to be with glory and gold. Men who were bought to become gladiators didn’t get tossed into the ring immediately, they needed training first.
The men were sent to gladiator school where they learned everything they needed to know about becoming a fierce warrior who battled to the death. They were given extensive physical training and learned how to handle various weapons to survive the games. The school also taught them entertainment, how to win over the audience. This gave the slaves and the free men an equal chance to walk out of the ring successfully. There were certain people who did not receive training, the ones who were condemned to death. No matter how well he fought, he wasn’t leaving that ring alive.